SATURDAY, June 23 (HealthDay News) -- Each year, 25 million to 40 million Americans suffer severe itchiness caused by an allergic reaction to the oil in poison ivy. The itchy rash appears one to two days after contact and can last from 10 days to three weeks.

"The reaction usually starts with redness and swelling of the skin, which is then followed by either bumps or blisters," Dr. Lisa Hammer, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, said in a prepared statement.

Hammer offers some tips on how to avoid poison ivy and treatments to use if you do have a brush with it:

• "If you come into contact with poison ivy, the best advice is to wash your skin as quickly as possible with soap and cold, running water," Hammer said. Don't scrub too hard or use hot water because that may irritate the skin or open pores too much and make it easier for the poison ivy oil to be absorbed into the skin.
• Cool baths, cool compresses, or massaging the affected area with an ice cube can help relieve itchiness. Allow the area to air dry, which will reduce itching and oozing of blisters.
• Oral and topical antihistamines can help reduce itchiness.
• Wash the clothing and shoes you were wearing when you came into contact with poison ivy.
• Give your dog a bath in order to remove poison ivy oil and wash garden tools and other items that may have come into contact with poison ivy. "Oil can stay on these types of (tool/implement) surfaces for up to five years," Hammer said.
• Poison ivy oil on your skin can be transferred to other people, but fluid from sores caused by poison ivy is not contagious.

Most cases of poison ivy can be managed at home, but you should seek medical attention if you have a severe reaction.

"Occasionally, poison ivy can become a more severe situation in someone who's highly sensitized to the reaction, or if someone is exposed to a large amount of the oil, either by breathing in fumes when the plant is being burned or having the oils enter areas of broken skin," Hammer said.

"If individuals are experiencing a more severe poison ivy reaction, specifically involving the face or genital area, or there's a significant swelling pain or irritation that disrupts their sleep or daily activities, they should seek additional help from their health care providers," who can prescribe oral steroids or steroid creams to reduce itching, pain and discomfort, she added.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about poison ivy.

-- Robert Preidt

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, May 2007

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