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Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac

Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac

Conditions & Symptoms , , , ,

Poison Oak/Ivy/Sumac

What does a poison ivy, oak or sumac rash look like?

When your skin is exposed to poison ivy/oak or poison sumac your body develops an allergic reaction from the oil (urushiol) residue that is found on the leaves of all three plants. This reaction generally produces a rash with red bumps and blisters that are itchy and sensitive to touch. The rash will often form a linear pattern (as do many rashes that are caused by plants), and usually appears eight to 48 hours after initial exposure.

Although many people believe poison ivy, oak and sumac are contagious and can be spread all over the body, the truth is the rash is not contagious, nor will it invade uninfected areas.  Once the oil touches your skin, the oil is bound to that specific area and can no longer be transferred.  The rash may appear to have spread since some areas of the body tend to develop symptoms faster than others, but generally the rash appears in different areas of the body because the oil was transferred from clothing, animal fur, backpacks or gardening tools.

It is also important to know that inhaling the smoke from burning poison ivy/oak or poison sumac can lead to inflammation of the lungs.

Treatment

Before I begin with the treatment, I must note that you should get immediate medical care if you have:

  • Trouble breathing or swallowing
  • Swelling, especially of the eyelid
  • A rash covering most of your body
  • A rash involving your genitals or face

Now, here is my advice for treating reactions to poison ivy, oak and sumac.

First, try to remove the oil from your skin with rubbing alcohol. While most of us do not carry a bottle of rubbing alcohol around with us, a good trick is to wash the area off with hand sanitizer since it is usually alcohol-based. There are many over-the-counter poison ivy/oak/sumac products that can help remove the oil, but if you are in the middle of the woods hand sanitizer should do the trick!

After you attempt to remove the oil with an alcohol-based product, wash the area with soap and water.  Then apply a wet, cold compress to the exposed areas. This will help with the inflammation. Next, wash all of the clothing and items you were wearing including backpacks, shoes, socks, etc. that may have had contact with the plant.

Once the rash and/or itching develops, use an anti-itch cream to relieve the itch. Although the rash is itchy, scratching the skin can lead to harmful bacterial infections.

If the rash is more severe, you should see your doctor. Depending on the severity of your reaction your doctor may prescribe a steroid cream, pill, or injection.

How long do the symptoms last?

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac symptoms can last anywhere from one week to one month.

Call your doctor if your symptoms worsen after you stop treatment. This may mean that you need a longer treatment plan.

Other Conditions

Insect Bites and Stings

Insect Bites and Stings

Conditions & Symptoms , , ,

Insect Bites and Stings

Mosquito Bites

When a mosquito bites, your body reacts to the protein in the mosquito’s saliva by producing histamine, causing the swollen area and the itch.

A cold compress can help reduce the swelling of a mosquito bite.

Bed Bug Bites

Bed bug bites may take anywhere from a few minutes to days after the initial bite to begin itching, and bites can appear on their own or in clusters or lines. The bites may appear as raised bumps or flat welts and can last for between one and two weeks. Itchy bed bug bites have been known to cause people to lose sleep and increase anxiety, especially if they suffer from repeated bites.

Bee, Wasp and Hornet Stings

When a bee stings, its stinger enters your body and releases venom, causing pain and sometimes an allergic reaction. Most reactions to stings are limited to localized swelling or welts and are experienced as minor itching or pain, though in some cases a severe allergic reaction could lead to shock. Only a small percentage of people actually develop a severe reaction to insect bites or stings.

Fire Ant Bites and Stings

When their nests are disturbed, fire ants will bite and sting multiple times, resulting in groups of swollen red welts that blister, itch, burn and sting. These welts can cause discomfort for about a week.

Spider Bites

Spider bites are generally mild and can cause some pain, swelling and irritation, but some can be deadly. If you develop severe symptoms after a spider bite, speak to your physician immediately.

