Poison ivy or poison oak is a notorious plant that
almost everyone on the North American continent is familiar
with. This is because such a large percentage of people have
experienced allergic reactions to the urushiol oils
contained in the poison ivy and other similar plants at one
time or another.
It grows pretty much everywhere in
North America and it thrives greatly during the summer
months when a majority of people are spending a large
percentage of time outside.
There has also been an explosion of
poison ivy growth in recent years that has lead to potential
increased exposure to the plant. This is especially true of
rural and suburban areas that border undeveloped patches of
land.
Over 90 percent of the
population is allergic to poison ivy and even people who
think they are completely immune to it can be susceptible to
its itchy effects at any time without
warning.
Repeated exposure to the poison ivy plant as well as
exposure to large amounts of the rash causing urushiol oil
in poison ivy can cause breakouts in people who were
otherwise thought to be immune.
Because you can
never truly be sure that you are immune, poison ivy is
certainly a plant everyone should try to avoid contact
with whenever possible. The discomfort that a poison ivy rash
can cause can be almost indescribably unbearable and can
sometimes become an extremely serious problem that leads
to hospitalization in extreme
cases.
On this site you will
find information pertaining not only to the treatment of
poison ivy rashes but also pictures that will help you to
identify the plant if you encounter it in the
wild.
Identifying these potentially rash
causing plants can go a long to helping you to prevent
developing an allergic reaction that can lead to some nasty
rashes and blisters.
There are lists of
common remedies as well as information pertaining to over
the counter treatments for poison ivy rashes as well as
products that can help prevent making contact with the rash
causing oils before you encounter any poison ivy plants in
the first place.
You will also discover the common
myths that surround poison ivy as well as important and
little known facts.
We also have a few
pages that are dedicated to over the counter poison ivy
treatments that are available for purchase online. We not
only provide you with a list of the best ones that are
available but we also include convenient links to where you
can order them online. These products include solutions that
form a protective barrier that helps prevent poison ivy rashes before you
even come into contact with the
plants.
We have also
included some great poison ivy cleansing products that
work to break down the bond that forms between the rash
causing urushiol oil and the affected skin cells. There
is a list of effective topical ointments and gels that
work to eliminate the rash causing oil as well as cleanse
the affected area. We list some liquid sprays applied in
a light mist that help relieve the painful itching and
burning of the rash after it has been properly cleaned.
There are cleansing wipes that help to immediately
eliminate the rash causing oils by wiping them away
before the rash has a chance to form. Also listed are a
few all in one kits for preventing, cleaning, and treating poison ivy
rashes.
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