Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Looks LikePicturesHow It DevelopsTreatmentWhen to Seek CarePrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Looks Like
Pictures
How It Develops
Treatment
When to Seek Care
Prevention
In the United States, poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are among the most common causes of contact dermatitis. Medically, the rash is known as Rhus dermatitis.
You can take steps to deal withpoison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac at home, usually without the assistance of a healthcare provider. Relieving the rash usually involves washing the area with soap and water and applying creams to help reduce inflammation and soothe itching.
This article provides pictures of a poison ivy rash to help you identify it. It also explains how the rash develops and how to get rid of poison ivy and avoid getting it again.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPlant dermatitis from contact with a rhus tree.Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
What Do Poison Ivy and Its Relatives Look Like?
The three main types of plants that cause Rhus dermatitis vary in both their appearance and geographic location.
2:02Click Play to Learn All About Poison Ivy
2:02
Click Play to Learn All About Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy Rash Pictures
Apoison ivy rashcommonly appears as red, itchy patches. Symptoms may develop within four hours to four days after exposure to the plant.
For many people, the rash develops in stages:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoPlant dermatitis from contact with a rhus tree.Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
Reproduced with permission from © DermNetdermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoJena Ardell / Getty Images
Jena Ardell / Getty Images
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoDarren415 / Getty Images
Darren415 / Getty Images
How Poison Ivy Causes a Rash
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are in theAnacardiaceaefamily in theToxicodendrongenus. These plants produce a resin calledurushiol, which causes a skin reaction in most people.
A poison ivy rash occurs when a person comes into contact with the leaf and/or internal parts of the stem or root. It typically develops within 24 to 48 hours of exposure, though it can develop sooner or later depending on whether you’ve had a poison ivy rash before.
The resin itself can be active for years following exposure (meaning that it can be spread to others who come into contact with the clothing of an affected individual). By contrast, the fluid from the blisters cannot spread the rash.
Urushiol can also be found in the cashew tree, mango tree, Japanese lacquer tree, and the marking nut tree.Ginkgo bilobacontains a similar substance that can cause dermatitis in people who are sensitive to urushiol.
Other Rashes That Look Similar to Poison IvyA poison ivy rash can resemble other skin conditions, such as:EczemaExfoliative dermatitisLichen planusPsoriasisRosacea
Other Rashes That Look Similar to Poison Ivy
A poison ivy rash can resemble other skin conditions, such as:EczemaExfoliative dermatitisLichen planusPsoriasisRosacea
A poison ivy rash can resemble other skin conditions, such as:
What to Do For a Poison Ivy Rash
There are several ways tomanage a poison ivy rashat home. Many poison ivy products are available over the counter.
Poison ivy mostly occurs on exposed areas on the arms, legs, and face. The intensity of the rash can vary based on the person’s sensitivity to the resin, as well as the amount and/or extent of exposure. Rhus dermatitisis incredibly itchy, so much so that a person may scratch the skin to the point of bleeding.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Tips for Preventing Poison Ivy
Clearly, the best way to avoid poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac is to know what the plants look like and to steer well of them. Beyond that, there are a few handy tips you should remember if you live in an area where the plants are endemic:
Summary
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Food & Drug Administration (FDA).Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants.
Prok L, McGovern T.Patient education: Poison ivy (Beyond the Basics).UpToDate.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What does the rash look like?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: When does the rash appear?
Watchmaker L, Reeder M, Atwater AR.Plant dermatitis: more than just poison ivy.Cutis. 2021;108(3):124-127. doi:10.12788/cutis.0340
So JK, Hamstra A, Calame A, Hamann CR, Jacob SE.Another great imitator: allergic contact dermatitis differential diagnosis, clues to diagnosis, histopathology, and treatment.Curr Treat Options Allergy. 2015;2(4):333-348. doi:10.1007/s40521-015-0064-y
He A, Feldman SR, Fleischer AB.An assessment of the use of antihistamines in the management of atopic dermatitis.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2018;79(1):92-96. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2017.12.077
Kim Y, Flamm A, ElSohly MA, et al.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis: what is known and what is new?Dermatitis. 2019;30(3):183-190. doi:10.1097/DER.0000000000000472
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