Three Plants That Might Ruin Your Day
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Three Plants That Might Ruin Your Day
The weather is great and it's time to get outside. Whether you are headed out for a hike on a wooded trail or just outside doing yard work, beware of the three plants that might just ruin your day: poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak. If you are allergic to any or all of these plants, you may end up with an itchy rash that can often be very painful. Even worse? If you have a history or allergies or eczema, you're at an even greater risk of a severe reaction to the skin irritant that the plant produces.
How do you identify poison ivy, oak or sumac plants?
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPoison ivy (above right) is normally found in wooded areas, especially along edge areas. The plants can grow as a shrub up to about four feet tall, as a ground cover that is about 5 to 10 inches high or as a climbing vine. The plants is distinct with a cluster of three leaflets and there are no thorns on the vine.
Poison sumac (left) is a woody shrub or small tree that grows to about 20 feet tall. It grows exclusively in very wet or flooded soils. There are about 7 to 13 leaflets per leaf and the leaves are oblong in shape, tapering to a point. The leaves are about 2 to 4 inches long. Do not burn this shrub as burning it may cause a rash to appear on the lining of your lungs. This can cause extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty.
Poison oak (below right) is an upright shrub that grows to about 3 feet tall. The leaves are about 6 inches long with three leaflets on each, varying in size and shape. Atlantic poison oak is often found in forests and dry, sandy fields. It is more prevalent in the southeastern part of the United States so your chances of coming across poison ivy or sumac in Rhode Island are much greater.
What causes the rash?
The rash is due to a chemical, called uroshiol, that is released from touching the leaves of the plant. Uroshiol irritates the skin, causing a rash and itching; the rash often blisters. It usually looks like "streaks" of redness on the skin.
Preventative measures and helpful tips if you do end up with a plant rash:
Megan L. Ranney, MD, MPH, emergency medicine physician at Rhode Island Hospital doles out some helpful information and advice on poison ivy, oak and sumac:
If you realize you've touched poison ivy, oak, or sumac: Take off your clothes (preferably without touching them with your bare hands) to avoid any further exposure to the chemical. Wash your skin with soap and warm (not hot) water. Soap will help take the chemical off your skin and will help prevent a reaction. Make sure you wash under your fingernails, too. Don't scrub too hard - you don't want to irritate the skin more!
If you've already developed a rash: There are no proven treatments, and the rash may continue to spread or worsen for up to 21 days. The best ways to minimize the pain, though, include: calamine lotion and oatmeal baths; Zanfel (a special soap to soothe the skin); topical hydrocortisone cream (as high of a percent as you can find is OK); and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
When should you head to the ER?
Dr. Ranney says that you should come to the ER "if you can't stand the itching or if the rash continues to spread." Stronger anti-itch medications can be prescribed. If you develop red streaks around the blisters or a fever, that's a sign of infection and you'll likely need a prescription for antibiotics.