Ivy, oak and sumac are innocuous words until you put the word “poison” in front of them.
Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac contain a potent oil, urushiol, which can cause an aggravating, itchy rash in those sensitive to its effects.
It is doubtful that anyone reading this article hasn’t had some sort of history with these plants, so let’s look at some of the myths surrounding them.
Myth 1: There is an old saying that says something to the effect of “leaves of three, let them be.” This is a good rule of thumb; however, poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch but is not encountered as often as the others.
Myth 2: The rash caused from poison ivy is highly contagious. The fact is that rubbing the rash will not spread poison ivy to other parts of the body or to another person. The rash can only be spread if the urushiol oil is still present. Therefore, it is a must to wash immediately if you know that you have encountered it.
Myth 3: Dead plants are no longer a threat. Unfortunately, the urushiol stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years. So, keep those gloves on even when discarding withered vines and plants.
Myth 4: You can be affected by poison ivy just by being near the plant. The fact is that direct contact is needed to release the urushiol oil. However, forest fires or burn piles containing these plants can cause the oil to become airborne. Even if a lawnmower or trimmer passes over the plant, the oil can become activated and airborne.
Myth 5: Many believe that if they have been exposed before and did not break out in a rash, then they are immune from the irritating oil. This is not necessarily true. Upwards of 90% of people are allergic to the oil, so it is usually just a matter of time and proper exposure before they feel the sting.
Myth 6: If the blisters within the rash are broken, then the rash can be spread. Thankfully, this is not true. But it can cause your wounds to become infected and may make the scarring worse.
Poison ivy treatments are most often limited to self-care methods such as over-the-counter corticosteroid creams, calamine lotion, oatmeal-based products and oral antihistamines.
While the rash typically goes away within 1 to 3 weeks, there are times when medical attention is warranted. For instance, if the reaction is severe or widespread, blisters are oozing pus, the rash affects the face or genitals, a fever greater than 100⁰F develops, or the rash doesn’t improve within a few weeks, then see a doctor.
This article is a general overview of the effects of poisonous plants and in no way serves as a substitute for advice from your personal physician.
James L. Cummins is executive director of Wildlife Mississippi, a nonprofit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. The website is www.wildlifemiss.org.
