Poison Ivy is known for causing a severe skin reaction, but what does it look like on children? Whether young or old, AFC can help treat poison ivy.
Whether it’s spring, summer or fall, some of the best memories in Lenoir are made outdoors. Camping with the family at Thousand Trails Green Mountain or Steel Creek Park and Campground are just two places where fun is found in nature. But all those outside adventures mean you have to be on the lookout for something not so fun, poison ivy.
This plant is known for triggering severe allergic skin reactions in adults, but does the rash look different on children? Are young kids affected more severely by poison ivy? In this blog, we discuss everything you need to know about poison ivy, including how to identify it and treat your little ones.
What is Poison Ivy?
First, let’s break down poison ivy. This common plant grows in almost every state in the U.S. except for Alaska and Hawaii. Characterized by its “leaves of three,” that grow on each vine, poison ivy’s signature touch is that itchy rash it leaves behind. It can grow as a vine or shrub depending on the environment, making it difficult to sometimes identify.
Poison ivy produces urushiol, an oily sap that triggers an allergic reaction from most people. Unfortunately, poison ivy is not the only plant you have to watch out for; poison oak and poison sumac also create this same irritating sap.
What Causes the Itch?
Urushiol is a strong sap and even in small doses can cause a skin reaction. After coming in contact with urushiol, allergic contact dermatitis sets in. This specific type of dermatitis is brought on by something you’re allergic to. For 85-90% of the population, poison ivy will directly cause allergic contact dermatitis. In fact, urushiol the size of a grain of salt can be enough to irritate your skin.
Symptoms of Poison Ivy
Everyone is different and while a majority of people will experience some kind of allergic reaction sometimes it isn’t obvious. Symptoms can appear within hours after exposure or take up to five days to appear.
Common signs include:
- An itchy rash that may appear in patches or streaks
- Redness and swelling
- Blisters that may ooze or crust over
Are Symptoms the Same in Kids?
Yes, symptoms of poison ivy, oak and sumac look exactly the same for both kids and adults. The severity of the rash may subside as they get older, but most likely, if a child is allergic to poison ivy, they will be allergic for the rest of their life.
Here are a few things to be mindful of:
- Outside toys may have urushiol on them. Although you can’t see it, we recommend washing any items that might have encountered poison ivy outside; it can spread very easily!
- Itching the rash is one of the most common occurrences in children with poison ivy. To help alleviate the irritation, bathe your child in water with colloidal oatmeal for soothing purposes.
- Watch out for sleeping and nap times as these tend to be when kids subconsciously itch the rash. Consider bandaging or covering the rash up before they catch some shut eye.
Treating Poison Ivy at Home
Typically, poison ivy rashes are mild and can be treated from home. Rashes usually take around one or two weeks to fully heal. Try some of our poison ivy home remedies!
- Rinse and clean the skin with lukewarm and soapy water as soon as possible. You risk spreading urushiol to other parts of your body and to other people.
- Never scratch the affected area as this could bring about an infection.
- When needed use anti-itch creams / ointments or calamine lotion.
- If the itchiness and irritation are preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep take oral antihistamines to help with the swelling (most pharmacies carry Benadryl for kids).
- Allow the skin room to breathe by wearing loose breathable clothing and keep the rash clean and dry.
*Don’t forget to wash anything that might have touched poison ivy. This could include camping gear, gardening tools and even pets.
Does Poison Ivy Require a Trip to Urgent Care?
Generally, if you take proper care of your rash at home, it will easily heal on its own. However, sometimes a little extra care from a compassionate AFC provider is needed. The following symptoms are signs that you should stop by AFC Lenoir.
- A rash that has not healed after two weeks
- A rash present on your face, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals
- Severe itching that has not subsided
- Fever or trouble breathing
The AFC Way
We understand no one likes dealing with an irritating rash, but with AFC Lenoir you don’t have to deal with it alone. Our urgent care clinic is conveniently located on Blowing Rock Blvd, so you can swing by whenever the itch becomes extreme. At AFC you’re family, so we strive to provide you with the best health care at an affordable price. We’re open daily with extended hours, no appointment is needed. Stop by today!
