Poison Ivy Causes
Poison ivy is a woody vine that produces a skin irritant called urushiol. This oily substance is produced by many other plants too, and contact with it causes the skin to itch and break out into a rash, which can be quite severe. Urushiol tends to bind to the skin and to various materials such as clothing, and can therefore cause a rash long after a person has actually encountered poison ivy. Due to this, the rash can also affect someone who has not even encountered the plant. The rash caused by poison ivy is a type of contact dermatitis.
Poison ivy symptoms vary from one person to the next. The response is essentially an allergic reaction. Some people have no allergic reaction to urushiol, but for most people, poison ivy causes itching, swelling, redness, inflammation and blistering of the skin. Often, poison ivy rash does not appear immediately, but a day or two later. If there has been direct contact with the plant leaf, the symptoms will be more severe. The amount of skin exposed and the amount of oil that has bound to the skin affect the severity of the reaction. In very severe cases, a dangerous, severe reaction, known as anaphylaxis, could also occur.
In mild cases, poison ivy rash can be easily treated with home remedies. First of all, the affected area needs to be washed well with soap and water. This is so that absolutely no oil remains on the skin. The presence of oil on the skin can prolong and worsen the irritation, and therefore this is an essential step. The sooner this is done, the more effective it is at reducing the poison ivy symptoms. Another excellent home remedy for poison ivy rash is a cold compress. You can simply dip a clean, soft cloth in some cold water, or else wrap a few cubes of ice in the cloth, and gently apply it to the affected area. By doing this, the itching and blistering can be controlled to a great extent. Another way to soothe the rash is to apply aloe vera gel. As always, fresh gel is preferred, but if this is not available, you could also use a packaged product. Banana peel is also supposed to be good for treating poison ivy rashes. Simply rub the inside of the banana peel against the affected area with gentle pressure. Remember that severe reactions to poison ivy require medical treatment.
