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Hiking or beingness in nature is enjoyable, only exposure to toxicant oak causes a very itchy, blistery rash that volition quickly put a damper on your fun. The leaves of this found have a recognizable appearance if you know what to look for. If you lot oasis't e'er been exposed to poison oak, at that place are means to prevent poison oak exposure through plant identification.

1
Learn nigh poison oak. Toxicant oak is like to its close relatives poison ivy and poison sumac considering they are all members of the same botanical family. The most common type of poison oak, known every bit western poison oak, grows nigh unremarkably along the Pacific declension in Oregon, Washington, and California. It can grow as a minor shrub in open spaces or equally a climbing vine in shaded forest areas.^[1]
- Other varieties of poison oak include Atlantic poison oak, which grows in the southeast US. This variety is much less mutual than the western poison oak.^[2]
2
Be conscientious when examining the plant. A adept way to avoid a poison oak rash is to never touch a plant that you recollect may be poison oak. In order to get shut enough to the plant to place information technology, use a stick or a gloved manus to examine it more closely.
- If it turns out to be poison oak, make sure anything that has come into contact with the plant is washed with soap and h2o.
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3
Look at the leaves. Poisonous substance oak, whether it is growing every bit a shrub or a climbing vine, has a trifoliate leafage structure. This means that the leaves abound in sets of threes off the stalk. The edges of the leaves have a wavy or scalloped advent.
- Equally the proper name suggests, the leaves expect a bit like oak leaves.^[three]
4

Cheque the color. The top side of the leaves are typically a glossy green color. They can also be yellowish, ruddy, or brownish depending on the health of the plant and the season. On the underside of the leaf, there is less sheen, less dark-green, and more of a velvety appearance.^[4]
5

Examine the stems. Stems tend to be a bit greyish in color, though, given the lighting in some forested areas, this tin exist hard to see. The stems will too be covered in tiny hair or thorn-like structures.^[v]
6
Accept annotation of the flowers or berries. Toxicant oak has yellowish-greenish small flowers in the spring. The institute will also produce light green berries throughout the summer and into the fall.^[vi]
- This will help y'all rule out other plants by noting what it doesn't take. If it doesn't have pointed leaves and it doesn't have thorns, it isn't poison oak.
seven
Acquire other forms of poisonous substance oak.
- In the winter, it loses its leaves and looks like crimson-chocolate-brown sticks (sometimes a few poking up from the footing, sometimes a big dodder) with alternating stubs.
- Y'all can besides find it as a thick vine climbing up a tree, sometimes (depending on the season) with small poisonous substance oak leaves coming out of it.
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i
Larn what causes the rash. Both the leaves and the stems of poisonous substance oak contain urushiol, an oily plant substance that triggers an allergic reaction in the course of the poison oak rash. Urushiol tin also be constitute in the roots and even in the expressionless plant.^[vii]
- In add-on, urushiol tin can go airborne if the plant is burned and is easily transported from one object to some other.
- The rash from poison oak is not contagious in the standard sense, but if someone has the urushiol on their hands and touches another person, that second person can react as well.
- All parts of the poison oak plant contain the toxin urushiol. Even when the leaves fall off in wintertime, the plant is not prophylactic to touch.^[eight]
2

Recognize the rash. A rash from exposure to poison oak tin vary depending on the person because some people are more than sensitive to urushiol than others. In full general, the rash will be very itchy and very red, with scarlet bumps that may cicatrice and ooze fluids.^[9] The rash tin can exist streaky and patchy and tin range from relatively mild to very severe.^[10]
three

Launder your skin and clothes. When you are exposed to poison oak, beginning rinse off whatsoever exposed expanse with soap and warm water as before long as possible, hopefully inside 30 minutes.^[11] Also launder any wearable or tools that may have been exposed to the found.^[12]
4
Relieve the itching. In guild to help relieve the itching of the rash, apply calamine balm to the site.^[13] You can likewise utilize topical steroids such as clobetasol or systemic steroids and antihistamines.^[fourteen] Also try a cold shrink or an oatmeal bath.^[15]
- To make an oatmeal bath, pour two cups of oatmeal into a nylon sock or stocking and tie information technology onto the tap and so that warm bath water runs through the oatmeal. Soak in the tub or soak the afflicted areas for at least 30 minutes.
- You lot tin can also use baking soda in a warm bath.^[16]
5
Keep the rash from spreading to others. Be aware that urushiol can be easily passed to another person, brute, or object. Make certain anything or everyone that may have come up into contact with poisonous substance oak is carefully washed with lather and water.^[17]
- Nearly rashes will heal in five to 12 days, only the rash can last as long as a month or more than.^[eighteen]
6

Seek medical help. Call emergency services if the reaction to the toxicant oak is severe. You should also call is you or the infected the person has trouble swallowing, breathing, or has astringent swelling at the site of contact or anywhere on the torso.^[19]

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What does a poison oak rash expect like?

Dr. Alan O. Khadavi is a Board Certified Allergist and a Pediatric Allergy Specialist based in Los Angeles, California. He holds a BS in biochemistry from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and an Doc from the State Academy of New York Wellness Science Center at Brooklyn. Dr. Khadavi completed his pediatric residency at Schneider Children's Hospital in New York, and then went on to complete his allergy and immunology fellowship and pediatric residency at Long Isle Higher Hospital. He is lath certified in developed and pediatric allergy/immunology. Dr. Khadavi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), and a fellow member of the American University of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Dr. Khadavi'due south honors include Castle Connolly'southward list of Top Doctors 2022-2020, and Patient Choice Awards "Most Compassionate Doctor" in 2022 & 2022.

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The best manner to avert contact with poison oak is past wearing long pants and sleeves when walking outdoors.
Dishwashing liquid is excellent for washing off the poisonous residue from poisonous substance oak, especially if it tin can be used right away. Bring information technology, forth with water and paper towels if yous are going on an outing where yous may come in contact with the plant and place it a moment besides belatedly.

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Article Summary X

Poisonous substance oak can grow equally a vine or a shrub, and information technology has glossy green leaves that usually grow in sets of three. The leaves resemble oak leaves, but toxicant oak actually isn't a member of the oak family. Depending on the season, the leaves may also be xanthous, cherry, or dark-brown. Toxicant oak may have pocket-size yellow or green flowers during the spring and light-green-yellow or white berries during the summer and autumn. Poison oak is most commonly found along the Pacific Coast of the U.S., but it's also sometimes found in the southeastern U.S. Avoid touching poison oak since the leaves and stems contain an oily substance that can cause an unpleasant rash. Launder annihilation that comes into contact with poison oak using soap and water. If you experience swelling, difficulty breathing, or difficulty swallowing later on coming in contact with poison oak, get emergency medical care. For tips from our Physician reviewer on how to tell if you have a poison oak rash, read on!

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