How to Avoid Contact With Poison Oak, Poison Sumac and Poison Ivy

Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are all plants that cause rashes when their resin makes contact with skin. The best prevention is to learn to identify these plants and minimize their contact with the skin.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Learn to identify habitats in which poison ivy, oak, and sumac are likely to be found. Poison ivy and poison oak are found below 5,000 feet in moist ravines, canyons, and hilltops without much sunlight; poison sumac grows in moist and marshlike habitats east of the Mississippi.

2. Learn to identify the leaves of poison ivy and poison oak. The basic rule is "leaves of three, let it be."

3. Wear a pre-exposure armor lotion on exposed parts of the body to minimize the effects of poison ivy, oak and sumac should contact occur.

4. Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants to cover exposed skin when hiking in an area populated by poison ivy, oak or sumac.

5. Wear socks and hiking boots to protect ankles and feet.

6. Wash hands and exposed skin with soap and water immediate following contact, or use a special soap formulated to wash resins of poison ivy, oak and sumac from skin and clothing. Such soaps are available in sporting goods stores and outdoor equipment stores.

7. Wash clothes and shoelaces and dry in a clothes drier immediately following a hike in an area populated with poison ivy, oak or sumac, even if you don't believe you had any contact with the plant.

8. Wash clothes and shoelaces with a mild soap and dry in the sun if you make contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac while backpacking.

9. Shower and wash hair thoroughly after hiking in an area populated with poison ivy, oak or sumac, even if you don't believe you had any contact with the plant.

Tips & Warnings

• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

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[soanyway]

on 4/11/2009 I wish you had a picture of it, I still can't tell what it looks like! I have recomn'd you. Pay it forward! ;-)

on 8/8/2006 Work up a good lather on your skin, using Fels Natha soap (an old-time, yellow soap for washing clothes) and let it dry; then rinse it. You won't get poison oak. Probably will work for the others.

on 11/22/2005 Sometimes, it's in the air. I don't even have to get the juice on me and I break out. When the plants are dormant, I'm okay, but when the juices start running, I've got it.


I get it every year, not even being around any of these plants.

on 11/22/2005 I was getting poison ivy every time I rode in the SM canyons until I learned this trick: Scrub yourself down with rubbing alcohol whenever you think you came in contact with it. Make sure to scrub and be thorough. This works every time for me.