Causes and Symptoms of Poison Ivy

Posted by sanjay on Thursday 16 Apr 2009

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Poison ivy, also known as poison oak, is a plant with vines that is indigenous to North America. The scientific name of poison ivy is toxicodendron diversilobum. The poison ivy plant has a very distinct look. Each leaf is segmented into three leaflets. Each leaflet has at least three lobes. The plant produces a skin irritant called urushiol.

When a person comes in contact with the poison ivy plant, the urushiol brushes up against their skin and can cause an allergic reaction. Poison ivy is not a contagious rash contrary to popular belief.

In most cases a person will have an itchy rash. But in extreme cases the infected person will experience itching, inflammation and blisters on their skin. Younger people who have a light skin tone are more susceptible to getting the rash. This article talks about the causes and symptoms of poison ivy and offers some easy home remedies to relieve and cure the discomfort.

What causes poison ivy?
When a person brushes up against certain plants such as poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac the urushiol oil found on these plants’ leaves comes in contact with the person’s skin and causes the skin to become irritated. A person can also get poison ivy by burning the infectious plants and then inhaling their smoke.

What are symptoms of poison ivy?
A person who contracts poison ivy from one of the poisonous plants listed above will see a red, itchy rash form on the affected area. In most cases the person will feel the need to scratch at the infected skin.

They may have a headache or fever as well. In more severe cases such as allergic reactions, the person’s skin may form blisters that are filled with fluid. Their body can also swell. A person who has an allergic reaction to poison ivy may become ill both on the surface of their skin and inside of their body.

Home remedies.
There are many natural products found in the kitchen that can alleviate the discomfort of poison ivy. Rubbing the skin with either garlic oil or table salt will relieve the pain, remove the poison and stop the infection from spreading. Rubbing the inside of a banana peel against the affected area can cure the infection. Make a paste out of oats by boiling them in water. Apply the paste to the skin to relieve the itching sensation.