How to Tell If I Have Poison Sumac

Poison sumac belongs to the same basic category of plants as poison oak and poison ivy. It's found in the eastern sections of North America, thriving in moist areas such as swamps and flood plains. It appears as a small tree or large shrub; you can identify it by its large alternating leaves and reddish stems extending from the branches. Symptoms are caused by the urushiol oil that it excretes. Most people are allergic to the oil, and when it comes into contact with their skin, bad things happen.

Instructions

• 1

  Look for small itchy bumps or curvy red lines on your skin. They usually appear a day or two after your exposure to poison sumac and are most prevalent on areas where you might have brushed up against the plant, such as a bare forearm or leg. (Brushing against the plant accounts for the red lines of infected skin.)

• 2

  Check to see if the rash expands across the body. This may seem as if the infection is spreading, although in fact it just means that the urushiol oil has been spread further across your body. Refrain from scratching at the itch, and thoroughly wash all clothes, tools and pets that may have come into contact with the poison sumac.

• 3

  Watch for the symptoms to worsen: the rash may swell, the itching may grow worse and blisters may form on your skin. The blisters may also run or ooze, which gives many people the impression that the fluid is spreading the rash. Although this is patently untrue, running sores can develop an infection if you're not careful.

• 4

  Check the duration of the rash. In most cases of poison sumac, it will last for about a week, although some cases have lasted as long as three weeks. Unfortunately, although you can mitigate the symptoms, there's no way to really shorten the length of the rash. You basically need to endure it as best you can until it fades.