Poison Ivy Quiz

Poison Ivy Quiz

What are the symptoms of poison ivy?
A rash. When people come in contact with the oil, it often adheres to the skin within minutes to a couple of hours, producing the telltale allergic responses of itching, swelling, rash, and oozing blisters.

How long does poison ivy rash last once you get it?
It usually takes about 2-3 weeks to get rid of the ivy rash.

Can you get poison ivy from a sleeping bag?
Yes! You can also get it from contact by touching something that has urushiol on it, such as socks or bed linens. It is important to wash clothing after exposure.

What should you do if you believe you have gotten into poison ivy?
Rinse your affected skin with water only first, then once the urushiol is off, wash with soap and water.

How do you treat your skin if you develop a rash?
"The earlier you cleanse the skin, the greater the chance that you can remove the urushiol before it gets attached. Treatment within 10-15 minutes of initial contact is important.
1. Rinse the affected area with water (any water).
2. Wash up with soap and warm water. Rinse with plain water first. If you use soap, the soap will only likely move the urushiol around.
3. Cool wet washcloths applied 15 –20 minutes several times a day help.
Oatmeal baths and calamine lotion, baking soda help too.
4. Antihistamines may be helpful for itching and hydrocortisone can be applied topically. Sometime you need strong anti itch cream, one from a doctor’s prescription.
5. All your clothes, shoes, tools, and anything else that may have been in contact with the urushiol should be wiped off with alcohol and water. Be sure to wear gloves or otherwise cover your hands while doing this and then discard the hand covering. Applying rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol to the infected area of skin is not a good idea as it removes your skin's protection along with the urushiol and any new contact will cause the urushiol to penetrate twice as fast.