Oh no, I've gotten into poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumac. What do I do?
A topical post based on recent experience, unfortunately. Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are common plants in the genus Rhus, found throughout the United States and in Africa, often near hiking trails. Four in five people are allergic to urushiol, a compound found in the plant's sap that causes an itchy and painful allergic rash on the body in any spot that it comes into contact with.
The rash typically shows up within 8-72 hours after exposure, however, those who are highly allergic may show signs within 4 hours. The rash may continue to appear and spread for up to 21 days and will only appear in places where urushiol made contact. You cannot spread the rash by scratching or making contact with the blister fluid.
Common symptoms: Itching, red streaks or general redness, small bumps or raised patches of skin, blisters with or without fluid, blood blisters.
What to do if you think you have come into contact:
Step 1: As quickly as possible, wash your hands, under your fingernails, and the areas with regular soap or Tecnu if you have it. Remove contaminated clothing and wash separately with hot water. Wipe down anything that may have come into contact with the urushiol, like shoes, camping gear, car seats, pets, or gardening tools.
Step 2: Schedule an appointment with your doctor. Mild cases may be treated at home with cold compresses, astringents, non-prescription antihistamines, and calamine lotion. Moderate to severe cases should be handled by a physician. If you have inhaled urushiol by burning poison oak, or if the rash is spreading into your eyes or genital areas, seek medical attention immediately.
Medical treatments for more serious cases can include stronger antihistamines, topical corticosteroids, and even oral corticosteroids. But steroids can have adverse effects so it's important to use them only under the close supervision of your doctor. Having a doctor on your team will help you determine if things are improving at a normal rate. Most importantly: do not panic.
