What Are Poison Ivy Symptoms?

You may develop poison ivy symptoms when you come into contact with the plant, poison ivy. Poison ivy is otherwise known as Toxicondendron radicans. Although it is a green plant of many sizes and shapes, there is one common feature. Its leaves always consist of three leaflets with pointed tips, with the middle leaflet on a long stalk. You can recognise it easily as it is not a tall plant and usually grows close to the ground.

If you break its leaf or stem, the plant releases a white juice which turns into black when exposed to the air. This juice contains toxicondendrol, a poisonous resin. Should you come into contact with it, your sensitive skin can develop allergic symptoms.

Burning poison ivy can cause problems for you as tiny droplets of the resin carried in the ash and dust particles settles on your skin. This does not mean that everyone would develop poison ivy symptoms. The resin may not bother others, but may trigger serious and extensive rashes in you who are sensitive.There is no cure for the allergic reactions, but there are available conventional and natural treatments.

Poison ivy symptoms can appear as rashes in just a few hours after exposure to the resin, but sometimes their appearance can take up to a few days. Once evident, the rash can last from 1 to 4 weeks, although you suffer the worst stages 4 to 7 days after contact. The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of resinous oil in contact with your skin and on how sensitive you are to the plant.

The pain or swelling may affect your face or genitals. If you experience discomfort or if your your poison ivy symptoms become severe, you may need medical attention. Otherwise, most encounters with poison ivy can be treated at home.

If contact with plant is not major, then only some level of itching may be experienced. An oatmeal bath will relieve the itching, whilst calamine lotion, zinc oxide, or baking soda can also help.

For mild to moderate poison ivy symptoms, there would be itching coupled with redness on the affected area. For moderate symptoms, you may notice that your skin swells in addition to being red and itchy. For severe symptoms, there would be itching, redness, swelling and blisters.

As in other types of skin disorder, an area that has developed poison ivy symptoms is more susceptible to infection. If you detect signs of a developing infection, marked by increased redness, swelling, warmth or tenderness of the skin, please get in touch with your physician immediately.