poison ivy

Poison Ivy and what to do, when affected by it?

Poison Ivy is a plant that is to be seen through most of North America and is available in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic.
The concern with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can grow into large bushes, is that it contains an oil – Urushiol – that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very unpleasant blistering and irritation.

It is imperative to understand that the poison ivy oil occurs not just in the leaves but in every part of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system pushing against the

poison ivy, as it seeps into the skin, that is the root of the pain we undergo.

Why Poison Ivy is poisonous.  It may seem odd to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like most living things Poison Ivy has its position in the ecosystem. The way poison ivy grows is a clue as it gives shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of them are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil. Plus, Poison Ivy bears berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.

How to know the symptoms and more about poison ivy’s urushiol oil?
The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin when infected by poison ivy, in company with severe itching and inflammation in the infected area. The skin will become discoloured and a burning irritation will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash. Suffering can go on for many weeks or may be finished within days, and an individual case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are various important facts that people need to be aware of about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. It is really important to know the symptoms of poison ivy to avoid it.

Research has indicated that a particle of the poison ivy oil the size of a pin-head could infect 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate. The latter problem on poison ivy presents a major obstacle as it means the oil can stick to on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This opens up the possibility of re-infection, or of an individual who has not been in contact with the plant being affected by poison ivy. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all hold the oil, and the very small amounts required to cause suffering give it greater potency.

Gloves and coats, along with boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be disinfected thoroughly if contamination is suspected. That’s how you know poison ivy.

How anyone can become infected

There are many ways that an individual can come into contact with the oil from Poison Ivy, and transfer from already infected clothing and other items is one way as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having encountered the oil is because of the instant reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not essential to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this concoction can cause an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a sufferer, an indication of how much troube the plant can be.
Anything that has touched the sap of the plant poison ivy must be avoided, therefore, and dogs kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to look after a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction

It is essential that treatment is attempted immediately, and the best method is to wash the contaminated area in warm water. A sensible recommendation is to use a very potent antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the problem more.
It is recommended to open the blisters, too, and to enable the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters wrapped is vital in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is just the oil that will invite the infection to spread, so contact with it should be refrained from.

The condition will, eventually, clear up completely, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for extreme reactions. It is the decision of the individual whether to let it die naturally or to look for further help to get rid of poison ivy. Some of us are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are few and far between and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the poison ivy.

If one finds Poison Ivy the best advice one can give is the most logical – avoid poison ivy very carefully and don’t let your pet near it.

Factoids on This Topic

• Poison ivy rashes are no laughing matter, and shouldn’t be taken lightly if you have an allergic reaction to the poison ivy plant.
• Poison Ivy Symptoms and effects on fibrous tissues and risk factors hot painful swelling of joints.
• Poison ivy blisters form and a clear fluid oozes from the blisters.
• The safest way to kill poison ivy is with a systemic herbicide that contains triclopyr.
• If you are near the ocean anywhere, get into the water, lightly break the poison ivy blisters with sand and let the ocean water get at it.
• Poison ivy rashes typically go away on their own within one to three weeks.
• Although some people are immune to it’s poison ivy symptoms, most people experience an allergic reaction when coming into contact with poison ivy.
• Typical poison ivy symptoms include red, dry, itchy skin, and blisters that drain fluid and may be tender or painful.
• People respond differently to the poison ivy rashes; some have a severe Poison Ivy Rash reactions that require a visit to the doctor to get a shot.
• There is no poison ivy cure, only items that can help reduce the itch and discomfort.
• Some people are less likely to break out in a rash, but that does not necessarily mean that they are immune.
• While conventional treatment for poison ivy rashes exist, usually in cream format, these substances are almost never natural and many health-minded individuals prefer to choose treatments that are in greater accord with nature.

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How To Get Rid Of Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy Rash

Catching Poison Ivy is not a fun experience. Most people do not realize they are even allergic to Poison Ivy until it is too late. Poison Ivy rashes may develop several days after exposure to the plant. Many people think Poison Ivy rashes are just normal rashes that they have developed over time.

Poison Ivy is a seasonal type rash. Most people contract poison ivy by touching the poison ivy or other similar plant species.
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Poison Ivy is found in every state in the US except Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Neveda and Wyoming.

Posion Oak is found only in the following states which are California, Neveda, Oregon and Washington.

Poison Sumac also has a wide distribution. It is found in Texas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Louisiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and the rest of the eastern US states.

Identifying Poison Ivy

The best way to identify Poison Ivy is to look for the maple leaf.

The best way to identify Poison Oak is look for shiny red or green leafs. The plant looks pretty similar to Poison Ivy.

Poison Sumac are the easiest plants to identify because they have reddish or grayish tip consisting of 7 to 13 stems.

Poison Ivy is not contagious. The way to get Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Poison Sumac is to touch the plants. Some people are immune to Poison Ivy but many people are not. Also, people that are immune to Poison Ivy may not be immune a year from now.

Wearing long pants and long T-shirts so your skin is not exposed when going into wooded areas will help prevent exposure to Poison Ivy. If wearing long pants and a long shirt is not practical, just be aware of how the Poison Ivy plant looks. Some people are extremely sensitive to Poison Ivy. Some people will get Poison Ivy be simply touching the plant. Other people need more exposure to the plant before a rash develops.

Other Resources – Get the Poison Ivy Facts

• Dealing With Poison Ivy
• Aids to Poison Ivy Identification
• Control of Poison Ivy
• What Causes the Poison Ivy Rash
• Best Poison Ivy Treatment

If you touch a Poison Ivy plant, wash your hands with soap and water immediately. If a rash starts to develop, use Poison Ivy Lotion on the rash. This remedy will help stop the itch and prevent infections.

Poison Ivy Pills should also be taken at a general interval to get rid of the rash. Pills should be taken every hour or two during the initial start of the rash. As the rash subsides decrease the usage to every 3 or 4 hours. As the rash starts to go away you can decrease the dosage even more.

Poison Ivy pills can also be taken before you get poison ivy. The pills help to give you a little more immunity if you do touch poison ivy. The rash may be milder if these pills are taken.

If you take the follow precautions, chances of you catching Poison Ivy are significantly less. If you do happen to catch Poison Ivy, please be prepared with Poison Ivy Pills and Poison Ivy Lotion.

Best Poison Ivy Healing GelFirst Aid Gel to stop the burning and itching of Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac and help protect against the risk of skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.