Almost everyone is familiar with poison ivy. This seemingly harmless plant is found all over the world. Contact with it can elicit mild to severe reactions that will vary from person to person. This is a huge problem with individuals who love to spend time outdoors. It is worth your time to become familiar with the basics of this plant.

Poison ivy is one member of a large group of plants known as Sumachs. These poisonous plants are popular for the common allergic reaction it produces in those who have come into physical contact with it. Inside this plant is a clear liquid called urushiol. This liquid is the culprit responsible for the troublesome reactions that most people experience.

You will find this pest all over North America, Asia, and Europe. It takes on multiple appearances and often resembles other plants, making is especially difficult to identify and avoid. It can be found as a trailing vine, a small bush approximately 2 foot high, or as a climbing vine that will grow up trees or other vertical structures.

Poison ivy is a vine that has vivid green leaves, that is closely related to sumac and is in the family Anacardiaceae. This is the most common American allergy, with over fifty percent of the citizens being affected.

Many people think that rubbing or scratching the irritation from poison ivy will cause it to spread, but this is incorrect. The only way to spread the rash is to spread the urushiol oil, so it is best to wash the area well once a rash is seen and then there is no oil residue remaining. If a blister forms due to the rash, you can break the blisters but this can cause infection to set up and scarring as well. But the blisters bursting will not cause the rash to spread.

There are some cures that work better than others, and the most effective are those that get rid of the urushiol oil on the leaves of the plant that cause the reaction. Some believe they are immune to the plant and this is very untrue. For people who have never had the problem before, it can take as long as a week or more to see the rash on the skin. The more times a person is exposed to the plant, the more prevalent chances are you will get a rash.