Poison Ivy and what you need to know when affected by it

Poison Ivy is a plant that is to be seen through all 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 grow into 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 vital to understand that the oil occurs not just in the leaves but in all of the plant, including the root and the stem, and it is the immune system operating against the poison, as it seeps into the skin, that is the instigator of the pain we experience.
Why Poison Ivy is poisonous
It may seem odd to us that at plant should be poisonous, but like most living things Poison Ivy has its home in the ecosystem. The way it grows is a clue as it gives shelter for lower growing plants and ground dwelling animals, and the majority of them are, unlike humans, not affected by the oil.
Also, Poison Ivy bears berries that are an important foodstuff for a great number of bird species.
How to know the symptoms and more about Urushiol oil.
The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin, in company with severe itching and inflammation in the infected area. The skin will become a different colour and a burning sense will occur, and in a short span blisters will form along with the rash.
Suffering can be endure for many weeks or may be done with within days, and a particular case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.
There are various important factors that people need to understand about Urushiol oil, and the first is that it is very potent indeed. Research has displayed that a quantity of the oil the size of a pin-head could infect 500 people, and as it is not a water based substance it will not evaporate.
The latter mentioned presents a major difficulty as it means the oil can stay on items it has been in contact with for as long as, and maybe longer than, a year. This opens up the possibility of re-infection, or of anyone who has not been in contact with the plant being contaminated. Clothes, shoes, tools and pets can all be party to the oil, and the tiny amounts necessary to cause suffering give it greater potency.
Gloves and coats, together with boots, are among the most obvious causes of Poison Ivy infection and should be scrubbed thoroughly if contamination is suspected.
How anyone can become infected
There are a variety of 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 method as we have already noted.
The reason that we suffer when having come into contact with the oil is because of the natural 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 full with vaporised oil, and even coming into contact with this smog can induce an attack. It has been said that a 100 year old item once affected a man, an indication of how troublesome the plant can be.
Anything that features the sap of the plant must be avoided, therefore, and cats kept away from Poison Ivy bushes.
How to help a sufferer of a Poison Ivy reaction
It is essential that treatment is started immediately, and the best method is to wash the affected area in warm water. A popular 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 essential to open the blisters, too, and to bring the area of infection exposure to the air. Keeping blisters bandaged is necessary in order not to invite infection.
Remember that it is just the oil that will encourage the infection to spread, so contact with it should be treated with caution.
The condition will, eventually, clear up by itself, but there are treatments available for the irritation and for extreme reactions. It is the decision of the individual whether to suffer in silence or to invite further help. Some individuals are fortunate in that they have no sensitivity to Poison Ivy, but these are few and far between and most of us would be infected by coming into contact with the ivy.
If one finds Poison Ivy the best advice one can give is the most obvious – 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