A woody vine that is in the sumac family and the Anacardiaceae family is what many know as poison ivy. This plant is among the most common human allergy for those in the United States, having more than half of all Americans being affected.

Many think that to rub or scratch the irritation from the poison ivy plant will make it spread to other areas, and this is completely incorrect. There is only one way to spread the rash, and that is to spread the oil called urushiol that is on the plant. Once a person has come into contact with the plant it is best to wash the area so there is no oil residue to spread. If blisters from because of the rash, breaking blisters can cause infection and scarring, but will not cause the rash to spread at all.

There are some cures that work better than others, and the most effective are those that get rid of the urushiol oil on the leaves of the plant that cause the reaction. Some believe they are immune to the plant and this is very untrue. For people who have never had the problem before, it can take as long as a week or more to see the rash on the skin. The more times a person is exposed to the plant, the more prevalent chances are you will get a rash.

For the most part, children love being outside. Playing in the great outdoors is an excellent way for kids to get fresh air and exercise. Unfortunately, this often comes with a risk of poison ivy. Most people are very aware of the existence of this plant, which should come as no surprise given how common the problem is. If you are not familiar with this plant, take a look at some information.

Poison ivy is one type of plant in the species of Sumachs. This poisonous plant is most widely known for its production of urushiol and the symptoms that it provokes. Urushiol is a clear liquid that is found within the plant that causes itchy rashes in the majority of people that are unfortunate enough to come into physical contact with it.

This plant is widely distributed throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. It typically grows in three distinct forms. It can take the form of a trailing vine, a small bush, or a climbing vine that grows up trees or other types of vertical objects. There are many plants that appear similar to this one, often making it hard to effectively identify.

Poison ivy is a bigger deal than you might currently consider it to be. It can do a lot more than make you itch for a while. It has hospitalized people, and in extreme circumstances, some victims have died.

If this plant was being burned and you inhaled the smoke, you could get the rash on the lining inside your lungs. The pain would be unbearable, and it could be deadly.

Of course, it could also be fatal when there is a hypersensitive allergic reaction. But you have to figure, since that happens to some people with peanuts, it is certainly possible with poison ivy. The interesting thing about this particular plant is the fact that the longer you are exposed to it, the more sensitive you will become to it.

Somewhere between 15 and 30 percent of all people do not have a sensitivity to the poison in this plant, but that can change with exposure. If several friends were hiking and they all had contact with the plant, there might be at least one of them who was not affected by it, at all. However, if she decides to get cute and takes some with her, either to show off her special powers, or to chase her friends with it, there will likely come a point that she becomes sensitized, and develops the same reactions to it as everyone else.

Poison ivy is a very nasty plant which grows only in the United States and west of the Rockey mountains. The plant is coated in a oil like substance that causes very severe allergic skin reactions in about eighty-five percent of people. The reaction may be red itchy skin but can develop into welts, blisters and oozing sores on the allergic population.

There are other noxious plants in the United States that may cause similar reactions. Poison oak is found west of the Rockies. Poison sumac is found in very wet bogs of the eastern United States. These plants all emit urushiol, the oil like substance that is responsible for the allergic reaction.

Each time you are exposed to the plants your reaction can become worse. For many people, the first reaction is not seen for five to seven days after exposure to the plant. Subsequent exposures often develop a rash within one to two days. With severe reactions it is possible to experience anaphylaxis shock. Even if you have never had a reaction after exposure, you will want to avoid the plant as you may become sensitive after repeated exposures. Do not burn any of these plants as they can cause very severe reactions in the respiratory tract.

A plant that looks like a weed and is always avoided at all costs is called Poison Ivy. It grows either like a bush or a tree growing vine. Attached to a stem there are three leaflets. The color of the leaf changes like other normal leaves do; they change to yellow, orange or red. Sometimes green flowers and berries with a whitish color are grown around it.

All children grow up hearing their parent tell them to stay away from poison ivy but as a child, you do not know exactly what to look for so you can avoid it. If you do come in contact but are unaware, symptoms can take 12 to 24 hours to appear. These symptoms can include redness, blistering and swelling and should be cared for as soon as possible.

If oil comes in contact with the skin a rash will more than likely to appear. Coming in contact with this plant is not serious however it can be irritating. With all the itching and the blistering you have become self conscious. This needs to be looked at and dealt with immediately.