![]() ![]() “After that, take a shower with soap and warm water,” he said. Don’t scrub because that can spread it, just let the water run over it, lots of water, until it’s gone. “So, I recommend starting with rubbing alcohol as a solvent and following with cool running water because hot water will open your pores. “Soap can work, but it can also work against you by spreading the irritating oil,” he said. If rubbing alcohol is available, pour it over the area first as alcohol readily dissolves the oil, and afterwards follow with ample amounts of running water. Johnson recommends running generous amounts of water over the area until it is gone. If the oil gets on your skin, you have about 15 minutes before it bonds to your skin, so immediate treatment is recommended, he said. “I don’t tempt fate and practice the ‘better safe than sorry’ approach.” “I am not sensitive to it, but I am careful to avoid contact with poison ivy, because I know people can develop sensitivity to it as they age,” he said. Many people aren’t sensitive to urushiol, but it can cause horrible rashes for people with poison ivy sensitivity, Johnson said. Urushiol can also bind to pet hairs or gardening tools and maintain potency for long periods of time. Just 1/4 ounce of urushiol is all that is needed to cause a rash in all 7.8 billion people on earth if every person were sensitive to urushiol. One billionth of a gram can irritate a person’s skin. Urushiol is a highly concentrated and stable oil, Johnson said. “But none of these vines are preferred plants on any property.” I touched poison ivy, now what? ![]() “Identifying poison ivy or poison oak is important because the consequence of mishandling them can be painful,” he said. Poison oak is more prevalent in East Texas, whereas poison ivy can be found throughout the state. Poison ivy and poison oak are often confused with several other vining-like plants like peppervine and Virginia creeper, he said. Johnson said poison oak is closely related and looks very similar to poison ivy and both plants produce urushiol – the cause of the rash, blisters, and infamous skin itch. “But it loves woody areas and can be a real problem along walking trails or even in raised beds in home gardens.” “Poison ivy can survive just about anywhere,” he said. The plant prefers semi-shady areas with moist, rich soil, but can survive in most any environment, Johnson said. But it can also grow along the ground or as a shrub. It is a tall climbing vine that will attach to other plants, trees, a fence or any structure that supports growth. It can present itself in many ways according to its environment, Johnson said. Birds and other wildlife eat the berries and spread it secondarily through droppings. The plant spreads underground via rhizomes, Johnson said. Mature leaves are 2-4 inches long, dull or glossy green with relatively smooth, rounded edges and pointed tips. Poison ivy is most identifiable by remembering – “ Leaves of three, let it be.” Poison ivy plants display three leaflets at the end of each stem. “If you’ve ever had a reaction or known someone who has, you know that it’s worth the time and money to effectively remove it.” Poison ivy and other pest plants “Poison ivy is one of those plants that nobody wants to be around-much less have on their property,” he said. Johnson, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension horticulturist, Galveston County, said removing poison ivy is worth the effort to reduce the risk of exposure. Wooden sign warning of poison ivy in a wooded area. ![]()
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