Poison
ivy reminds me of a bad zombie movie. It can get you even
when it's dead.
It
can disfigure you with bumps, swelling, bubbles and discoloration
all over - in fact, no part of your body is immune to it,
including your face and privates (yikes!).
People
run away from you, and they are afraid they'll become like
you if you touch them. Your itching is so bad that you're
restless, constantly moving, scratching and horribly miserable.
Robbed of your sleep, patience, and ability to think, you
start to feel like one of those …zombies.
Every
summer, we get hundreds of calls and visits about poison ivy.
Not surprising, considering how common it is in our area.
Even more widespread is the confusion on what it is, and how
it can be treated.
The
Facts
Contact
Dermatitis is the medical term for an allergy reaction of
the skin to any chemical it doesn't like, including the poison
ivy plant. The plant can be dead; the resin from it is all
that is needed. It can also be on your clothing or tools.
The oils on your hands can often keep the skin on your hands
from reacting to the resin; but even when there's no rash
on your hands, everything you touch, such as your face, and
privates will get the rash. (Right now there's a reader somewhere
saying "ah-ha, so that's how I got it there- I know I didn't
frolic naked through the woods".)
Whether
it's poison oak, sumac, or ivy, it really doesn't matter;
the skin reaction's is the same. After contact, the immune
system overreacts (hypersensitivity), and "primes" itself
over the next 2 days. Priming involves creating huge numbers
of cells laden with inflammatory molecules such as histamines.
When released, these contents cause blood vessels to dilate
and leak, swell and itch.
Heat,
sweating, scratching, and anything else that irritates the
skin such as clothing that is tight, scratchy or binding will
result in more release of these chemicals from the immune
cells. Therefore, the rash is really not contagious. The original
offender, poison ivy, may be nowhere near you, yet it can
continue to spread if you irritate the skin enough.
What
to Do:
Prevention.
Recognizing
plants such as poison ivy, sumac, and oak are important. Don't
be fooled by plants that have shed their leaves - their vines
and residual resin can still cause a rash year-round. Since
our area is so heavily populated with these plants, avoidance
can be difficult. Any work outside involving woods and brush
should include gloves and clothing that covers the skin. Wash
the hands and clothes afterwards. Even burning brush with
poison ivy in it can cause a rash if exposed to the particulate
matter from the smoke.
