Poison sumac is so potent, mere contact with its bark can cause an itchy rash, states Duke University. Once you can identify poison sumac, you'll know to avoid it. This shrub has characteristic signs that warn you of an impending camping or hiking hazard--and inevitable discomfort once your skin comes into contact with its oils.
What it Looks Like
Poison sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, presents as either a small shrub or large tree. You can identify poison sumac by its odd number of leaflets–between nine and 13–and its red rachis, the stem that connects the leaflets to the leaf. The leaflets have a smooth, shiny texture, and the leaves bear a tiny green berry-like fruit. In the fall, poison sumac turns colorful shades of yellow, orange, red and purple. In the winter, leaflets are shed, and the shrub's fruits turn white.
Where it Grows
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, poison sumac favors moist conditions, thriving in standing water and bogs in parts of the Northeast and Midwest. In the Southeast, it grows in swampy regions.
Poison Sumac Rash
Once your skin makes contact with poison sumac, the oil in this shrub, urushiol, penetrates your skin within a matter of minutes, says the American Academy of Dermatology. It takes longer for a rash to appear, usually one to three days. You may first notice itching, inflammation and redness before blisters erupt. These present wherever poison sumac touched your skin and may appear in streaks or lines. Any part of the skin can be affected, says the academy. New areas of skin may be affected by the rash in the following days, but only the parts that came into contact with urushiol, says the University of Michigan Health System. The more urushiol you come into contact with, the worse your symptoms will be. Widespread exposure may cause your face, mouth, neck and genitals to swell and large clusters of oozing blisters to form.
What To Do
Cool baths and wet compresses can assuage poison sumac rash, says the University of Michigan Health System. You may also choose to take over-the-counter antihistamines or apply calamine lotion to the rash. When rash is moderate or severe, you may need to see your doctor for more aggressive treatment. Medical management of poison sumac may include prescription oral and topical drugs.
Prevention Tips
The best way to avoid poison sumac is to learn how to identify the shrub so you won't make contact with it, says the University of Michigan Health System. The Academy of Dermatology recommends protecting your skin by wearing long pants and sleeves, gloves and boots. Applying a nonprescription topical containing bentoquatam is also helpful. Bentoquatam acts as a barrier between you and poison sumac, preventing urushiol from penetrating your skin.
