5 Things You Need to Know About Avoiding Poison Sumac

1. Sight Sumac

You can't avoid poison sumac if you don't know what it looks like. Poison sumac is typically found in the southeastern United States and it thrives in boggy or swampy areas. The shrub can grow as tall as 15 feet. To identify poison sumac, pay attention to the plant's leaves. Poison sumac leaves have 7 to 13 leaflets with smooth edges. Many times, pale yellow or cream-colored berries grow on the plant.

2. Take Preventative Action

Poison sumac causes itching, rashes and blisters by oozing urushiol, a chemical found in its sap. You can inadvertently spread urushiol by rubbing your eyes or scratching another part of your body after your hands have come into contact with poison sumac. If you suspect you have stumbled into poison sumac, don't touch any part of your body and rinse your hands off with cold water. Taking a shower immediately following contact is best, but if that's not possible, wash your hands and any part of your body that could have potentially come into contact with the plant with cool, soapy water.

3. Keep Them Clean

Gardening tools can come into contact with poison sumac and other irritating plants. To protect yourself from urushiol, regularly wash your tools. If you're weeding your yard or garden, wear long sleeves, pants, boots and gloves to keep your skin from coming into contact with potentially dangerous plants. Immediately throw your gardening clothes in the wash. Clothes with urushiol on them can contaminate other clothes if they're thrown into a pile of laundry.

4. Use a Leash

Keep your dog on a leash, or at least within sight, if you're exploring an area that might have poison sumac. Your dog's fur can transfer urushiol if you pet it, and you won't know you've been exposed to poison sumac until you break out in a rash. If you catch your dog romping through poison sumac, use gloves to handle the dog until you can get him in the bath. Rinse off the dog's entire body with cool water before using your hands to lather him up. Thoroughly wash your hands after bathing the dog.

5. When It Can't be Avoided

Sometimes, walking through poison sumac is necessary. Hikers should wear the appropriate clothing, such as boots, pants and long sleeves, to protect their skin from the plant. When the weather doesn't permit protective clothing, an over-the-counter lotion that coats the skin with a thick, protective substance is available.