When I was in the 7th grade I had a terrible poison ivy experience. When I say terrible, I mean terrible! I was unrecognizable. My face swelled up to the point that my sister called me the “Elephant Woman,” which, of course, I didn’t enjoy. My eyes were essentially swollen shut and I couldn’t get my fingers to close together due to the gigantic poison ivy bubbles between them. I’d post a photo, but it would be far too embarrassing! Seriously, it was bad.
I had to have shots to bring down the swelling, take medicine for what seemed like ages, and pretty much bathed in calamine lotion. Definitely not an ideal situation for summer. Since then, a mere mention of poison ivy makes me run for the hills.
But, guess what? It turns out poison ivy isn’t contagious! So my fleeing the scene may not be necessary after all!
I recently shared with you a bit about the Women2Women event at Advanced Skin Care & LASER Center in Wyomissing on Summer Skin Care. Dr. Harriet Comite, Berks County’s first female dermatologist and only Cosmetic Board Certified dermatologist in the region, talked to us about skin care pertaining to sun protection, but she also discussed poison ivy. I learned some things I never knew. I bet you will, too!
I asked Dr. Comite to share with me some of the info she presented, so I could pass it along. Did you know:
- For the outdoors-person, poisonous plants (ivy, oak and sumac) are dangerous, troublesome, and common in this region. We’ve all heard the anthem, LEAVES OF THREE … LET IT BE! Poisoning occurs by exposure to the sap in the roots, stems and leaves of plants that is released when the plant is bruised. The sap may be deposited on the skin by direct contact with the plant, or by contact with contaminated clothing or pets. Springtime and early summer (when the leaves are most tender) are the easiest times of the year to come in contact with the poisons, but exposure at any time of the year is possible.
Two popular myths about these poisons are that they can be spread by scratching and are contagious. The facts are that scratching cannot spread the rash to other body areas, and you cannot catch it with direct contact with another person’s rash. (This was huge for me to learn!) Note, however; that new areas of rash or blistering can develop for up to three weeks after contact with the plant.
Also of interest is that the skin of a mango has the same allergen and can cause itching and a rash around the mouth!
To treat breakouts of poison ivy, oak or sumac, first, if you even THINK you may have had contact with a poisonous plant, WASH YOUR SKIN thoroughly with plenty of soap and water. Remove all clothing and launder it immediately. If a rash does develop, over-the-counter treatments including calamine lotion and antihistamines, such as Claritin®, Zyrtec®, Allegra®, and Benadryl® may be effective in soothing the itch. Treatment by a board-certified dermatologist who offers prescription-strength medications creates greater efficacy and quicker resolution.
Here’s hoping you (and I!) don’t have any terrible poison ivy experiences this year!
For more info on Dr. Comite at Advanced Skin Café & Laser Center visit www.ComiteSkin.com. The office is located at 1260 Broadcasting Rd., Corporate Campus of Spring Ridge, Wyomissing. 610.374.1400.
For more info on Women2Women visit www.berkswomen2women.org. Their goal is to create more women leaders in Berks County by providing a forum where women from diverse backgrounds can learn, share ideas and mentor each other.
