Preventing Exposure

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are fragile plants with easily broken stems and leaves. Undamaged plants are unlikely to trigger a rash, but undamaged plants rarely occur in nature. Taking precautions can reduce the chance that you'll experience a reaction to the plants. These include:

• Know the characteristics of these plants. To prevent exposure, try to be aware of the plants that grow naturally in your region and where they are found. One longstanding rule of thumb is to be wary of all plants with three leaves. However, not all three-leaved plants are toxic and some plants that cause allergic reactions have more than three leaves.  
  
  
• Cover areas of thin skin. Symptoms often do not develop in thick skin or hairy areas. Most rashes occur in areas of thinner skin, such as the wrist, ankles and face. Wearing gloves, long pants, socks and closed-toed shoes can help prevent these areas from being exposed to poison plants. Clean exposed skin by showering after spending time in areas where you may have been exposed, such as the woods.
  
  
• Wash exposed skin. Urushiol can begin to penetrate the skin within minutes of exposure. Washing skin as soon as possible can help minimize symptoms. Use soap and cold water and gently wash for about five minutes. Do not use alcohol as it tends to spread the urushiol to a wider area.
  
  
• Keep skin, clothing and other items clean. Urushiol is sticky and can stay on clothes and tools for years. Wash potentially contaminated clothing with detergent in warm water as soon as possible. Remember that setting unwashed clothing on furniture or carpeting can lead to urushiol spreading. Scrub shoes and other objects (such as tools or golf clubs) that may have come into contact with poisonous plants. Also, wash your pets if they may have been exposed to urushiol. Use rubber gloves and wear long sleeves during the bathing process.
  
  
• Remain on cleared pathways. When spending time outdoors, remain on marked trails and other pathways. This is especially important in wooded or overgrown areas.
  
  
• Do not burn plants with urushiol. Burning plants that contain urushiol can cause severe allergic reactions if the particles are inhaled. Soot from burning plants can also affect the eyes, nose or throat.
  
  
• Use protective barriers. Creams that coat your skin with a protective barrier against the allergens found in these plants are available from many pharmacies and camping stores.
  
  
• Carefully eliminate plants with urushiol. If these plants are around your house, remove them and their roots. Be sure to wear protective clothing while doing this. Place the whole plants in a heavy, tightly sealed bag before disposing of them. Animals such as cows and goats can safely eat these plants. If you have large property several years of grazing can eliminate these troublesome plants.