Mar 17 2010
Information To Remember About Poison Ivy
A plant that looks like a weed and is always avoided at all costs is called Poison Ivy. It grows either like a bush or a tree growing vine. Attached to a stem there are three leaflets. The color of the leaf changes like other normal leaves do; they change to yellow, orange or red. Sometimes green flowers and berries with a whitish color are grown around it.
Most parents at one time has told their child to stay away from the poison ivy. Children however, do not really know what the plant looks like so if they are playing outside by themselves, they may run into the plant without realizing it. You will notice between 12 to 24 hours some redness, blisters and possible swelling and care should be given immediately.
If oil comes in contact with the skin a rash will more than likely to appear. Coming in contact with this plant is not serious however it can be irritating. With all the itching and the blistering you have become self conscious. This needs to be looked at and dealt with immediately.
You will now need to control the itchiness. To do this a person can find some over the counter creams however, some cases may need medical attention. Thus, if you are faced with poison ivy, try using antihistamines that come in creams, lotions or sprays that can be bought in stores. There are also oral forms of antihistamines if preferred.
For the rash you will need hydrocortisone creams or sprays, whichever you prefer. Other products such as baking soda, Aveeno, calamine and others are available to dry out blisters. Any of these products can be also found at your local grocery store.
You need to seek the attention of a doctor if you have been affected in the face or the genitals. These areas are easily scarred and can swell up badly and this is something a person wants to avoid. If the affected area is more than 10 percent of the body, which is about the size of the abdomen, medical attention should be sought. Any signs of infection or excessive itching should also be checked out by a doctor.
The rash typically does not spread since urushiol is no found in the blisters. However, you will want to keep your hands washed, especially children since they may scratch and skin will be under the nail. There are times you do want to seek the attention of your doctor and that is when the rash does not seem to be getting better or if it covers most of the body. Also go to the doctor if it is oozing out puss or if you have a high temperature.
These plants have been growing bigger in size and studies from Duke University shows that carbon dioxide may be the cause of their growth. Research shows that in the last 50 years the leaf doubled in size. The oils that are produced are also more toxic. Poison ivy may become a problem in the near future.
Get more information about how you can achieve relief from poison ivy rashes easy! When you use the best poison ivy spray on the market, you will start feeling better quickly!
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