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Poison Oak

Poison Ivy by jesusofsuburbia - Meme Center

It's a RHUS!  (a.k.a. Poison oak and ivy)

Disclosure:  I did most of my medical training and early practice on the west coast, where there is no poison ivy, but tons of poison oak.  There are some difference s in the plant, but not really in the way you body reacts to them so all the info should still be applicable

Leading a hike in Edgewood a few weeks ago, I can tell you that there is poison oak EVERYWHERE, so I wanted to summarize some information on this (paraphrased from our dermatologists)

- Poison oak is a plant that has three leaves on each stem and grows as a vine or bush.  The shiny leaves of the plant are coated with oily chemicals, which cause the allergic reaction.  The oils are also in the stem and roots of the plant.  Most people who come in contact with poison oak and its oils develop an itchy rash with blisters.

- The allergic reaction occurs after touching the plant or anything else that may carry the plant's oils, including ashes and smoke from burning plants.  Touching animals, garden utensils, golf clubs and balls, clothes, or tools that have been contaminated with the oils can also spread poison oak.

- After the oil attaches to the skin, there is a period of time from a few hours up to several days before the rash begins to appear.  Affected areas may show redness, itching, and blistering in varying degrees of severity.  The severity of the attack depends upon the amount of oil that gets on the skin, and upon the sensitivity of the person.  The rash may continue to appear in new areas for a week or more, even during treatment. It typically lasts from 2 to 4 weeks.

- Occasionally there is a delayed reaction, and the rash develops on one area of your skin after the others.  The rash is not spread from one part of the skin to another by scratching, or by contamination with the blister fluid. Likewise, after the poison oak oils have been washed off, the rash cannot be spread from person to person.


To treat poison oak, follow these instructions:
- Remove your clothes and shoes and wash them in soap and hot water.
- As soon as possible, wash your body and hair with mild soap and water to remove the plant oils.
- Apply cool, wet compresses (use a clean cloth and cold tap water) to the rash area, then a lotion containing menthol or phenol (e.g. Sarna, Aveeno) to ease the itching, and help dry up the blisters.  Do not use topical antihistamine lotions/creams because you might be allergic to them, or quickly become allergic.
- Cool baths, with or without the addition of baking soda, cornstarch, or colloidal oatmeal, will also help to relieve the itching.
- Cover any oozing blisters with a clean bandage.

If the rash spreads to your face, mouth, eyes, or genitals, or if you develop a fever, headache, or feel ill, please let me know and I may recommend one or more of the following:
- Taking oral corticosteroids such as prednisone
- Applying corticosteroid creams or ointments to the affected areas 2 or 3 times a day
- Taking oral antibiotics if an infection develops


What can be done to prevent a reaction to poison oak?

- Learn what the plant looks like and avoid it.
- When going outdoors, wear boots, long pants, long sleeves, a hat and gloves and socks which you can pull over your sleeves and pants.
- Use a barrier lotion to prevent a rash.  Some brand names are Stokogard and Ivy Shield.
- If you do get exposed to poison oak, wash the oil off your skin as soon as you can with soap and water.
- Wash your clothes and shoes in soap and hot water.
- Give any outdoor pets a bath if you think they have had contact with the plant.

Remember:  The best prevention is avoiding contact with the poison oak plant!

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