Three Common Poison Ivy Symptoms

Coming down with a case of poison ivy is not fun for anyone. Generally, the sooner that poison ivy is recognized and treated, the better off things are for everyone. Here are some examples of the most common poison ivy symptoms that will help you know if you or a loved one are about to experience an outbreak.

One of the first things to understand that poison ivy does not affect everyone in exactly the same manner. For some people, the symptoms may be very mild, while other people will find that even the briefest contact with the poison ivy plant will lead to a severe outbreak. Also, the visual symptoms are not always a true indicator of the strength of the condition. For this reason, it is even more important to not brush off what appears to be only a minor outbreak. The situation may be more severe than is first recognized.

One of the first poison ivy symptoms to appear is usually a light rash. Unchecked, this symptom can move on to a rash that is more pronounced and bright red in appearance. If the proper medical attention is not given to the situation, blisters will form and also begin to water.

As the rash progresses, itching will begin to set in. Like the rash, the initial level of itching will be somewhat manageable, but will escalate if left untreated. When the itching becomes unbearable, the first inclination is to scratch the infected area. This can be very dangerous, since scratching not only further irritates the skin, but also will cause the condition to spread.

Fever can also develop with advanced cases of poison ivy. The increased temperature can divert the body's healing reserves away from dealing with the infection. This in turn will make it harder to cope with all three of these poison ivy symptoms, and may lead to severe scarring if not taken care of immediately. For this reason, do not hesitate to see a doctor if you notice signs of poison ivy and are not sure how to treat them effectively.

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