Poison Ivy Facts
What, In Poison Ivy, Causes The Rash?
Poison ivy tops the list of plants to avoid because it contains an oily resin, called Urushiol, that binds to the skin on contact and may result in a hypersensitivity reaction characterized by itching, burning, blister eruptions on the skin. This rash-causing sap is a clear liquid found on the plant’s leaves and in the stems and the roots Even if you’ve never broken out, immunity from poison ivy isn’t a sure thing. In fact the more often you are exposed to Urushiol, the more likely you will develop an allergic rash. 85% of people develop an allergy over time.
Avoiding contact with the plant is, of course, the best prevention from getting the rash so knowing what it looks like is very important. We take the time to teach our customers what it looks like to protect themselves and their family.
What To Do If You Come In Contact with Poison Ivy
If you or someone you love, comes into contact with poison ivy, Urushiol (the rash causing sip on and in poison ivy) binds to skin proteins and begins to penetrate within 15 minutes of contact. If treated before that time, a reaction might be prevented. First, wash the exposed site thoroughly with cold water, a good oil cutting hand dishwashing detergent and a rag… then repeat. If you will not be close to a water source, it is best to travel with some unscented baby wipes and use them to wipe the exposed area of skin thoroughly. Then, hurry as fast as possible to provide the above treatment. In the event of a severe outbreak, seek medical attention promptly.
Why You Should Not Take Care Of Your Poison Ivy Problem Yourself
Some people try to take care of their poison ivy problem on their own using products such as Round Up from a store. Though you initially get the leaves to die, these products are not strong enough to kill the roots. In a few days, little poison ivy sprouts will be seen breaking through the ground again and you will have wasted your money. Poison ivy has incredibly hardy roots that are difficult to kill.
Round Up and many other herbicides are harmful for organisms that live in reparian and aquatic environments. The product we use impedes the roots ability to make food, eventually killing the roots and thus the plant.
Further, do not try to remove poison ivy yourself by pulling it up. This releases high levels of Urushiol. Once the oil is on your clothes and/or lawn equipment it can be difficult to remove and a continued source of giving users the rash. Some people have gotten poison ivy rashes from clothes that had been washed in a washer. The oil was still in the clothes. In fact, it has been our experience that pulling poison ivy can actually cause the most severe rashes. In addition, each root fiber you leave after pulling poison ivy will sprout a new plant. Do not ever “weed whack” poison ivy as it sprays the oil right at vou and also a source of severe rashes.
If you have poison ivy growing in your yard that you want dealt with, consult with us, Cooper’s Poison Ivy Eradication Service at (978) 401-9675. Or email us at office @killpoisonivy.us. Our eradicators are licensed and educated on how to kill poison ivy in the most environmentally friendly manner. Upon getting licensed in the state of Massachusetts to eradicate, they also have to continue to take classes from respectable colleges on the latest treatment and eradication practices for the purpose of protecting our planet.