Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac
Medical Author: Alan Rockoff, MD
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
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Potion Protects from Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
Medical Editor:
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
 Poison ivy, oak, and sumac each produce a chemical in the oil of their leaves that causes burning, itching, redness, and blistering in the skin as a result of an inflammation reaction. This inflammation reaction is called contact dermatitis.
The drug bentoquatam 5% is in a lotion form that is to be applied to the skin at least 15 minutes before exposure to poison ivy, oak, or sumac. The lotion hardens to form a clay-like coating that can be seen on the protected portions of skin. Bentoquatam is manufactured under the trade name IvyBlock.
This preventative agent can be helpful to people traveling through wilderness areas where poison ivy, oak, or sumac are prevalent. It should be especially beneficial to hikers, park rangers, fire fighters, and others who must encounter these toxic plants.
The lotion must be reapplied every four hours for continuous
protection. It is not to be used to treat the rash that has already
developed from poison ivy, oak, or sumac. It is not recommended for
children under the age of 6 years.
Top Searched Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Terms:
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What causes the rash?
Poison ivy is a common cause of contact dermatitis, an allergic reaction to something that comes in direct contact with the skin. This condition can be quite unpleasant but does not pose serious health risks. Prevention is better than treatment but
can be hard to achieve.
Poison ivy is one of many plants that produce a resin called an urushiol that can cause an allergic rash. Related plants include the familiar poison oak and sumac, which are found in different geographical distributions. (Poison ivy is more common in the eastern U.S.
and poison oak in the Southeast.) The rashes that each of these plants produce have a similar appearance. In addition, the same urushiols are also found in the mango, cashew, and gingko trees. In the case of mangos, peeling the fruit prevents dermatitis. People who press the whole fruit, including the rind, against their skin can develop a severe reaction around the mouth. Those downwind from burning vegetation containing one of the offending plants can also develop widespread allergic reactions.
Identifying poison ivy
Although it is often recommended that people learn to recognize the poison ivy plant ("Leaves of three, leave them be"), in practice, this is hard to do, since poison ivy and its relatives are often mixed in with other vegetation and not noticed until after the rash has begun. Keeping the skin covered in situations
in which exposure is hard to avoid is the best way to prevent the problem.
More than half the population can react to the poison ivy resin if they are exposed to it.
Next: What are the signs and symptoms of the poison ivy rash? »
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What does an allergy mean?
An allergy refers to an exaggerated reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. It is
exaggerated because these foreign substances are usually seen by the body as harmless and no response occurs in non- allergic people. Allergic people's bodies recognize the foreign substance and one part of the immune system is turned on. Allergy-producing substances are called "allergens." Examples of allergens include pollens, dust mite, molds, danders, and foods. To understand the language of allergy it is important to remember that allergens are substances that are foreign to the body and can cause an allergic reaction in certain people.
When an allergen comes in contact with the body, it
causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in
persons who are allergic to it. When you inappropriately
react to allergens that are normally harmless to other
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