As an enthusiastic Girl Scout, I fearlessly tramped through patches of poison ivy and proudly emerged unscathed. I believed, erroneously, that I was immune to the stuff, so the year my "immunity" wore off, it came as a miserable surprise. I still don't know if I got poison ivy by burning debris that unbeknownst to me contained it, or by drying myself off with a towel that had covered a well-camouflaged patch. But however it came to me, it did so with a vengeance that made up for all those rash-free summers. My reaction was full blown. Row after tiny row of itchy, red spots covered me from head to toe and even crept into my ears, mouth and genitalia. Within a day, I looked like some sort of swollen, seeping monster, and relief was found only in occasional baths of Epsom salts. A cortisone shot eventually provided some relief, but today I never, ever venture near the evil "leaves of three" if I can, indeed, "let them be!"

After sorting out poison ivy fact from fiction, I've come to discover my experience wasn't exceptional. Each year outdoorsy types across the country wind up with a topical rash of varying severity-the result of a brush with the abundant plant. The real culprit is the plant's sap, a toxic oil known as urushiol, that is found in all parts of the plant: in its leaves, stems, roots, flowers, and berries. Gently bruising poison ivy is all it takes to release this vicious sap, which means that a child's ball, the swipe of a pant leg, or even the passage of a furry animal is enough to make poison ivy poisonous. What's worse, urushiol is exceptionally hardy stuff. Contrary to popular belief, poison ivy doesn't "hibernate" in the winter. And you could get it simply by removing tainted clothing, petting Rover, or manhandling garden tools or sports equipment that have come into contact with the plant. An internal allergic reaction might occur if poison ivy is burned and the resin is breathed into the lungs. And those who prefer the Great Outdoors to indoor plumbing beware: Using a urushiol tainted leaf as toilet paper could prove positively horrifying.

It turns out no one is immune to urushiol, 70-80% of Americans are mildly to moderately sensitive to the allergen with about 10-15% at the end of each spectrum. But the good news is that the dermatitis it produces is a self-limiting condition, meaning it will disappear on its own within 2 weeks in most instances. Additional good news is that the poison ivy rash doesn't "spread" via the rash's blister fluid. Only those body parts that come into contact with the sap will blister, although the rash may appear progressively as a result of urushiol's varied rate of absorption into the skin. If you think you might have been exposed to poison ivy, wash your skin thoroughly with soap and water and wash your clothes right away. Rubbing alcohol is even more effective in removing the oily resin from the skin. For relief of the discomfort caused by poison ivy, dermatologists recommend the following:

Those suffering from serious cases of poison ivy should contact their physician who may choose to administer a corticosteriod treatment.

Quick Reference: Poison Ivy Facts