What Plants Cause Itching?

Poison ivyis the probably the best-known plant that causes skin reactions. You may have heard the phrase “leaves of three, leave them be” as a reminder regarding identifying poison ivy. But while helpful, the saying isn’t always true.

For example,poison sumachas leaves that come in clusters of 7-13. And several non-poisonous plants may have leaves in groups of 3, such as raspberries and blackberries. Moreover, in seasons such as winter or fall, some plants may not have any leaves, which makes recognizing poisonous plants through their leaves alone impossible.

Anallergicskin reaction to plants is called plantdermatitisor photodermatitis. It may cause the following signs and symptoms:

• Itching
• Skin redness
• Swelling
• 疙瘩, patches, streaking, or weepingblisters(blisterfluids due to plantallergiesare notcontagious)

Skinrashes可能会立即出现,4小时后,甚至to 10 days after exposure to the plant. Symptom severity and timing depend on your individual sensitivity and the amount of contact you had to the plant.

Some people may develop symptoms beyond skin irritation, including咳嗽,sneezing, andbreathingdifficulties, as seen in ragweedallergies.

If you have come into contact with a poisonous plant, follow these steps:

• Immediately wash the skin well with rubbingalcohol, degreasing soap (such as dishwashing soap), or detergent, and a lot of water. Rinse thoroughly so that the cleaning solutions do not dry on the skin and further spreadallergy-causing chemicals. Change into clean clothes.
• Scrub the underside of your nails with a brush.
• To reduce skinitchingandblistering:
  • Apply ice orcoldcompresses,calamine lotion(即hydrocortisone cream (as per label instructions).
  • Avoid applying cream or lotion to broken skin or open blisters.
  • Take an oatmeal bath.
• If blisters appear, mix a tablespoon of white vinegar in a liter of water and compress the area for 15 minutes 2 times a day.
• Take anover-the-counter(OTC)antihistaminesuch asdiphenhydramineto relieve itching, following the label instructions. For children, consult a pediatrician regarding recommended medication and dosages.
• Seek immediate medical attention if you have:
  • Swelling on the face or genitals
  • Severerash
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Had a history of a severe allergic reactions