Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that can cause a rash if individuals come in contact with the oily resin found in them.
Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans -- eastern poison ivy/Toxicodendron rydbergii
-- western poison ivy) typically grows as a vine or shrub, and it can be found throughout much of North America (except in the desert, Alaska,
and Hawaii). It grows in open fields, wooded areas, on the roadside, and along riverbanks. Poison ivy plants typically have leaf arrangements that are clustered in groups of three leaflets, though this can vary. The color and shape of the leaves may also vary depending upon the exact species, the local environment, and the time of year. The plant may have yellow or green flowers, and white to green-yellow berries, depending on the season.
Picture of poison ivy
Poison oak (Toxicodendron diversilobum) grows as a vine or shrub, and it is found in the western United States and British Columbia. It also has a leaf arrangement similar to poison ivy, with clusters of three leaflets. The leaves may sometimes resemble true oak leaves.
Picture of poison oak
Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) grows as a shrub or small tree, and it is found in the eastern/southeastern United States. It grows in very wet areas, and it can be found along the banks of the Mississippi River. Each stem contains
seven to 13 leaves arranged in pairs. It has the potential to cause a more severe rash than either poison ivy or poison oak.
Common Myths and Truths About Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac
Myth #7: Once the eruption occurs,
there are a variety of treatments that easily suppress the reaction and can be
performed without visiting your physician. They vary from applying human urine
to the site of the eruption to drenching the skin in gasoline. Truth: For mild
local reactions, it is generally necessary to apply potent topical steroids to
the site for two to three weeks.