How to treat poison ivy or poison oak this summer

Reviewed by Tami H. CNP for Virtuwell

Time saver 5 min read

You’ve likely heard the saying “leaves of three, let it be. Berries of white, run in fright.” These words are often invoked to help people identify and avoid poison ivy and oak. But, what happens if you accidentally walk through a patch of poison ivy? Didn’t realize you set up camp next to poison oak? Or are pulling weeds that end up … well, not being harmless weeds? Don’t worry. We’re here to help.

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What are poison ivy and poison oak?

Poison ivy and poison oak are plants that can look like shrubs, crawling vines or weeds. They are both incredibly adaptable plants — they even change appearance depending on the environment — so it’s important to understand how to correctly identify them whenever you’re about to hit the trail.

A diagram showing how to identify poison ivy. These are the hallmarks of poison oak; Three leaves where the left and right are adjacent from each other connected to the main stem where as the middle, larger leaf, is connected to the main stem by a short "neck". The leaves of poison ivy have jagged edges.

A diagram showing how to identify poison oak. These are the hallmarks of poison oak; Three leaves where the left and right are adjacent from each other connected to the main stem where as the middle, larger leaf, is connected to the main stem by a short "neck". The leaves of poison oak resemble oak tree leaves with similar rounded edges.

The leaves of the poison ivy and poison oak plants produce an oily resin called urushiol that cause allergic reactions and rashes when they come into contact with skin.

What’s the difference between poison ivy and poison oak?

You can tell poison ivy and poison oak apart by their appearance. Both plants tend to grow in groups with three leaves, but poison ivy has a more jagged edge and pointed leaf, whereas poison oak is more rounded and look like — you guessed it — oak leaves. Color and appearance can shift with the seasons and environment, so leaf shape is an important marker to look out for.

A continental U.S. map showing the regions where the two types of poison ivy grow; ground vine and ground vine with climbing vine. Keep reading to learn where to find each type. The states that only have ground vine poison ivy are: Washington, Oregon, North-eastern tip of California, Most of Idaho, Montana, Most parts of Colorado, Utah, north-western corner of Nevada, most of New Mexico and Arizona, the western and northern edge of Texas, some parts of the Dakotas, the western part of Nebraska, all of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois, most of New England, and lastly, North and South Carolina. The states that have both ground vine and climbing vine poison ivy are: the southern tip of California, the south-western edge of Arizona, the south-western edge and eastern edge of Texas, eastern part of Nebraska, Most of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, Washington DC, Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, Mississippi, Georgia, Florida, and lastly Alabama.

A continental U.S. map showing the regions where the types of poison oak grow. The map key shows two groups of poison oak types; the first is "ground and climbing vine" the second is "Ground Vine and shrub". Keep reading to learn where to find each type. The states that have ground and climbing vine poison oak are: The western part of Washington, The western part of Oregon, California, western Nevada, and western Arizona. The states that grow ground vine and shrub poison oak are: Oklahoma, east Texas, Arkansas, Louisianan, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Northern Florida, Eastern Virginia, and Maryland, D.C., Delaware, New Jersey, and eastern Pennsylvanian.

What does a poison ivy or poison oak reaction look like?

When skin comes into contact with urushiol — be it from the plant itself or contaminated objects — it causes an allergic reaction or rash on the skin typically within 48 hours. The skin may swell, blister or become red and itchy. Thankfully, the rash itself is not contagious, but if urushiol is left on the skin, it can contaminate other parts of the body so it’s important to quickly wash away the oil from your skin and wash contaminated clothing.

Two images showing examples of poison ivy and poison oak rash. The first image is of patchy hives and blisters on a woman's forearm. The second image is of dry scratch-like lines on a man's wrist.

If you do develop a rash from poison ivy or poison oak, it’s important to closely monitor and look out for:

Severe poison oak & poison ivy reactions

A developing fever
Signs of infection (draining white or yellow fluids, heat from the surrounding skin)
Changes in vision
Worsening rash

How can I treat poison ivy or poison oak reactions?

If you come into contact with the plant, immediately wash your skin. While rashes or blisters caused by the plants are not contagious, urushiol oil can contaminate other parts of the body — or other people. This is why it’s very important to wash away oil residue from your skin and remove and launder contaminated clothing as soon as possible. You can use a basic gentle liquid dishwashing soap and warm water to rinse the oil from both your clothing and body. When washing your body, try to wipe in one direction to reduce the likelihood of further contamination.

Tami's quick tip

You can avoid a bad reaction by washing the exposed area right after contact. Be sure to scrub in one direction using a warm damp rag and mild soap like liquid dishwashing soap.

– Tami H. CNP for Virtuwell

If you develop a reaction, the following steps can help manage symptoms at home:

Use cold packs — Or take a cold bath. The cooler temperatures may help temporarily soothe the itching and irritation, and bring down swelling.
Use topical creams — Calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream and other antihistamine creams can relieve itching and help soothe irritation.
Or take oral antihistamines — Benadryl, Allegra or Zyrtec provide similar relief as antihistamine creams. Just make sure not to use both a topical antihistamine cream (like Benadryl cream) and an oral antihistamine at the same time.
Don’t scratch or pick — As tempting as it may be to scratch your rash or pop your blisters, doing so could introduce infection and cause further irritation.

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How can I prevent another poison ivy or poison oak reaction?

If you’ve had a brush with poison ivy or poison oak, you want to do everything you can to avoid another one. Thankfully, there are things you can do to prevent future reactions, including:

Wearing protective clothing — Wear long sleeves and long pants to prevent direct contact with skin. If you encounter poison ivy or poison oak on your journey, make sure to handle clothing carefully and wash it immediately.
Remove plants in your yard — If you notice poison ivy or oak plants growing in your yard, carefully remove plants using gloves to prevent contact.
Wash your skin — And don’t forget about your pets! Removing resin from your skin and your pet’s fur will help prevent exposure.
Use barrier creams — Products like Ivy X Pre-Contact Skin Solution provide a layer of protection and can be used before you venture out into the woods.

Keep summer activities itch-free

No one wants to come into contact with poison ivy or oak and end up with an itchy and painful rash. But if you do come into contact with these plants, we’re here to help. By starting a visit with Virtuwell, you can get treatment quickly for poison oak or poison ivy — and get back to enjoying your camping trips and outdoor adventures in no time.

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