Posts Tagged ‘poison oak’

Causes, Symptoms and Therapies of Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is a plant that will cause an itchy skin rash when it touches your skin. The plant is a very common one and can be found growing on the ground or as an intertwining plant on tree trunks and branches. It will be situated between other plants and this can sometimes hide it from view or from recognition.

This plant contains urushiol which is oil. The oil attaches to the skin when it makes contact with it. Since it seems that most people are allergic to this plant, as soon as you make contact with it, you will get a red, itchy rash.

Since the oil makes contact with your body through touch, any other items you touch, be it tools or gear or shoes, will be affected. If you burn the plant it is also dangerous as the oil is retained in the smoke and this can settle on your skin and cause the rash.

An eruption will appear within 48 hours after your skin has been in contact with the plant’s oil, but there are instances when this takes a few days to show up. If you transfer the oil to other parts of your body through touching your skin, the rash may well become bigger and spread over a larger area of your body. The rash and the blisters are not infectious as the plant oil will already have been taken in to your skin or it will have been washed off the skin. Scratching the eruption may cause infection if there is any dirt under your fingernails and this will cause sores to form. The blisters will begin drying up within a few days and then the eruption should start to go away. This time period is dependent on the severity of the allergy.

As soon as you think you may have come into contact with poison ivy, use cold water to clean the area. The use of cold compresses and taking cool baths will have an impact on the relief of the itchiness of the areas that are affected. The oil is quite potent and will be active for a long period of time and therefore wash everything that has come into contact with it. This includes sports gear, tents, shoes, tools and all the clothes you had with you.

There are several over the counter ointments and other medications that can relieve the condition of the rash. Hydrocortisone lotions and creams are excellent. Calamine lotion will relieve the itching. Anti-histamine pills may also be prescribed. Try to relax in an oatmeal bath as this will also help with the treatment of the rash.

If your fever rises or if larger sections of the body become infected, you should go to your doctor for help. Sometimes the rash will extend to your genital area or into your mouth and neck. It may affect your eyelids and this will make it difficult to open your eyes.

If there is pus present in the blisters caused by the poison ivy, you should definitely visit your doctor. If the rash does not disappear within a few days, you should get advice from your health-care professional.

Prevent Poison Ivy Infection

Poison ivy can quickly spread all over your entire body if you are not careful. In order to prevent this spreading you will want to know exactly what to do in case of a poison ivy encounter. However, regardless of its size and how much of your body it covers it is an overwhelming mind consuming disease.

The most common way in which the average person can contract poison ivy is through immediate contact. However, you can can also contract this disease through other forms. The way in which people also contract this disease that other people most commonly do not know about is through simply touching clothing that has been infecting.

These are also not the only ways in which people can catch this disease. The last way in which a person can contract it is rather dangerous and is cause for hospitalization. Wood burning that has pieces of poison ivy inside of it can release very poisonous toxins.

There are several lucky people in the world that are considered immune to the poison ivy disease. The people can in fact grow out of this so called immunity. For this reason all people alike so be just as cautious of this disease.

The itching of the effects of poison ivy can be too unbearable to live with at times. It also spreads rapidly over your entire body. Therefore, even if it starts in one small area of your body you will want to be extremely cautious that you do not let it spread.

The most common problem that people encounter is the need to shower upon initial contact to the plant. However, this is the thing that you need to avoid the most. This is the thing that you need to avoid the most because the warm water in the shower opens all the pores across your body. However, since the harmful poison ivy contains its dangerous oils they can now seep into the body. The best thing that you can do for yourself is to rub alcohol across the surface of the infected area. This technique only has a six hour window in which it is effective. After this six hour window has passed the harmful oils have already soaked into the pours in the skin and are no longer susceptible to disinfecting.

The most severe cases can last three week at most. However, more mild cases can last only a maximum of one week. Over the counter drugs are available in which to treat these mild cases and symptoms. Also, prescription medication is available for the more intense cases where over the counter is simply not enough. This can be extremely beneficial when over the counter medication is not enough to ease the pain.

Poison ivy is something that can greatly impact your life is not treated properly. For this reason you should always know how to treat it if you are infect. Also, you should always know what not to do if you are infect, so as not to prolong the infection time. You can actually make the infection worse if you do not handle the situation properly.

Find the best treatment for poison ivy by seeking it out online.

