3 Ways to Identify Sumac Rash

1. Look for Red, Itchy Skin and Blisters

Sumac rash causes red, itchy skin and usually appears within 1 to 3 days after being exposed to the sumac plant. The rash will often develop blisters that may begin to crust or ooze, and swelling may occur in the affected area.

The rash seems to spread when you scratch at it. Some people believe that it's the fluid from the blisters that causes the rash to spread, but in fact, it's the urushiol oil from the sumac plant. When you scratch, you spread the oil further and further, which increases the size of the rash. The oil may even get on your fingers or under your fingernails, transferring it to anything you touch. Different areas of skin may break out at different times, depending on when they came into contact with the oil. Try to avoid scratching at a sumac rash, no matter how tempting it may be. It only makes the problem worse.

2. Consider Exposure to Sumac

Poison sumac can be found along the Mississippi River and similarly damp areas of the American Southeast. It usually appears as a shrub or a small tree with reddish or grayish leaves that turn orange in the fall. Each stem has between 7 and 13 leaves. Sumac itself is not poisonous; it's the urushiol oil it contains that causes all of the trouble. Because of that, however, you may be exposed to the oil without necessarily coming into contact with the plant. It may get on your pets' fur, for example, or be transferred through clothing that is washed together. Learn to identify sumac in your area and find out whether anyone around you may have come into contact with it. Be careful about taking walks with bare skin showing. Wear proper clothes that cover your body and use gloves if you're going to be working in an area with poison sumac. Wash clothes and equipment promptly and keep sumac medication nearby if you think there is a danger of exposure.

3. Watch What You Burn

Some people try to burn poison sumac as a way of getting rid of it. This is a very bad idea. The urushiol oil travels through the smoke, which can cause damage to the lungs if inhaled as well as creating a sumac rash on any exposed skin. Never burn poison sumac and stay clear of the area if you think someone else is doing so. If you want to get rid of the plant, use herbicides available from nurseries or hardware stores instead of burning it.