The truth is no one is safe when poison ivy is around so let’s start off with a little plant biology. This is a type of vine and it’s well know because it produces urushoil. This is an oily substance, not unlike sap. Seen in the lab, it’s a thick yellow liquid. Get it on your skin and it produces a serious allergic reaction in most people. At best, all you get is a rash that itches, but it can turn into a major inflammation with blistering that looks a mess and oozes fluid. If at all possible you should avoid contact. When out walking, stay away from anything with clusters of three leaves with a slight hairiness to the stems. The clincher is white berries. Unfortunately, not all plants sit out in the open with three leaves conveniently on display all year round. Fall sees leaves drop. Since the urushoil comes through the vine, you can have the contact without the warning leaves or berries.

According to a study published in 2006, more than 350,000 a year are poisoned by this plant and the trend seems to be increasing. In part this is the result of colder winters. The deep cold kills the average perennials, which removes the competition from “weeds” like poison ivy. As a result, they are flourishing. Surrounded by fewer ground-cover plants, it’s also easier to touch the ivy, particularly in the early spring just after the snows have melted. Remember, this ivy is genuinely hardy and it can produce the urushoil all year round. Worse, it’s not necessary to touch the plant itself. The oil can get on to your clothing or a bag you are carrying. Even your pet dog can become a threat. As it runs ahead of you, it can brush against the ivy. The oil will smear on to its coat. There will be no effect on the dog. But later, when you touch the clothes, bag or dog, you can get the oil on to your exposed skin. Indeed, the contact can come weeks later.

Once you realize what has happened, you can reduce the extent of the problem if you immediate wash the skin with soap and water. You will also have to wash everything that might have been in contact with the plant (including the dog) otherwise anyone else in the family may be affected (or you may get a second taste of the pain). As to the allergic reaction, that means Prednisone. Not everyone responds as quickly to the initial dosage and you will need your doctor to monitor the speed of your body’s reaction. If necessary, the dosage will be increased. It can take two or three weeks for the worst of the damage to the skin to clear but there can be discoloration of the skin for up to six months. But, as always with powerful drugs, follow the instructions of your doctor or pharmacist. Because Prednisone shuts down your adrenal gland if taken too long, you may have to taper the dose to give the gland time to recover. During the healing, cold water can help to reduce the inflammation and ease the itch, but the water or its temperature is not a cure. That’s all down to the Prednisone.

No Comments »

No comments yet.

RSS feed for comments on this post. TrackBack URL

Leave a comment

Name (required)

Mail (will not be published) (required)

Website