Tips for Poison Ivy

Poison ivy is a plant that looks like a weed plant. It can grow like a bush or it an grow up a tree. There are three leaflets that connect to the stem and they change colors including yellow, red and orange. Some plants have green flowers or sometimes berries that are a whitish tint.

All children grow up hearing their parent tell them to stay away from poison ivy but as a child, you do not know exactly what to look for so you can avoid it. If you do come in contact but are unaware, symptoms can take 12 to 24 hours to appear. These symptoms can include redness, blistering and swelling and should be cared for as soon as possible.

If oil comes in contact with the skin a rash will more than likely to appear. Coming in contact with this plant is not serious however it can be irritating. With all the itching and the blistering you have become self conscious. This needs to be looked at and dealt with immediately.

Coming in contact with this poison ivy plant will result in a rash that is very itchy and now you need to control that. Typically this can be controlled by going to your local grocery store but in some situations, a doctor is needed. A simple antihistamine such as a cream, spray or lotion are available, this medicine can also be taken orally.

To treat the rash itself you need to purchase a hydrocortisone which also comes in creams or sprays. There are other hydrocortisone products you could use products including baking soda, calamine, Aveeno and more. These products are to dry out the blisters. Your grocery stores should also carry these products.

You should so seek medical attention when the face or the genitals get infected. This is because those areas are sensitive and are scarred very easily. They can also swell up pretty badly, which is something that needs to be avoided. If more than 10 percent of the body is affected, a person should seek the attention of a doctor. You doctor can prescribe something stronger if needed.

Luckily, it is not contagious so the rash is not likely to spread because there is no urushiol contained in the blisters. But you do need to seek medical attention is there is a rash does not get better or it is all over the body; if it is located in the mouth, blisters ooze out puss or you have a high temperature, seek medical help also. The sooner you get the rash under control, the better off you will be.

Recent studies taken by Duke University that showed how over the past 50 years, the poison ivy leaf has grown in size. It is believed that with the increase in carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, this has provided the plant to grow. In addition, the oils in the leaf have become more toxic. Essentially this could become a problem for people.

Learn more about how you can get relief from poison ivy rashes fast!

How to Spot Poison Ivy

Many people get into trouble with poison ivy because they do not know what it looks like or how to treat it. It is not actually ivy, which is where some get confused. It is a type of vine that is very woody and grows low to the ground. Any contact with it, no matter how brief, will probably cause a rash. Some people are naturally immune to the effects of the compound it produces that irritates skin, but most are not.

The key is knowing where it grows and then being careful in those areas. It is a plant specific to Canada, The United States, and Mexico. Nine times out of ten it grows in the woods, more toward the edges where there is more sunlight. Poison Ivy has been known to be in meadows or even on rocky surfaces, though not so much on mountainous areas. Poison Ivy prefers lower lands. The tricky thing about poison ivy is that it can grow just about anywhere–it grows well both in the shade and the sunshine.

Recognition of the plant is key for any person who loves the outdoors. The ivy itself looks harmless. There is nothing about it that would naturally indicate danger. It is always in bundles of three leaflets. They have an almond shape (pointy at one end, rounded at the other) with no teeth to serrate the edges. Many people say it is red, but this is only when it first buds in spring and when it starts to die in autumn. During most of spring and summer it goes from light to dark green.

The leaflet bundles will alternate on the vine, though the vine may not be very noticeable if it is growing low to the ground. Leaves on this plant are often shiny due to the liquid that they secrete. This is the stuff that makes you itch. Berries grow on poison ivy, as well. They are gray or white.

The vine, if you can see it, will have red hairs on it, and plenty of them. This is key to notice when you are climbing up trees. If you see this vine, stay away. Also note that the leaves may not have teeth, but they do each have a single notch that will make them vaguely resemble mittens.

There are dozens of tips and rhymes for learning how to identify them. One interesting fact is that butterflies tend to land on them. If you are suspicious of the plant and a butterfly rests on it, stay away.

Once you have figured out what the ivy is (either by looking it up or by unfortunate first-hand experience), the next step is to learn how to treat the itch if you stumble upon it. If the person goes into anaphylactic shock, get them to a hospital immediately. Sometimes a reaction can be so severe that breathing is very difficult and lose muscle control or fall unconscious. Usually the reaction is merely blistered skin that itches very severely.

