Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentWhen to Seek Medical CarePrevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
When to Seek Medical Care
Prevention
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Symptoms of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rashes
There is no difference between a poison ivy vs. a poison oak rash.The stages of this rash include:
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced 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.
Sometimes, people may have a rash with black spots or black streaks. This is known as black-spot poison-ivy dermatitis.
The rash does not spread on your skin. After you’ve been exposed to poison ivy or oak, the rash may take different amounts of time to appear on different areas of your body. This can make you think that the rash is spreading or getting worse.
Is Poison Ivy Contagious?
Causes of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rashes
In short, poison oak and poison ivy rash are allergic reactions to urushiol. They are also considered a form ofallergic contact dermatitis. Scientifically and medically, poison ivy and oak are known as rhus dermatitis. “Rhus” refers to an older genus name for these plants.
You might not get a rash the first time you’re in contact with urushiol oil, or the rash might appear two to three weeks after exposure.After you have been sensitized or exposed to the oil, the rash will appear four to 48 hours after the oil touches your skin.
In addition to getting the rash directly from the plants, you can get it from any items and materials that have come in contact with the plants or urushiol oil. This includes:
If you or someone in your house has been exposed to poison ivy, wear gloves to carefully wash any items that might have come into contact with the plants.
Treatment of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak Rashes
Treatments for poison ivy and poison oak rash are the same. The rash from poison ivy and poison oak usually lasts about 10 days to three weeks.During that time, treatment is focused on making you more comfortable and reducing the itchiness from the rash.
Totreat poison ivyor poison oak, follow these steps:
Most pets aren’t allergic to poison ivy or poison oak, but they can still pass the oil to you if it is on their fur.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Your healthcare provider may prescribeoral steroidsto help fight the rash if it is severe.
Since there are few treatment options for poison oak or poison ivy, prevention is important. The best way to prevent the rash is to know what the plants look like and avoid them.
Identifying Poison Ivy
These characteristics can help you identify poison ivy:
Identifying Poison Oak
Look for these characteristics to identify poison oak:
Summary
Treatment is focused on controlling the itch through creams, cold compresses, and baths. If the rash is severe, your healthcare provider may prescribe oral steroids.
5 SourcesVerywell 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.Boston Children’s Hospital.Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergens: poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac.American Academy of Dermatology.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.Food & Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Poisonous plants: Types of exposure.
5 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.Boston Children’s Hospital.Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergens: poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac.American Academy of Dermatology.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.Food & Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Poisonous plants: Types of exposure.
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.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergens: poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac.American Academy of Dermatology.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.Food & Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Poisonous plants: Types of exposure.
Boston Children’s Hospital.Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Allergens: poison ivy/poison oak/poison sumac.
American Academy of Dermatology.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.
Food & Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Poisonous plants: Types of exposure.
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