FAMILY MEDICINE® COLUMN
By John C. Wolf, D.O.
Associate Professor of Family Medicine®
Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine

[GARDEN TOOLS, GOLF BALLS AND ANIMALS CAN SPREAD POISON IVY ]

Question: I get poison ivy every summer. I've already had it this year despite my efforts to avoid the plant when I'm outside. What can I do to avoid it? What should I do when I do get it?

Answer: Poison ivy and its close relatives, poison oak and poison sumac, have the potential to cause itchy blisters in about 85 percent of those who are exposed to them. This rash is known medically as allergic contact dermatitis, but most people simply call the condition "poison ivy."

Your body's reaction to the chemical urushiol found within the leaves, stems and roots is what actually produces the rash. In order for this sap-like substance to get on your skin and produce a rash, the poison ivy plant must be broken. In many case, unfortunately, it's hard to tell when this has happened, since very small breaks such as those caused by insects, can let the urushiol onto the plant's surface.

Urushiol is sticky, so it can also be carried on the fur of animals, garden tools, golf balls, etc. Touching these objects will transfer this chemical to your skin. Perhaps this is how you get poison ivy despite your best efforts to avoid the plant.

Once the chemical comes in contact with the skin, it begins to penetrate within minutes, but it takes from 12 hours to several days for the poison ivy to appear. First there is itching, redness and swelling, followed by blisters.

Contrary to myth, poison ivy can't be spread by touching the oozing liquid in the blisters!!! This liquid is not urushiol, but your body's own fluid produced as part of its reaction to urushiol. But as you know, poison ivy can be spread. If the victim gets urushiol on his or her hands, touching another part of the body or another person's body can transfer the chemical to that area. That's why poison ivy tends to turn up all over the body, even though the plants only came in contact with the exposed areas of the skin.

The area with the greatest exposure to urushiol will usually break out first. Areas with thick skin or less urushiol will then break out a day or two later, giving the impression that the poison ivy was spread from the first group of blisters.

If you suspect that you have been in contact with poison ivy or one of its cousins, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Also promptly wash any clothing that has come in contact with the sticky sap. Handle the clothes carefully, preferably with gloves, to prevent any more skin contact with the sap. If more than 20 minutes have elapsed since the exposure, washing may not prevent the initial rash, but it can prevent you from spreading it further.]

Question: What's the best treatment for poison ivy?

Answer: There is no way quick cure for poison ivy, mild cases may require no more than wet compresses or soaking in cold water to relieve the itching. Don't use the old remedy of household bleach. I see quite a few individuals each year with severe skin irritation caused by this ineffective home remedy.

There are several non-prescription medications on the market that can dry up blisters and help relieve itching. Your physician or pharmacist can recommend one for you. None of these products should be used for more than seven days, and some should not be used on large parts of the body or on young children. Carefully follow the instructions on the package.

Severe cases of poison ivy should be treated by a physician who may prescribe a few days of corticosteroid pills or other drugs to relieve the swelling, blisters and itching.

Family Medicine® is a weekly column. To submit questions, write to John C. Wolf, D.O., Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Grosvenor Hall, Athens, Ohio 45701.