Do not scratch at all and keep your hands washed. If you got it on your hands, do not touch any unaffected part of your body because you can spread the rash around easily. Anti-itch creams are the best bet to soothe you. Some have found that taking oatmeal baths reduces the itching, just like it does with the chicken pox.

Are you one of those unlucky individuals who has had a run-in with poison ivy? We have got the super inside info on how to treat Poison Ivy Rash.

Poison Ivy Home Remedies

If you are planning a camping or hiking trip you will want
to make sure that you know the area that you are traveling
to. Poison ivy is a plant that is very common among woodland
and forest areas all over the country. If you have fallen
into a little bit of trouble with this plant, look at these
excellent home remedies to help you out!

The first step that you need to take is learning about the
actual plant. There are many plants out there that can cause
itching and redness, so make sure you can identify which one
is which. Poison ivy usually has white flowers and the
leaves contain the actual poison. Stay away from large
brushes of these plants so that you can keep from getting
itchy and red.

After a few minutes of running into a poison ivy plant, you
will know what is going on. The symptoms are usually related
to itchiness or a rash all over the infected area. Try to
rinse yourself off outside with all of your clothes on. This
will help to stop the rash from spreading so that you can
easily move onto the next home remedy.

You should also make sure that you take a nice hot shower
after you have gotten rid of your contaminated clothing. Try
to throw your clothes in the wash and make sure that you
wash every part of your body. Unscented soap will work best;
perfumes will often irritate the skin even more. Try
yourself off and make sure to put on clean clothes.

Rubbing alcohol is another excellent remedy that you can
use immediately as well as daily. Hikers and campers that
are used to being outdoors all of the time will carry around
a small bottle of rubbing alcohol with them. If you brush
past a plant, you can use your small bottle to tackle the
problem and keep it from spreading.

If your case is severe and all over most of your body, you
can easily soak in a bathtub full of oatmeal. The
ingredients in the oatmeal have been proven to help act as a
soothing and anti-itch agent. You can pack some of this up
and take it along with you when you travel so that you can
touch up on any spots that you might find.

You can always use aloe vera on a number of ailments
including sun burns and poison ivy infections. This is a
topical gel that is all natural and found at local drug
stores for as little as $3 per bottle. Make sure that you
have a couple of bottles in your cabinets in the event that
someone does get into some trouble.

When it comes to poison ivy, you can usually treat it with
at least 2 or 3 different remedies at a time. Chose a couple
of them and see which ones actually have the highest success
rate on your skin. Once you run into the plant the first
time, you should know what to watch out for in the future!

There are several poison ivy cure ideas that you will find. Head online today and get the help you need.

How to Identify Poison Ivy in Nature

Poison ivy is usually found growing up trees on a heavy vine. Vines have many hairs hanging from them and on those vines are clusters of leaves in threes that are shaped like almonds. The color of the leaves vary from dark to light green and in the fall they turn scarlet and contrary to popular belief the leaves do not have thorns. Leaves are smooth and glossy. They carry urushiol, an oil that causes a horrible rash on the skin of some people.

The rash will simply drive you made with itching. It also is very painful. This rash can spread and even go inside the body through any opening like the mouth, nose, eyes and also through the genitals. If this happens it is a serious issue that must be taken care of immediately at an emergency center.

Under normal conditions the rash presents itself by a reddening of the skin, bumps and blisters. Traditionally the rash has been treated with a coating of Calamine lotion so that it will dry out and stop itching. The rash is brought on by an allergy to the urushiol and most people are affected by it, yet there are many who do not have any reaction when touching the plant.

Blisters that break open release a fluid so it is very important not to scratch the rash. Breaking open those blisters can start another infection that makes it hard to get rid of. The rash will appear after about 12 to 48 hours of touching the plant and it usually lasts anywhere from 1 and up to 4 weeks.

You do not have to touch poison ivy to get a rash. If the plant is burned and the smoke inhaled it is possible for it to affect the lungs and this could cause death in some cases. If a pet brushes against it and you touch the pet it can be transferred to you. Touching dead poison ivy leaves can infect you because the urushiol can last for several years after the vine dies.

