A doctor should be consulted if the rash stays red and itchy for more than 2 weeks, if the rash is over most of the body or near the eyes, or if fever is present.
POISON IVY CREAM SKIN
Itching and a temporary thickening or scaliness of the affected skin may last for days or weeks.Įxposure to poison ivy can cause severe allergic complications, such as a more general swelling, headache, fever, or infection. In severe reactions, the rash will develop into swollen, extremely painful areas of skin filled with fluid. Small blisters then form, filled with a clear fluid, and eventually break open. Usually, the rash first becomes noticeable as patches of red, itchy skin. It rarely appears on the soles of the feet or palms of the hand. The rash area may be very small or may cover a large area of the body. Often, the rash contains linear streaks of tiny, itching blisters ( vesicles). The effects of the contact dermatitis caused by poison ivy range from a mild, short-lived redness to severe swelling and blisters. Scratching can prolong the discomfort and cause an infection. Allergic contact dermatitis is most often confined to a specific area and usually has clearly defined boundaries. Thankfully, scratching the rash won't usually spread the urushiol poison to other parts of the body. Urushiol resin can be transferred by fingers or animal fur, and it can remain for months on clothing, shoes, and tools. But once someone is sensitized and fully allergic, their next contact with poison ivy could cause itching and a bad rash within 4 to 48 hours. This is because the body is registering its new sensitivity, a process that can take up to 10 days. With an allergic reaction such as the one poison ivy causes, even repeated exposure to the plant may not cause a rash at first. Foreign substances can cause inflammation in 2 ways: irritation ( irritant contact dermatitis) or allergic reaction ( allergic contact dermatitis). Doctors call this reaction contact dermatitis, which simply means an inflammation caused by contact with a foreign substance. It's so toxic that tiny amounts on exposed skin can trigger an inflammatory allergic reaction. The leaves, stems, and roots of poison ivy contain a resin called urushiol.