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Poison ivy relief

Rashes, dermatoses or skin eruptions include acute, inflammatory reactions of the skin caused by an allergic or irritant reaction (such as that caused by poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac, or other forms of allergic or irritant contact dermatitis), other forms of eczema, lichen simplex chronicus, rashes, dermatoses or skin eruptions of a chronic nature (e.g. seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis) or caused by infection, irritation or aggravation of another condition such as occurs with acne, and other rashes, dermatoses or skin eruptions. Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac each has a sap that is composed of substances that provoke a sensitizing reaction in most people the first time contact with the sap occurs. The sap of such plants contains a toxin which can cause an allergic reaction upon contact with the skin, despite the fact that the toxic substance naturally occurs in low concentrations and the contact is usually brief and incidental. After a person has become sensitized, subsequent contact with the sap produces an allergic reaction. First, the skin reddens and begins to itch. Small watery blisters appear and the inching becomes worse. Persons with poison ivy commonly scratch which slows healing and may spread the active substances from the plant's sap to other locations on the body. The extent of reaction varies from individual to individual. Some individuals may experience little or no reaction or simply some itching which disappears after a few days, while other develop a severe skin rash which may require treatment with antibiotics and may need several weeks or even months fully to heal.

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