Poison Oak - Symptoms & Treatment

Poison ivy rash is allergic contact dermatitis caused by a substance called urushiol, found in the sap of poison ivy. This same substance can be found in other plants as well, notably poison oak, and poison sumac. Poison oak is primarily found west of the Rockies. It has been found in some extreme southern states like Florida and Georgia. Some individuals in the Midwest claim they have seen it in Illinois and Missouri; however, this has not been documented. Individuals develop the telltale rash when coming in contact with the oil or urushiol resin from the poison oak leaves, a blistering type rash on a red base, where the blisters are usually filled with fluid.. Some individuals claim immunity to poison oak, ivy and sumac; however, individuals may react at any point in their lives, making it difficult to ascertain whether an individuals is truly “immune.” Some individuals believe the resultant rash from poison oak is worse than that of poison ivy. Poison oak can grow as a shrub from 1 to 6 feet tall and, in many shady areas, it can also grow as woody, climbing vines that wrap around trees and larger shrubs. The vine cultivates rootlets on the stems, enabling them to affix to tree trunks and other surfaces.

Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are allergic skin rashes caused by the plants of the same name. All three plants secrete a potent, irritating oil known as urushiol that causes blistering and intense itching once it penetrates the skin. The name poison oak is often applied to the shrub-like forms of poison ivy and to at least two similar plants that are usually considered separate species of the cashew family, Anacardiaceae. The poison oak of the southeastern United States, Rhus quercifolia, has its leaves divided into three leaflets; the leaflets are densely haired and generally have three to seven distinct lobes. The white, berry-like fruits are also somewhat hairy. The poison oak of the U.S. Pacific coast, R. diversiloba, is a shrubby or sometimes climbing plant that grows to 2.4 m (8 ft) high; its three-leaflet leaves are toothed or lobed and are hairless. Both species contain poisonous substances that are believed to be identical or closely related to that found in poison ivy. The allergic rash of poison ivy, oak, and sumac is characterized by red, weeping blisters and severe itching. The rash usually appears within one to two days of initial contact with the plant oil, although it may take longer to appear in areas where the skin is thicker, and lasts from one to three weeks (longer in severe cases). It starts as itchy, inflamed red patches or streaks, and as the oil penetrates into the skin, blisters and small papules form. Poison plant rash cannot be spread from person to person by contact with the rash itself or fluid from the blisters, and scratching does not spread the rash .

Causes of Poison Oak

Find common causes and risk factors of Poison Oak :

• Are exposed to the smoke of these plants if they are burned.
• Touch pets or animals that have come in contact with these plants.
• Work or play in wooded areas during the spring, summer, and fall.
• Handle clothes or objects that have come in contact with these plants.

Signs and Symptoms of Poison Oak

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

• Swelling of the face or throat.
• Rapidly spreading rash.
• Swelling or rash that covers more than one third of your body.
• Rash on the genitals.