Poison sumac causes an unpleasant allergic reaction on your skin if you accidentally touch the plant. Sumac's "cousins," poison oak and poison ivy will cause you similar misery. The oily sap from the leaves, stems and roots contain compounds known as alkylcatechols, which together form urushiol. Keep clear of the bark of poison sumac as well, since this will also give you a skin reaction. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when exposed to 50 mcg of urushiol, an amount less than one grain of table salt, 80 to 90 percent of adults will have a reaction.
Contact Dermatitis
Poison sumac causes an allergic reaction known as contact dermatitis. The reaction involves severe itching, swelling and blisters. Contact with urushiol can occur several ways. Direct contact happens when the oil comes in direct contact with the skin. Expect a reaction within 12 to 48 hours. Exposure can occur from indirect contact since the urushiol oil can stick to pet fur, clothing or almost anything that it comes in contact with. The rash can last from one to three weeks. Burning poison sumac releases urushiol particles into the air, causing skin, eye and respiratory reactions.
Plant Recognition
Poison sumac, or Toxicodendron vernix, looks like a small shrub-like tree. It has white fruit and alternate leaves, with 9 to 13 leaflets. The stem that connects the leaflets has a red color. The leaves have a shine on top and a smooth texture. In the fall, leaves turn different colors ranging from yellow to deep purple. Poison sumac grows along the Mississippi River and swampy areas in the southeast. Rhus glabra or smooth sumac looks similar to poison sumac but has toothed leaves and long red fruits. Smooth sumac does not cause a skin reaction or contain urushiol.
Treatment
As soon as possible after exposure, wash skin with rubbing alcohol or dish-washing soap and use large amounts of water to remove the oil. Put calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream on the area to reduce itching and blistering. An antihistamine may help relieve itching but could cause drowsiness. If the rash is severe, on the face or genitals, contact a physician. If symptoms of a severe reaction such as breathing difficulty occur call 911.
Prevention
Prevention includes the ability to recognize poison sumac. Become familiar with the characteristics of the plant and avoid it. If you need to work in an area where poison sumac grows, wear long sleeves, boots, long pants and gloves. Wash clothes that have had contact with poison sumac separately. Use hot water and detergent to prevent indirect spread. An over-the-counter cream containing 5 percent bentoquatam makes a barrier between skin and oil. Apply this cream if you know that a possibility exists that you will come into contact with poison sumac. Do not burn any part of the poison sumac plant.
References
- U.S. National Library of Medicine; Poison ivy - Oak - Sumac Rash; May 2011
- United States Forest Service; Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Relatives; Mary Ann Davies; April 2007
- Centers For Disease Control and Prevention; Poisonous Plants; August 2010
- Duke University; Poison Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix); Will Cook; February 2009
