Poison ivy, sumac and oak are all plantings that release a toxin known as urusiol oil. Many people experience an allergic reaction that includes itchy rashes and blisters they've had contact with the oil of one of these three plants. While...
Poison oak is a plant which contains an oily resin called urushiol. If this resin is allowed to make contact with your skin, it can cause an allergic reaction which causes a rash. If you come into contact with poison oak, the best treatment is to...
Exposure to poison oak causes unpleasant symptoms in the 50 to 70 percent of people who are sensitive to it, but the culprit is an oil rather than a poison, according to the National Institutes of Health. Toxicodendron plants--poison ivy, poison...
Swelling, burning and itching can be very painful if they are all present in your fingers, not only because of the symptoms themselves but because of how often your digits are used. Additionally, the skin on your fingers tends to be more...
Poison oak will put a damper on anyone's camping trip, but it can be especially dangerous if the urushiol oil that causes a rash on your skin is transferred to your eyes. Left unchecked, it can cause your eyes to swell shut and may cause burning...
It can be frustrated to have dry, scaly bumps on your ears and not understand what's causing this condition. A variety of factors can cause these symptoms and they don't always happen on the ears alone. Making an appointment with a dermatologist...
A poison sumac reaction can occur when a person's skin comes in contact with the sap of a poison sumac plant. The sap typically enters the skin rapidly and spreads from person to person. Poison sumac sap may be on the plant, on an animal or on...
Poison ivy and poison oak plants contain an oil called urushiol. Urushiol, found not only in the leaves of the plant but also in the stems and roots, results in an allergic reaction and produces an itchy rash. Itching, redness and blisters may...
Poison oak is a plant that is identified by three leaves. In most cases the middle leaf is the longest. It can grow as a vine or a shrub. In some areas the plant may have yellow or green flowers and clusters of green-yellow or white berries. The...
Poison sumac, along with related plants such as poison ivy and poison oak, contains a skin-aggravating oil known as urushiol. Found on the plants' leaves, stems and even roots, when urushiol touches the skin, allergic contact dermatitis occurs....
Poison oak is a plant that is native to the West Coast and Southern sections of the United States. The plant grows in either a shrub or vine formation; its yellow or green flowers may include white berries . Poison oak leaves contain an oil called...
Poison sumac, along with poison ivy and poison oak, contains a compound called urushiol that can cause an allergic skin reaction in susceptible individuals. While there is no cure for the rash caused by contact with this plant, treatments are...
Pine tar, derived from pine trees, is actually impure turpentine, originally obtained by distilling the resins from the split fatwood of pine tree roots. Modern methods of obtaining the resins also include using steam pressure. Pine tar is a...
A hike can invigorate the mind and body, but some people end up with blotchy, red ankles for their efforts. Most cases of red blotches around the ankles after hiking result from exposure to certain types of plants and insects. Fortunately, most...
During the warmer months of the year, many people head out of doors for exercise. Walking, hiking and running in natural environments are good ways to build stamina, enjoy nature, and get away from the hustle and bustle of day-to-day life....
The most common cause of allergic skin reactions in the United States, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics report, is contact with a substance found in three plants --- poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac, according. These plants...
Poison ivy rash is ugly and uncomfortable enough to make you reluctant to take your dog for another walk in the park, or wish you'd never tried to pull weeds without thick gloves and a protective suit. Heal your skin with plenty of water, gentle...
Poison oak or sumac poisoning is an allergic reaction caused by physical contact to poison oak or poison ivy plants, according to MedlinePlus, an online service of the National Institutes of Health. Sap from these plants can come in direct contact...
As poison ivy creeps up in the central and eastern U.S., poison oak is the bane of many an outdoor traveler or worker on the West Coast. Extremely common in some places, poison oak also comes in a diversity of growth forms, and its foliage easily...
Direct skin contact with poison oak results in contact dermatitis. The sap of the poison oak plant contains an oil called urushiol that causes an allergic reaction in humans. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to poison oak is an itchy rash with...
Poison ivy and poison oak produce identical symptoms. Both plants contain the same noxious irritant--urushiol. Urushiol causes contact dermatitis, which is another name for the intense itching and rash that makes sufferers feel like they are going...
Skin is often taken for granted until it is somehow irritated. Itchy skin feels uncomfortable, especially if it is also dry and tight. According to the Mayo Clinic, itchy skin can be caused by a virus, allergy or chronic condition such as eczema....
Blisters are fluid-filled bumps on your skin that cause discomfort and are unattractive. When the blisters are on your hands, they may make it difficult to perform daily tasks. Blisters have multiple causes, and usually they resolve on their own....
As one of the most exposed areas of the body, the arms are a frequent site of skin rashes. Infections, allergic skin reactions and contact with environmental irritants commonly cause skin rashes on one or both arms. Although most rashes do not...
Sudden itching of your skin may range from being slightly annoying to constant and severe. On many occasions, simply having a close look at your skin will allow you to see what is causing the itching -- whether it is from a bug bite or an allergic...
Few things are as painful, ugly and persistent as a poison ivy rash, or a similar rash produced by poison ivy's cousins, poison oak and poison sumac. Poison ivy rash results from a severe allergic skin reaction to urushiol, a sticky plant oil that...
Poison ivy is a commonly found plant, so it is a possibility your infant will be exposed to it at some point. It is estimated that roughly 85 percent of the population is allergic to the oil found in poison ivy, according to the BabyCenter...
Plants produce allergens in a couple different ways. Plants like ragweed, grass, chrysanthemums (and other flowers) and trees all produce pollen. Pollen can be carried by animal fur, bees and by air currents. Plants, like stinging nettles, poison...
Contracting poison oak can be torturous, but remedies and treatments are available. Learn about poison oak from a doctor in this video on skin care.