- Poison ivy and poison oak grow as both woody vines and shrubs that can range from 3 to 10 feet tall. Each stem of the plant grows three leaflets that can range from shiny red to shiny green. Poison ivy leaves tend to be more pointed on the ends, while poison oak leaves have a more rounded appearance.
- The organic compound that causes a reaction to poison ivy and poison oak is urushiol oil. This extremely potent oil can be found on all parts of the plants including leaves, stems, berries and even roots. The oil can remain on dead plants and even clothing for years after contamination.
- When the urushiol oil of the poison ivy and oak plants comes in contact with your skin, it causes an anaphylactic reaction that results in mild to extreme skin irritation and blistering. Skin redness, swelling, inflammation and fluid-filled blisters are all signs of a poison ivy and poison oak reaction.
- Reactions to poison ivy and oak plants vary from person to person. The effects of poison ivy and oak can range from almost no reaction at all, to a severe bout of blisters that can cover the entire body. In individuals that are hypersensitive to the urushiol oil, blistering may even occur internally.
- It is very easy to tell if you are extremely hypersensitive to the effects of poison ivy and oak, as your allergic reaction will be quite obvious. Individuals with acute sensitivity to the urushiol oil should seek immediate medical treatment, typically with steroid medication, to prevent serious health complications and hasten recovery.
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