Just because fall is arriving, don't think that poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak are calling it quits. They can strike year-round.

Michael Fister loves his garden but he has to avoid the bright green leaves. He's been getting poison ivy since he was a little boy.

"To avoid getting poison ivy, I need to just stay away from it," he says.

But that can be challenging since poison ivy is a year-round, hardy threat.

Dr. Gina Fitzsimmons says, "It's commonly found as vines growing along the ground, growing up along shrubs. It can have berries, green leaves, leaves of three, of course, and sometimes the leaves can be different colors if they're bruised, which is when they're most contagious."

Dr. Fitzsimmons sees as many as three cases of poison ivy a day in her practice. She says the evil ingredient in the plant is an oil called urushiol.

"It's contained in every part of the plant whether it's the root, the stem or the leaf," she says.

Hot, soapy water is your best bet for battling a potential rash after contact.

"Right away, you want to go wash immediately," Dr. Fitzsimmons says. "The longer you wait, for example, 10 minutes after exposure, the chance of washing off the oil is only 50 percent."

The extent of a rash depends on how much of the oil you have on your skin.

The doctor says, "The pus just means that there was a higher concentration, probably of the oil at that site, producing a more severe reaction but the blister fluid that can come out is not contagious to yourself, by scratching or to other people."

Poison ivy is generally found east of the Rockies, poison oak is west of the Rockies and poison sumac in the southwest. All three contain the toxic oil, urushiol. Treatments for these rashes include an antihistamine like benadryl and hydrocortisone cream to tame the itch. If over-the-counter treatments don't help, your doctor can prescribe something stronger.

Poison Ivy
Poison ivy (toxicodendron radicans) is the name of a woody vine associated with an itchy skin rash. The plant usually contains groups of three shiny leaves with notched or smooth edges and a red stem. The plant can grow thick, like a shrub, climb trees, or trail on the ground like a vine. In the fall, the leaves turn bright colors and clusters of whitish-green berries grow on the stems. Poison ivy is most common in the eastern U.S. but grows in most areas of the country, except for the southwest, Hawaii and Alaska.

Poison ivy (and its cousins, poison oak and poison sumac) contain a toxic oil, called urushiol. The oil is found in every part of the plant, including the leaves, stems and roots. when the plant is damaged or crushed, the oil is released. Exposure to the oil can occur in three ways: through direct contact with the plant sap, by touching a contaminated object (like a garden shovel) or through the air (burning the plants releases the toxic oil into the air). poison ivy doesn't usually cause any problems for animals. But when a pet brushes against a plant, the oil can be transferred to the fur. People come into the contact with the oil by touching the animal's coat.

The Poison Ivy Reaction
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, about 85 percent of Americans eventually develop an allergic reaction to poison ivy. About 24 to 48 hours after contact, an intensely itchy rash develops in the area of contact. Red bumps may form. Weeping blisters can develop over areas exposed to high concentrations of the poison ivy oil. For the next two weeks, the rash may continue to grow in size as more areas of exposure become apparent. (contrary to popular belief, the rash is not spread by scratching or contact with other oozing or weeping blisters. An expanding rash reflects the area of exposure.)

The poison ivy rash lasts from one to three weeks. Scratching and abrasion of the affected area of the skin can lead to the development of a secondary infection.

Preventing Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is very hardy and difficult to eradicate. when outdoors be on the lookout for and stay clear of the plants. Wear long sleeves, pants, gloves and boots when working in areas where poison ivy is known to grow. Don't let pets run in areas where poison ivy may grow. The invisible oil may get onto their fur and carried back to you.

Preventing poison ivy isn't easy. The oils in the plant remain toxic even in the winter or long after the plant has died. Simply crushing a dead plant can release the oil onto the skin. In addition, the oil can remain active on objects (like garden gloves and tools) for years.

If you think you may have been exposed, wash the area immediately in soapy water. The sooner the oil is removed, the less likely for an allergic reaction. Just 10 minutes after contact, only about 50 percent of the oil can be washed from the skin. Clothing, garden gloves and coats that may have had contact with the oil should also be washed.

For those who are unlucky enough to break out in a poison ivy rash, dermatologist, Gina Fitzsimmons, suggests using over-the-counter oral antihistamines and hydrocortisone to relieve itching. For more serious cases, or when over-the-counter medications are ineffective, doctors can prescribe stronger medications. Cold, wet compresses and cold baths may also be helpful. Avoid scratching to prevent a secondary bacterial infection, which may require treatment with antibiotics.

Sources
Gina Fitzsimmons, D.O., family practice physician, office practice: Riverside Family Practice 5649 Wynnewood Dr., Suite 203, Laurys Station, PA. 18059.

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