If you see that you have touched a leaf of the ivy you need to spring into action. It is essential for you to wash the area touched with rubbing alcohol within 10 minutes of touching it. Once you use alcohol rinse the area down with water from the hose or with cold water inside the house and never use hot water because it will allow the oil to spread out. Also do not immerse yourself in a bath because the oil that remains on the body will spread all over. Rinsing is the most effective way to get rid of it.

Put gloves on and go inside and remove clothing and shoes. Get in the shower and wash with soap but not regular soap. Use dish washing liquid but only the kind that repels grease, not the kind with lotion in it. When you are done make sure to don gloves again and wipe everything you had on your body down and any tools you may have used with rubbing alcohol and water. The oil can stay on clothing and it will infect you next time you put them on or if you put them in the washing machine it can spread the oil to other clothes.

Calamine lotion has been the traditional treatment for the condition but you can also use steroid cream or take an oral antihistamine. Some doctors will administer steroids orally or with an injection. Try a cool bath with three tablespoons of baking soda dissolved in the water. A great old remedy is to make some Old Fashion Oatmeal and let it cool. Spread it on the area and let it dry. If it starts to flake or fall off secure it with some gauze bandages.

Another remedy is to dab on a little bit of vinegar to the rash. This will really sting but once the area dries you will have some relief for a few hours. Peel a banana then put the part of the peel that touched the banana next to the rash. This will cool it down and give you relief. The best way not to get poison ivy is to not go near the plant and if you find you have inadvertently touched it move quick to rinse it off with the above instructions. Should the rash become severe and swell you will need to get to a hospital immediately. Do not waste time by trying any remedies.

When you need a poison ivy treatment that will give you immediate relief, you can find it today!

Poison Ivy Products FREE

I’m writing to inform you about our Poison Ivy Special we are offering our loyal customers. For the month of April only, with the Purchase of either our All Stop Poison Ivy Healing Gel Family Pack or our Poison Ivy Complete Triple Action Pack you will receive a FREE 4oz Poison Ivy Gel ($34.95 value) on us. The choice is yours, with either one of these packs you will receive an additional 4oz Poison Ivy Gel ($34.95 value) Absolutely FREE. This special is for a limited time only and will expire on April 30, 2010. 

There are two ways you can take advantage of this offer. Go online and place an order for either one of the above mentioned packs and you will automatically get your FREE 4oz Poison Ivy Gel or call 337-937-8800 and one of our customer service representatives will gladly assist you.

Make sure you are prepared for this year’s Poison Ivy Season before you get Poison Ivy. Our All Stop Poison Ivy Healing Gel Family Pack comes with all the Poison Ivy fighting power you need. If you need some extra Poison Ivy fighting power for your home, car and patio we suggest the Poison Ivy Complete Triple Action Pack that comes with the Poison Ivy Gel, Disinfectant Spray to neutralize the Poison Ivy Plant Oils on surfaces and the medicated shea butter soap for hand washing and or showering. Either way, you can’t go wrong.

Place your order before 2p.m. (CST) to have your order go out same day.

Don’t miss out on this special limited time offer.

Tips for Hiking to Avoid Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac

Warmer weather will be here soon and many us will be venturing out on nature excursions to celebrate and appreciate and the things warmer weather brings with it. This video will give you some helpful tips on avoiding Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac while hiking. If you come into contact with Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac you’ll end up with an itchy and rather painful rash that can last from a few days to a few weeks depending on exposure and treatment.

If you do come into contact with Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac make sure you have the proper Poison Ivy treatment on hand.

Poison Sumac Season Around the Corner

With winter nearly over, and springtime just around the corner, Poison Sumac will begin to pop up in yards all across the nation as the weather warms and plants begin to thrive again. Get prepared before you come into contact with Poison Sumac. There are preventative measures you can take, such as wearing long sleeve shirts and gloves when working in the yard. The reaction you have to Poison Sumac comes from the Urushiol Oil the plants excretes.

When your skin comes into contact with Urushiol Oil the reaction is not a pretty one. Common symptoms from a Poison Sumac reaction include weepy, oozing blisters, red inflammed patches and extreme itching. Our All Stop Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac Gel is your one-stop shop when dealing with Poison Sumac reactions.

This mild formula provides the relief needed when dealing with Poison Ivy, Oak or Sumac. It will help to heal the sores from Poison Sumac and will keep the areas clean and free from bacteria so that secondary infections do not set in.

Learn more about Poison Sumac.