Preparing for Poison Oak, Poison Ivy, and Poison Sumac

I’ve never had it; the kids have never had it.  I had to call my husband at work and ask if
he had ever had it.  Nope, and we’ve all
done a bit of camping and hiking.

Maybe it’s because we’re careful; maybe it’s because we’re
immune—20% of the population is unaffected by it.  Maybe it’s because we live at high elevation in
the desert and have for most of our lives except for that stint in Missouri.  I don’t know. 
I’m not complaining.  I understand
it is horrible.

Western poison oak is generally found in woodlands and
favors oak, chaparral, Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, and mixed evergreen forests
at elevations below 5,000 ft.[1]  Atlantic poison oak afflicts the southeastern
part of the US. Poison ivy, on the other hand, is found throughout the
country.  Poison sumac is found in the
eastern part of the country, and is substantially more toxic. 

The fear of the rhus
dermatitis (the contact dermatitis people get from poisonous plants), a
severe, itching rash caused by the urushiol oils in these poisonous plants,
prompts most people to be aware of the appearance of these plants and be cautious
in the outdoors.  And yet, an estimated
350,000 Americans each year have a regretful run-in with them.  After exposure, the patient has about 15
minutes to wash off the oils and prevent the rash from developing.  Unfortunately, such thorough cleansing so
soon after exposure (especially when people are unaware of exposure) is rarely
an option.  Following exposure, the rash
may take from a few hours to two weeks to appear as red, itchy bumps.  Because the rash may not occur all at once,
patients often think the rash is spreading. 
However, the fluid from the blisters is not contagious.[2]

The oil remains active almost forever.  It remains active even on dormant vines and
shrubs throughout the winter.  It can be
transferred by pets or to household surfaces by people before they realize they
have come into contact with the poisonous plants.  Bleach is commonly used to wipe down any
surfaces that the afflicted individual may have touched.  Clothes must be thoroughly washed.

The smoke from burning vines and shrubs, especially those of
poison sumac, has been reported to cause fatalities either due to suffocation (because
the airway swells closed) or allergic reactions to the inhaled smoke. 

Treatment

As soon as exposure is suspected, wash the skin well with
strong soap and cold water.  Hot water
opens the pores of the skin and allows more of the oil to penetrate. (Later on,
hot water may be used to help alleviate the itching.)  Fels-Naptha soap can be effective even
several hours after exposure.  Rubbing
alcohol may also be used on small areas of the body, but never on small
children due to the risk of alcohol poisoning. 

Doctors often recommend Benadryl, 25-50 mg 4 times per day, to
relieve the itching.  Higher doses will
make the patient sleepy. 

Calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream are not very
effective. 

Untreated, the rash will resolve on its own within 2-3
weeks.

Alternative therapies:

·      
Apple cider vinegar wash

·      
Baking soda paste

·      
Baking soda-cornstarch bath—1 cup of each in a ½
full tub of cool water

·      
Chamomile tea poultice

·      
Dock, a fresh poultice of the whole plant[3]

·      
Epsom salt bath

·      
Essential oils—tea tree, lemon, lavender,
peppermint, geranium, chamomile mixed in fractionated coconut oil or aloe vera
gel.[4]

·      
Gumweed, a fresh poultice of the flower buds or
a tincture diluted and used as a wash[5]

·      
Oatmeal bath—1 cup in a ½ full tub of cool water

Links to related posts:

Baking Soda

Benadryl

Cornstarch

Epsom salts

Gumweed

Lavender

Oats

Peppermint

[1] Janet L. Howard, Toxicodendron diversilobum, 1994, In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online].