Rhus dermatitis is the medical name for the more commonly known poison ivy. It is a type of contact dermatitis which means the dermatitis that is caused by coming into contact with a specific irritant. There are many irritants that cause rhus dermatitis but in the case of poison ivy it is called urushiol which is a resin found in the plants in the Anacardiaceae family. The Plants that are included in this classification are poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Some others which come under this classification are the cashew nut tree, mango tree, Japanese lacquer tree, and marking nut tree.
Facts:
In the United States the rhus dermatitis is by far the most common form of contact dermatitis. Rhus dermatitis cause more cases of contact dermatitis than any other agents combined. This is because a large part of the US forestery is based on the plants that cause it. Twenty-five million to forty million Americans require medical attention yearly after being in contact with one of these plants.
Anatomical location:
Rhus dermatitis commonly affects the arms, legs, and face or what ever part the body came into contact with. The intensity of the rash depends on the skin sensitivity of the person, and the extent of exposure.
Treatment:
In the first fifteen minutes of contact washing the area with soap can be an effective thing to do. Cold, wet compresses are effective in the blistering stage. They should be used for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day for the first 3 days.
Steroid creams or ointments are helpful to reduce redness and itching.Oral steroids are used for severe cases of poison ivy but it must not be discontinued before the week.
Some lotions like calamine lotion helps control the itching but if it is used for too long periods it can cause excessive drying of the skin and more inflammation.
