Reasons, Symptoms And Cures Of Poison Ivy
Tuesday, 13 July 2010 08:01
Author: Becca G Taylor
Poison ivy is a plant that will cause an itchy skin rash when it touches your skin. The plant is a very common one and can be found growing on the ground or as an intertwining plant on tree trunks and branches. It will be situated between other plants and this can sometimes hide it from view or from recognition.
Poison ivy is a plant that will cause an itchy skin rash when it touches your skin. The plant is a very common one and can be found growing on the ground or as an intertwining plant on tree trunks and branches. It will be situated between other plants and this can sometimes hide it from view or from recognition.
It contains oil which remains on the skin upon contact and since the plant contains the oil in its stems, leaves, flowers, berries and roots, the chances are high that you will be infected and break out in a red, very itchy type of rash.
Indirect contact will also prompt the rash and itchiness. So anything like shoes, clothing, tools or gear that may have come into contact with the plant will be affected and should be avoided. Pets can sometimes retain some of the oil on their hair and if you touch them, you will be affected. The oil from the plant will remain in the smoke if you burn it and this will also cause a rash.
An eruption will appear within 48 hours after your skin has been in contact with the plant's oil, but there are instances when this takes a few days to show up. If you transfer the oil to other parts of your body through touching your skin, the rash may well become bigger and spread over a larger area of your body. The rash and the blisters are not infectious as the plant oil will already have been taken in to your skin or it will have been washed off the skin. Scratching the eruption may cause infection if there is any dirt under your fingernails and this will cause sores to form. The blisters will begin drying up within a few days and then the eruption should start to go away. This time period is dependent on the severity of the allergy.
If you are aware or think that you have touched poison ivy, you should immediately clean the region with cool water. Cold compresses and bathing in cool water will assist with relieving the symptoms. Any of your clothing or sports gear or equipment and tools should be cleaned as the oil is long lingering and may cause another bout of the itchy rash if you touch any of these items.
Non prescription antihistamines are very effective as a treatment. Calamine will also relieve some of the symptoms. Cortisone treatments can also be used and the creams are a very good treatment for the rash and itchiness. Bathing with oatmeal will also assist with the condition.
If your temperature starts rising and you have high fever symptoms, you should visit your doctor. The rash may cause swelling in the mouth and in the neck and sometimes in the genital region as well. Your eyelids may also become susceptible to the rash and it will make it very hard for you to open the eyes.
If the poison ivy irritation starts creating pus inside the blisters, you will need to get to a hospital or to a medical advisor. If the rash remains for a period longer than a handful of days, you should seek medical advice.
Poison ivy is a plant that will cause an itchy skin rash when it touches your skin. The plant is a very common one and can be found growing on the ground or as an intertwining plant on tree trunks and branches. It will be situated between other plants and this can sometimes hide it from view or from recognition.
It contains oil which remains on the skin upon contact and since the plant contains the oil in its stems, leaves, flowers, berries and roots, the chances are high that you will be infected and break out in a red, very itchy type of rash.
Indirect contact will also prompt the rash and itchiness. So anything like shoes, clothing, tools or gear that may have come into contact with the plant will be affected and should be avoided. Pets can sometimes retain some of the oil on their hair and if you touch them, you will be affected. The oil from the plant will remain in the smoke if you burn it and this will also cause a rash.
An eruption will appear within 48 hours after your skin has been in contact with the plant's oil, but there are instances when this takes a few days to show up. If you transfer the oil to other parts of your body through touching your skin, the rash may well become bigger and spread over a larger area of your body. The rash and the blisters are not infectious as the plant oil will already have been taken in to your skin or it will have been washed off the skin. Scratching the eruption may cause infection if there is any dirt under your fingernails and this will cause sores to form. The blisters will begin drying up within a few days and then the eruption should start to go away. This time period is dependent on the severity of the allergy.
If you are aware or think that you have touched poison ivy, you should immediately clean the region with cool water. Cold compresses and bathing in cool water will assist with relieving the symptoms. Any of your clothing or sports gear or equipment and tools should be cleaned as the oil is long lingering and may cause another bout of the itchy rash if you touch any of these items.
Non prescription antihistamines are very effective as a treatment. Calamine will also relieve some of the symptoms. Cortisone treatments can also be used and the creams are a very good treatment for the rash and itchiness. Bathing with oatmeal will also assist with the condition.
If your temperature starts rising and you have high fever symptoms, you should visit your doctor. The rash may cause swelling in the mouth and in the neck and sometimes in the genital region as well. Your eyelids may also become susceptible to the rash and it will make it very hard for you to open the eyes.
If the poison ivy irritation starts creating pus inside the blisters, you will need to get to a hospital or to a medical advisor. If the rash remains for a period longer than a handful of days, you should seek medical advice.
Writer:
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