Home

Poison ivy, poison oak & poison sumac are plants that can cause a skin irritation that is called contact dermatitis which happens when they touch your skin. Red and itchy rashes usually show up after contact and can also be characterized by oozing blisters and hives. Each person has a different reaction to these plants from mild to very severe.

The rash is caused by contact with the leaves which contain urushiol oil & is found in poison ivy, oak & sumac. This oil is in all parts of the plant including the leaves, stems, flowers, berries, and roots. Urushiol oil is causes an allergic reaction to the oil in all these plants.

Even indirect contact with urushiol oil can also cause the rash or blisters. This can happen when you touch clothing, wood with vines on it, gardening equipment or any other objects that come in contact with any of these plants. Caution is recommended when around these plants and awareness of what they look like is very important.