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Featured Discussion
Summertime
Leaves of Three, Let it Be...
Featured Discussion-Summertime
Leaves of Three, Let it be...
The last of the summertime "dangers" we'll cover this week will be Poison Ivy and Poison Oak. If you're not allergic to urushiol (that's the sap that comes off the plants and causes the rash) then you're one of the lucky ones and don't have a problem with Poison Ivy and Oak.
If you ARE allergic to it and plan to spend a lot of time outdoors this summer, you should know what to look for, how to treat it, and better yet - how to prevent coming in contact with the plants.
Poison Ivy and Poison Oak both have three leaflets per stem (hence our title "Leaves of Three, Let it be...") and depending on location, can grow as a shrub or climbing vine.
You can get the rash by touching the plant, touching clothing or shoes that have the sap on them, touch pets that have the sap on them, or come in contact with the smoke of the burning plants.
If you do come in contact with the sap - there are a few things you can do that may prevent a rash. (You need to do these within 6 hours of contact.)
- Remove all clothes and shoes that have touched the plant.
- Use soap and water to wash your skin.
- Use cotton balls to apply rubbing alcohol to any affected skin.
- Rinse with lots of water.
If it works - great!
If it doesn't work - you'll develop itching, redness, swelling, blisters and a burning feeling two to three days after contact with the plant.
If you get the rash you can usually treat the rash yourself, here are a few tips:
- Use Calamine (not Caladryl) lotion, Zinc oxide ointment, or a paste of three teaspoons baking soda and one teaspoon water to cover the rash.
- Don't scratch or rub the rash and keep your hands away from your mouth, eyes and face.
- Use and over the counter antihistamine (Benadryl) according to directions.
- Soak in a bath of warm water and Oatmeal bath (such as Aveeno).
If you develop any of these symptoms, seek professional help right away:
- A hard time breathing - swelling in the throat or of the tongue or lips.
- If you feel weak or dizzy.Unconciousness.
- Bluish tint to the lips and mouth.
- Rash on large areas of the body or on the face.
- If the rash spreads to the mouth, eyes or genitals.
- Skin that is very bright red.
- If the rash becomes infected.
Hopefully you won't have to deal with any poison plants this summer, but if you do we hope this helps.
For more information, here are a few sites to check:
Health World Online
Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac: Questions and Answers
Poisonous Plant Quiz
Poison Ivy
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