Poison Ivy

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

• Poison ivy is a plant. It has three bright green leaves on each stem that turn red in the autumn. Poison ivy can cause an itchy, uncomfortable rash on your skin. Touching plants like poison oak and poison sumac can cause the same kind of rash. Poison ivy grows as a shrub or vine in woods, fields, and areas of thick underbrush.
  
  
• A poison ivy rash is usually red, itchy, and swollen with blisters. You get a rash by touching the oil of the poison ivy plant. The oil begins soaking into your skin within minutes and causes a rash usually in 12 to 72 hours. You may get a rash from touching pets that have poison ivy oil on their fur. You may get a rash from touching the plant directly. You may also get it from touching clothing, sports or camping equipment, and tools that have oil on them. Poison ivy oil is sticky and long-lasting. If you do not wash clothing and other items, the oil can stay on them. Oil on these items can cause you to keep getting new rashes, even years later.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Take your medicine as directed:

Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not working as expected. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a current list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when, how, and why you take them. Take the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency. Throw away old medicine lists.

How can I take care of my rash?

Once your rash appears, only time will make it go away. Do the following to take care of your skin:

• Keep your rash clean. Wash with soap and water. Gently pat it dry with a clean towel.
  
  
• Try not to scratch or rub your rash. This can cause your skin to become infected.
  
  
• Use creams, lotions, and ointments. These may decrease discomfort, itching, and swelling. If your rash covers only a small skin area, you may be able to treat it at home. Ask your caregiver about the best products to use.
  
  
• Put a compress on your rash to decrease itching and discomfort. Dip a clean washcloth in cool water or Burow's solution. Wring it out and place it on your rash. Leave the washcloth on your skin for 15 minutes. Do this at least 3 times per day. Follow package instructions carefully when using Burow's solution.
  
  
• Take a bath. If your rash is too large to cover with wet hand towels, take 3 or 4 cornstarch baths daily. Mix 1 pound of cornstarch with a little water to make a paste. Add the paste to a tub full of water and mix well. You may also use colloidal oatmeal in the bath water. Use lukewarm water. Hot water may cause your itching to increase.

How can I prevent a poison ivy rash in the future?

• Do not touch plants that look like poison ivy.
  
  
• Wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and gloves if you go out to areas where poison ivy might grow.
  
  
• Put on skin block to protect it from poison ivy oil. You can buy IvyBlock™ (Bentoquatam) at grocery or drug stores without a prescription.
  
  
• Wash your clothes with warm, soapy water when you return home. Wash them separately from other clothes. Rinse the washing machine well after you take the clothes out. Scrub boots and shoes with warm, soapy water. Poison ivy oil is long-lasting and sticky. It can stay on clothing and other items, causing new rashes even years later.
  
  
• Dry clean items and clothing that you cannot wash in water.
  
  
• Use warm water and shampoo on your pet's fur. This will prevent the spread of oil to your skin, car, and home.
  
  
• Wear long sleeves, long pants, and gloves while washing pets or any items that may have oil on them.
  
  
• If your skin touches poison ivy, use cool water to rinse first. Then wash with soap or a gentle cleansing lotion. Rinse well. Do not use hot water because it may cause the oil to spread on your skin. You may also put rubbing alcohol or a solution of half alcohol and half water on your skin. These may cause your rash to be less severe when it breaks out on your skin.
  
  
• Never burn poison ivy plants. This can spread the oil through the air. If you breathe the oil into your lungs, you could have swelling and serious breathing problems. Oil that clings to the fire ash can land on your skin and cause a rash.
  
  
• Remove poison ivy plants from your yard. Wear protective clothing, such as long pants, sleeves, heavy gloves, and closed-toe shoes. If you are very sensitive to poison ivy, have someone else remove the plant for you. Pull the plant out by the root. Place it in a plastic bag and seal the bag tightly. Do not touch anyone or anything after you pull out the poison ivy. Wash all clothing items immediately with warm, soapy water.

Can I spread a poison ivy rash by scratching or touching it?

• No. Some people think their rash is spreading because they continue to get new rashes over a number of days. "New" rash areas actually appear because your skin is thicker in some places and thinner over other areas of your body. Poison ivy oil soaks into your skin within minutes. Areas covered by thinner skin break out in a rash first. For example, your face, neck, or forearms may break out in a rash before the palms of your hands do. This is because the skin on your palms is thicker, and it takes a longer time for the oil to cause a rash.
  
  
• The liquid inside your blisters is not poison ivy oil, so it will not cause your rash to spread. A poison ivy rash can be spread only if you scratch your skin while it still has oil on it. If the oil collects under your fingernails, you can spread it by scratching other skin areas.

CONTACT A CAREGIVER IF:

• You have a fever.
  
  
• There is pus, soft yellow scabs, or tenderness on the rash.
  
  
• The itching gets worse or keeps you awake at night.
  
  
• The rash spreads to your eyes, mouth, or crotch (genital area). Call if it covers more than one fourth of your skin area.
  
  
• The rash is not better after 2 to 3 weeks.
  
  
• You have problems that may be caused by the medicines you are taking.
  
  
• You have tender, sore lumps on the sides of your neck (swollen glands).
  
  
• You have a severe (very bad) headache.
  
  
• Your body is very swollen (puffy).

SEEK CARE IMMEDIATELY IF:

• You have trouble breathing.
  
  

Copyright © 2012. Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes.

The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Poison Ivy (Discharge Care)