|
Poison
Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Overview
Rashes related to
poison ivy, oak, and sumac are caused by contact with oils
contained in the sap of these plants. The severity of a reaction
to these oils varies from person to person and can become more
severe in the same individual with repeated exposures.
These rashes
aren’t contagious in the real sense. You can’t give someone
poison ivy if they touch your rash. However, unless you
thoroughly wash the oils off your skin and items that have come
in contact with the oils, you can spread the oils around by
rubbing or scratching, wearing contaminated socks or clothes, or
otherwise touching contaminated items.
Signs and Symptoms:
-
An
itchy, red rash, occasionally with blisters.
-
In
severe cases, cracking and weeping (oozing) of your skin.
Self-Care Measures
-
Wash clothes and other items and bathe pets that could have
been contaminated by the oils. Use gloves to avoid
re-exposing yourself.
-
Don’t rub or scratch your rash.
-
Use lukewarm rather than hot water for baths or showers.
-
To
soothe your skin and help dry a weeping rash, use baking
soda or an OTC product like Aveeno Powder in your bath. You
can apply calamine lotion if your skin isn’t broken and your
reaction is mild.
-
For itching, use an OTC topical hydrocortisone cream. Use an
OTC oral antihistamine, if necessary.
Red Flags
Check in with the
nurse if there is..
-
A
rash near your eyes or on your face or genitals.
-
Signs of infection, such as increased swelling, tenderness,
redness, pain, pus formation, or a fever of 100.5 degrees F
(38 degrees C) or higher.
-
A
rash on large areas of your body.
-
Symptoms that don’t improve or get worse after 2 to 3 days
of self-care.
Go to Health Center Information
|
