How Does Poison Ivy Spread?

People who reside around forests and rivers are vulnerable to natural perils like poison ivy. The same case applies for the plant’s close cousins, poison sumac and poison oak. People who frequent the wild, such as hunters and hikers are at risk of being exposed to such plants as well.

They can cause dreadful rashes which could persist for weeks. Most people also develop sensitivity after their encounter, especially when repeated. Though these dangerous plants have different appearances, their effects are similar due to the presence of a common toxin called ‘urushiol’ in all.

About the Oil

Urushiol is a yellow, oil-based allergen that has a sticky texture and is present on the surface and in the sap of some plants. If one touches the plant’s surface with their bare skin, they’re likely to develop contact dermatitis within several days. One needs to quickly wash the affected area thoroughly using soap and water.

Symptoms usually appear within 12-72 hours after initial contact. Severe sensitivity would prompt an earlier onset of the symptoms. They also persist for longer, with some patients suffering for about 5 weeks.

The Red Rash that Causes Damage

About 25% of the entire population will react severely to urishiol. In most cases, this results in the development of rashes. The contact dermatitis induced could also be accompanied by blisters, swelling, streaking, papules and redness. The infected area could also become very itchy and painful.

Most people claim that the rashes usually follow a straight line. Much of the redness concentrates itself along the length and appears to fade with distance. In reality however, this is just a representation of how the plant brushed against the skin. The pattern could have an abstract appearance if the oil smudges onto skin differently.

How Does Poison Ivy Spread?

The liquid present in the blisters doesn’t usually cause the rashes to spread if one happens to scratch or pop them. However, this could result in scars forming. The only other way that this condition spreads would be if another person or part of the skin came in contact with one of the poison plants. Using contaminated objects could trigger the condition. If one touches other body parts with their hands after handling a poison plant, then the condition spreads.

One could be persuaded to burn the poison plants as a prevention measure but this wouldn’t be appropriate. This is because inhaling the fumes puts one’s lungs at risk too. The lungs linings will be irritated, resulting in difficult breathing and pain. Ingestion also wreaks havoc to the entire gut.

Urishiol retains its potency even after the plant it originated from dies, in some cases for years. The same applies if the oil is transferred to other objects. Any contaminated item should be thoroughly washed to keep the condition from recurring.

Source by Alan Scott

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