Insect Bite Treatment

Here are some tips for treating insect bites or stings:

  • Move to a safe area to avoid additional stings.
  • Remove the stinger if it is stuck in your skin. Do not remove the stinger with tweezers, as this may push it further into your skin. To remove a stinger that it is close to the surface use the edge of a credit card—slide the card away from the point of the stinger toward the point of entry where the stinger entered the skin.
  • Apply an anti-itch gel or cream to soothe the skin and stop the itch.
  • Apply a cold pack to reduce swelling.

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Athlete’s Foot

Athlete’s Foot

Conditions & Symptoms , , ,

Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot is a fungal infection that develops in the moist areas between the toes and other areas of the feet. Athlete’s foot is one of the most common fungal infections and is closely related to ringworm. Athlete’s foot is contagious but can usually be treated with over-the-counter medication. Athlete’s foot will cause itching, tingling and/or burning between the toes and around the foot.

Causes:

Mold-like fungi called dermatophytes are normal inhabitants of the skin, but given the right conditions these fungi can multiply and infect the skin, causing irritation and discomfort such as burning, stinging and itching. Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist areas. Damp socks and tight shoes (plastic shoes in particular) provide a welcoming environment for these fungi to multiply. Athlete’s foot is contagious and can be spread by contact with an infected person’s towels, shoes and even contaminated floors.

Symptoms:

  • Itching, stinging and burning between the toes and/or on the soles of the feet
  • Itchy blisters
  • Toenails that are thick, crumbly, ragged, discolored or pulling away from the nail bed (this indicates the fungal infection has spread into the nail)
  • Excessive dryness of the skin on the bottoms or sides of the feet
  • Cracking and peeling skin, especially between the toes and on the soles of the feet

Athlete’s Foot Treatments

If your symptoms are mild, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter (OTC) medication to help keep your feet dry and relieve the itching. Some topical OTC anti-fungal treatments include: butenafine (Lotrimin Ultra); clotrimazole (Lotrimin AF); miconazole (Desenex, Zeasorb, others); terbinafine (Lamisil AT); tolnaftate (Tinactin, Ting, others)

  1. Wash affected area with warm water and mild soap and dry completely.
  2. Apply anti-fungal cream or powder.
  3. Wash and disinfect your shoes, socks, floors and anything that might have come into contact with the fungus to prevent recontamination.
  4. Try to keep toes and feet dry and cool and avoid open-toed shoes and footwear.

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Allergy Itch

Allergy Itch

Conditions & Symptoms , , ,

Allergy Itch

When you hear the word “allergy” you may think of sniffling and sneezing. For people who have allergies of the skin, it’s itch they want to ditch. Officially called “allergic contact dermatitis,” it occurs when your skin comes into contact with a substance that causes you to have an allergic reaction.

Common skin allergen include soaps, jewelry, fragrances, fabrics, plants (á la poison ivy, oak or sumac) [include links to appropriate posts] or materials (like rubber or latex).

Our friend Jen, for example, is allergic to nickel. Unfortunately Aunt Cathy didn’t know this when gifting her a beautiful birthday necklace, so after several hours of wearing her new necklace Jen’s skin became red, raised and itchy. Fortunately, Jen knows the deal so she removes the necklace and treats her skin, but for many people they may not be aware they are allergic until after coming into contact with the invader.

If you not sure what you’re allergic to, it’s important to get to the bottom of the cause. A skin allergy test can be done right at the doctor’s office if you are noticing frequent reactions. There are several ways to conduct a skin allergy test, such as the infamous “skin prick” test, but injections and patch tests are also common. Some tests can even yield results in the same doctor’s visit!

Symptoms of a skin allergy may be different, too. While Jen’s reaction caused red and itchy skin, some people may have bumps, blisters, rashes, patches of scaly, raw and thickened skin. For many people, over-the-counter creams can help with the itchiness that comes with an allergic reaction. You can also find steroid-free options at the drugstore. Most people can safely treat at home; however the American Academy of Dermatology suggests going to the hospital right away if the reaction is severe (like having trouble breathing or swelling of the face).

 

References: American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology/ Skin Allergy; American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology/ Allergic Reactions; National Library of Medicine/ Contact Dermatitis; Mayo Clinic/Skin Allergy Tests, American Academy of Dermatology/ Poison Ivy  

 

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