National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Also called: Ivy poison, Rhus dermatitis, Toxicodendron dermatitis
If you spend time outdoors, chances are you have been bothered by poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac at some point. Most people are sensitive to the plants' oily sap. The sap is in the root, stems, leaves and fruit of these plants. If it gets on your skin, it causes a blistering skin rash. The rash can range from mild to severe, depending on how much sap gets on your skin and how sensitive you are to it. Problems can also happen if the plants are burned. Airborne sap-coated soot can get into the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system.
The best way to avoid the rash is to learn what the plants look like and stay away from them. If you come into contact with the plants, wash your skin and clothing right away. If you develop a rash, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines. For severe rashes, see your doctor.
National Park Service
-
Start Here
- Poison Ivy(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
- Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac(American Academy of Dermatology)
The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Basics
,
Learn More
, and
Multimedia & Cool Tools
.
For group Basics
For group Learn More
- No links available
For group Multimedia & Cool Tools
The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
Research
,
Reference Shelf
, and
For You
.
For group Research
For group Reference Shelf
For group For You
-
Overviews
- Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous Plants(Food and Drug Administration)
- Poison Ivy Dermatitis(American Osteopathic College of Dermatology)
- Poison Ivy Rash(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Poisonous Plants(National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health)
-
Latest News
- Health Tip: Help Prevent a Poison Ivy Rash(08/28/2012, HealthDay)
-
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Poison Ivy: Signs and Symptoms(American Academy of Dermatology)
- Skin Rashes and Other Changes(American Academy of Family Physicians)
- Also available in Spanish
-
Treatment
- Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac(Nemours Foundation)
- Poison Ivy: Tips for Treating and Preventing(American Academy of Dermatology)
- Return to top
-
Pictures & Photographs
- Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac(Logical Images)
- Return to top
-
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
-
Directories
- Find a Dermatologist(American Academy of Dermatology)
- Return to top
-
Organizations
-
Children
- Poison Ivy(Nemours Foundation)
- Poison Ivy Treatment(American Academy of Pediatrics)
- Return to top
-
Patient Handouts
- Poison ivy - oak - sumac
- Also available in Spanish
- Poison ivy - oak - sumac rash
- Also available in Spanish
- Return to top
-
You may also be interested in these related encyclopedia pages:
MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA