What is Poison Ivy?

• Poison ivy, or Toxicondendron Radicans, is a plant that produces urushiol, a skin irritant that in most people causes an extremely itchy rash. Poison ivy grows throughout North America and should be avoided if spotted. It is usually found in forests or wooded areas, but also grows along rocks and open fields.
  
  Poison ivy has three leaves that are shaped like almonds. Its berries are a gray-white color, and its leaves are usually light green to dark green.
  
  People get poison ivy when they touch it or from touching something that has touched it, like a dog, ball or article of clothing. While most people get it from touching the leaves, it is possible to get a severe rash from pulling the poison ivy vine out by the roots and using a weedeater to remove the poison ivy. This will cause your legs to be sprayed with poison ivy.
  
  

Poison Ivy Effects on the Body

• Contact with poison ivy causes an allergic reaction when the skin is not protected. Surprisingly, some people have no allergic reaction to poison ivy. But those that do, will experience an itchy, irritating rash. This develops into inflamed red patches or small bumps. Then, the skin starts to blister.
  
  If poison ivy burns and a person comes in contact with it and inhales the poison ivy smoke, a rash can appear on the lining of the lungs. This can cause severe pain in the lungs, as well as difficulty breathing and even death. If someone consumes the plant, several organs can be damaged, as well as the digestive tract and airway.
  
  Once a person gets poison ivy, it is not contagious, even if the rash forms blisters and the blisters burst.
  
  

Treatment of Poison Ivy

• After you come in contact with poison ivy, your skin should be washed thoroughly with soap and cold water. Since urushiol, the poisonous oil found in poison ivy, is not water-soluble, soap is absolutely necessary to remove the oil from the skin. If you wait too long to wash the skin, however, the oil will soak in and cannot be removed.
  
  Next, the person should take an antihistamine and rub a hydrocortisone cream over the rash. Diphenhydramine is the most common suggestion for poison ivy contact. It is non-prescription and can be taken orally.
  
  All clothing that the person was wearing at the time of contact should be washed as well.
  
  A poison ivy rash can last up to three weeks. If the reaction is severe, seek medical attention.