Things To To Be Aware Of Regarding Poison Ivy
Poison ivy is a plant looking more like a weed and it grows as a bush or a vine that grows up a tree. The leaf has three leaflets connected to a stem. These leaves change to different colors like regular leaves. They change to yellow, orange or red. You may see flowers that are green around it or even whitish berries.
Every child growing up most likely heard from their parents not to go near any poison ivy, to stay away from it. It is hard to know as a child what plant they need to stay clear from. However, about 12 hours you will see some symptoms such as redness, blisters, some swelling and he or she says it is itchy so you should seek care right away.
If oil comes in contact with the skin a rash will more than likely to appear. Coming in contact with this plant is not serious however it can be irritating. With all the itching and the blistering you have become self conscious. This needs to be looked at and dealt with immediately.
You will now need to control the itchiness. To do this a person can find some over the counter creams however, some cases may need medical attention. Thus, if you are faced with poison ivy, try using antihistamines that come in creams, lotions or sprays that can be bought in stores. There are also oral forms of antihistamines if preferred.
For the rash you will need hydrocortisone creams or sprays, whichever you prefer. Other products such as baking soda, Aveeno, calamine and others are available to dry out blisters. Any of these products can be also found at your local grocery store.
You need to seek the attention of a doctor if you have been affected in the face or the genitals. These areas are easily scarred and can swell up badly and this is something a person wants to avoid. If the affected area is more than 10 percent of the body, which is about the size of the abdomen, medical attention should be sought. Any signs of infection or excessive itching should also be checked out by a doctor.
The rash typically does not spread since urushiol is no found in the blisters. However, you will want to keep your hands washed, especially children since they may scratch and skin will be under the nail. There are times you do want to seek the attention of your doctor and that is when the rash does not seem to be getting better or if it covers most of the body. Also go to the doctor if it is oozing out puss or if you have a high temperature.
Recent studies taken by Duke University that showed how over the past 50 years, the poison ivy leaf has grown in size. It is believed that with the increase in carbon dioxide, which causes global warming, this has provided the plant to grow. In addition, the oils in the leaf have become more toxic. Essentially this could become a problem for people.
Find out more about the easy way you can get relief from poison ivy rashes easy! When you use the best poison ivy spray on the market, you will start feeling better quickly!