Poison Ivy and what to do when affected by it

Poison Ivy is a plant that is to be seen through most of North America and is present in two main varieties – Western, or Pacific, and Atlantic. The concern with Poison Ivy, which grows as ground cover and can become large bushes, is that it contains an oil – Urushiol – that, when it comes into contact with our skin, causes very unpleasant blistering and irritation.
It is imperative to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in many parts of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system reacting against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the root of the pain we undergo.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem pointless to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like the best living things Poison Ivy has its home in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a clue as it is a source of shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of those are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Plus, Poison Ivy gives rise to berries that are an important foodstuff for a number of bird species.
How to know the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly suffer from irritation in the skin, mixed with severe itching and inflammation in the concerned area. The skin will become discoloured and a burning sense will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be gone within days, and every case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are a number of important points that people need to be aware of about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has proven that a small amount of the oil the size of a pin-head could be enough for 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter mentioned presents a major concern as it means the oil can still be on on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This gives us the possibility of re-infection, or of a person who has not been in contact with the plant being affliected. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all contain the oil, and the miniscule amounts required to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, as well as boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be cleaned thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How you can become infected
There are many ways that an individual can come into contact with the oil from Poison Ivy, and transfer from preciously contaminated clothing and other items is one way as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having come into contact with the oil is because of the instant reaction it promotes, and it is notable that direct contact with the plant is not essential to induce a reaction.
If Poison Ivy is burned the smoke is contaminated with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this mixture can promote an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old oil once affected a man, an indication of how troublesome the plant can be.
Anything that has touched the sap of the plant has to be avoided, therefore, and animals kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to deal with a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is vital that treatment is initiated immediately, and the best method is to wash the problematic area in warm water. A second recommendation is to use a very well tried antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the problem more.
It is imperative to open the blisters, too, and to enable the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters attended to is necessary in order not to add infection.
Remember that it is just the oil that will allow the infection to spread, so contact with it should be treated with caution.
The condition will, at some point, clear up naturally, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for serious reactions. It is the decision of the individual whether to suffer in silence or to invite further help. Some of us are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are scarece and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the ivy.
If one knows of Poison Ivy the best advice one can give is the most natural – avoid it very carefully and don’t let your pet near it.

Nadeeka Johnson is an experienced article writer with over a 1,000 articles covering a wid variety of topical written at www.allstop.com/poison-ivy/poison-ivy-treatment