Do you get itchy rashes all over your body when you touch the plants? Let's learn about these poisonous plants (Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac)

Imagine you are hiking a beautiful mountain with your friends, or cleaning your garden. After finishing work and coming home, you suddenly scratch your arm or leg very hard. After a while, the area turns red and small blisters appear. This is actually something that happens to many people in our country. The main reason for this could be that you have accidentally ingested a poisonous plant. Today we are going to talk about such plants, the allergies they cause, and what to do about them.

What are these poisonous plants?

Simply put, this means that some plants, due to a certain chemical in them, cause an allergy to our skin. When we touch these plants, an oil-like liquid from their leaves, stems, or roots gets on our body. This oil is called Urushiol . This is the root of all these problems.

This chemical, called Urushiol, is very strong. Even a small amount, smaller than a grain of salt, can cause severe skin irritation and itching. About 90% of the world's population is allergic to it. The amazing thing is, even if you didn't have this reaction as a child, you can develop this allergy at any time in your life.

This risk is usually higher for those who work in forests, climb mountains, garden, or farm. Also, this type of oil can be found on clothes, shoes, pet fur, and even gardening tools.

How do you identify these poisonous plants?

There are many types of poisonous plants in different countries of the world. Especially in countries like America, plants called Poison Ivy, Poison Oak and Poison Sumac are famous. Although these plants are not found in our country, there are similar plants that are harmful to the skin. Therefore, it is very important to be aware of the nature of these plants in general.

What happens when this plant comes into contact with the body? What are the symptoms?

The reaction that occurs when you get urushiol oil on your skin is called Allergic Contact Dermatitis . Symptoms don't start at the same time for everyone. For some people, it can start within a few hours, while for others, it can take two to three days.

The main symptoms are these:

• There is unbearable itching .
• The skin turns red .
• That area is swollen .
• Small, water-filled blisters or large blisters form.

Sometimes these lesions may not be red, but appear as black spots or streaks. This is a somewhat rare condition.

Is there a sequence in which these rashes appear? (Rash Stages)

Yes, usually this damage goes through several stages. This whole process peaks around 14 days, and then gradually decreases. For someone who is exposed to it for the first time in their life, it can take up to 21 days for symptoms to appear.

Let's look at some of the questions we have about this.

Why do these scars seem to spread all over the body?

This is a problem that many people have. Imagine that you first got a rash on your hand, then your stomach, then your legs. You think that the rash on your hand is contagious. No, that's wrong.

Here's what happens: The toxic oil (Urushiol) is applied to different parts of your body. However, depending on the thickness and sensitivity of your skin, the time it takes for the rash to appear in different parts is different. In thin areas of the skin (e.g., the wrists) the rash appears quickly, and in thicker areas (e.g., the soles of the feet) the rash appears later. So you see the rash spreading little by little. Also, the oil that has been applied to your clothes or a bag can cause new rashes to appear in other parts of the body.

Is this disease contagious? (Is it contagious?)

However, the only way the disease can be transmitted is if the poisonous oil is applied to someone else's body. For example:

• If you touch clothes worn by someone who has been contaminated by a poisonous plant.
• If you use an oiled tool that has been used in the garden.
• What if you touch your dog or cat after a walk in the woods and they have oil on their fur?

Could this cause dangerous situations?

This is usually not a very dangerous condition, but sometimes complications can occur.

1. Inhaling the smoke: This is the most dangerous. If someone burns this poisonous plant, the smoke contains particles of Urushiol. If you inhale this smoke, it can damage the nose, mouth, throat, and even the inside of the lungs, causing serious breathing difficulties . This is a condition that requires emergency medical attention.

2. Infections caused by itching: Due to unbearable itching, we scratch the skin with our nails. Then the skin is injured, and bacteria under the nails can enter the wounds and cause secondary infections . Then the wounds can ooze pus and even cause fever.

Okay, what do we do about this now? What are the treatments?

If you experience this type of damage, follow these steps to get quick relief.

Things to do immediately after touching the plant

• Wash: As soon as possible, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water. If you can wash within 10-15 minutes, you can largely prevent the oil from being absorbed into the skin.
• Wash your clothes: Immediately remove all the clothes you were wearing at the time and wash them separately. Otherwise, the oil on those clothes could get on you or other people in your household.
• Wash everything else: Thoroughly clean anything that you think might have been touched by the oil, such as shoes, bags, gardening tools, and pets.
• Clean your nails: Use a brush to clean the nail bed thoroughly, as oil may be trapped under the nail.

Things you can do at home to reduce itching and irritation

• Soaking in cold water: Soak a clean cloth in cold water, wring it out well, and place it on the itchy areas. This provides great relief from itching.
• Lukewarm baths: Soak in a bucket of lukewarm water with a little colloidal oatmeal. You can also take a bath with a cup of baking soda in the water.
• Don't scratch: This may be easier said than done, but avoid scratching as much as possible. Scratching can damage the skin and increase the risk of infection.
• Don't pop blisters: If you have blisters, don't pop them or peel off the skin. That skin protects the wound underneath from infection.

The treatment you will receive if you see a doctor

These rashes usually heal on their own within a week or two. However, if the itching is severe, you may want to see your doctor for treatment.

• Anti-itch creams: Calamine lotion or Hydrocortisone cream can be used as directed by a doctor.
• Antihistamines: Your doctor may prescribe you a pill (e.g. Piriton, Cetirizine) to control itching.
• Steroids: If the rash is very severe and has spread to a large area of ​​the body, your doctor may prescribe an oral steroid for a short period of time.

When do you suddenly need to see a doctor?

Although this can usually be managed at home, see a doctor immediately if you have the following symptoms. In some cases, you may even need to go to the hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU).

How can we prevent something like this from happening again?

The best thing to do is to prevent this from happening. These things will help you do that.

• Identify plants: Be aware of skin-irritating plants in the forest areas and gardens you frequent.
• Wear protective clothing: When working in the garden or walking in the woods, wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, shoes, and socks. It's best to wear gloves.
• Wash: Wash your body as soon as you get home from working outside. Change your clothes and put them in the wash.
• Take care of your pets: If your pet walks in wild areas, wash it before bringing it home. It's safest to do this while wearing rubber gloves.