Outsmarting Poison Ivy
About 85 percent of people will have an allergic reaction when they touch the sap of poison ivy, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That can amount to a lot of collective misery. It is sometimes hard to avoid the plant, especially when you need to eradicate it from infested areas. It’s also possible to get the oils in the sap (which contain the offending chemical, urushiol) on your skin through indirect contact, such as from clothing, tools or even your pets. If you must work near or in patches of poison ivy, take precautions. Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirt, gloves and boots. Apply protective “barrier” creams (sold over-the-counter) to the face or other exposed skin. If you have a run-in, use these tips:
- Clean the affected areas immediately, as the chemical penetrates the skin within minutes. Plain water might stave off absorption until you can get to soap and a sink. (For good measure, carry individually packaged alcohol wipes in your pocket.)
- Wipe boots (and other unwashables) with alcohol thoroughly and wash all outerwear. Oil can remain potent on clothing, shoes and other objects for years.
- If you don’t break out right away, don’t assume that you’re immune to the chemical and become careless. A rash may not appear until 12 to 48 hours after exposure. Also, even if you’ve never had allergic reactions in the past, it doesn’t mean you won’t develop a sensitivity in the future.
- If you’re using rubber gloves, wear cotton gloves underneath. This will provide a failsafe in case the rubber tears.
- A rash caused from poison ivy will not spread to other parts of the body or to another person. It may seem to though since differences in the character (i.e., thickness) of the skin on various parts of the body may result in delayed eruption. The oil, however, will spread if it’s not properly removed.