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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Poison ivy, oak, and sumac facts
• What causes the rash? How do I identify poison ivy, oak, and sumac?
• What are the signs and symptoms of the poison ivy rash?
• Is a rash from poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis contagious?
• What are risk factors for poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis?
• How is the dermatitis of poison ivy, oak, and sumac diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis?
• What are complications for poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis?
• What is the prognosis (outlook) for poison ivy, oak, and sumac dermatitis?
• How can contact with poison ivy, oak, and sumac be prevented?
• What should people do if they are exposed to a poisonous plant?
• Find a local Dermatologist in your town
• Poison Ivy Index

The best approach to poison ivy, oak, or sumac dermatitis is prevention. Washing with soap and water can help reduce the severity of the rash, but this is often impractical because it has to be done at once after exposure. (After 10 minutes, only 50% of the resin is removable, and by 30 minutes only 10%.)

Most plant poison dermatitis is a mild rash that clears within five to 12 days, almost always cleared by 14-21 days. Treatment is directed at controlling the itching. Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl), may help the itch somewhat, but often they do no more than make people drowsy. Cortisone creams, whether over the counter or by prescription, are only helpful if applied right away, before blisters appear, or much later, when the blisters have dried up. Compresses with Burow's solution (available without prescription) can help dry the ooze faster. Local anesthetic agents such as calamine lotion have also been shown to bring relief for some people. Oatmeal baths and cool compresses have also been recommended to help relieve symptoms.

When the rash is severe, such as when it affects the face or causes extensive blistering, oral steroids (for example, prednisone) can help produce rapid improvement. This course of therapy should be maintained, often in decreasing doses, for 10-14 days or even longer in some cases, to prevent having the rash rebound and become severe again. Patients who are given a six-day pack of cortisone pills often get worse again when they complete it because the dose was too low and administered for too short a time.

Folklore, medical and otherwise, endorses many other agents, including aloe leaves, vinegar, baking soda, tea bags, and meat tenderizer as treatments for poison ivy and related plant poisonings. Though these remedies are generally harmless, they are of questionable value.