Poison Ivy Swelling

Poison ivy swelling can very much be a nuisance, especially for those who have severe allergies.  The swelling caused by this plant can even cause problems to vital organs!  Approximately 85% of the population is allergic to poison ivy, although some experience more severe symptoms than others. 

Everyone will end up with an itchy rash, and for some, the symptoms stop there.  Unfortunately, others develop poison ivy swelling that can be very problematic.

For one thing, the swelling may cause the throat to close, and can even stop oxygen from transferring through the body like it should. In more rare cases, anaphylactic shock may also occur.  The chances of this happening are extremely low, of course, but can happen nonetheless.  People who already suffer from bad allergies or asthma are at a greater risk for swelling brought on by poison ivy.  The sensitivity varies from person to person, with some being luckier than others.

Knowing how to identify poison ivy rashes and other symptoms is important.  Early treatment will decrease the chances of the swelling getting out of hand.  Some individuals can use simple, natural remedies made out of ordinary household products, others have to go to the doctor to get shots, with everyone else needing something in between. 

Sometimes over the counter allergy and pain medication, such as Motrin and Benadryl can help.  Still, some ointment, scrub, or cream needs to be applied on the rash in order to keep down the swelling and itching.  There are some specially developed washes and scrubs that can be ordered on the internet.  Cortisone creams in particular can be very helpful, as they can stimulate new skin growth and reduce the swelling at the same time. 

Despite the fact that almost everyone is allergic to some degree, no one is actually BORN with sensitivity to poisonous plants.  It takes actual exposure to the plants to become sensitized to it.  Animals aren’t affected by it, yet they can still spread the poison to humans.  Strangely, humans can’t get poison ivy from one another.  It only transfers from animals to humans.  This is because animals can get urushiol, the poisonous chemical found in the plant, on their fur.  Thus, pets can transfer the urushiol to their owners without experiencing an allergic reaction themselves.

Poison ivy swelling is brought on by dermatitis rashes.  The swelling will almost always clear up, although the process of healing may take awhile for those who don’t use any medicine or remedies.  During the three or four weeks that an individual suffers from the poison ivy swelling, he or she can experience a whole lot of misery.  Help is out there, however; and it’s in everyone’s best interest to find the treatment that best works for them.