Poison Ivy! If it's climbing a tree you shouldn't!

[Jochs]

I just read this thread, with the infamous poison ivy tree.
http://railroadfan.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=23133&start=20

My next door neighbor has some grotesque poison ivy growing up a Black Cherry Tree. I took these pics last fall because the poison ivy gets bright fall colors.

It gets very large leaves and the vines grow horizontal branches.

Note the large vine on the right side of the trunk. It is easily distinguishable from the black scaly bark of the cherry tree.


So, if you must climb trees to get photos. (And I think you know how I'm referring to. ) watch out for trees with vines that have horizontal branches growing out of them...even in the winter.
That infamous poison ivy tree looks to have horizontal branches sticking out from its base. If these are coming out of a ropey looking vine, it's definitely poison ivy.
You can spot poison ivy easily this time of the year when you see a telephone pole with horizontal branches that appear to be growing from it.

Some trees have a vine called Virginia Creeper, which is in the Woodbine Family, which is not related to Poison Ivy, which is in the Cashew Family. It has leaves with 5 leaflets (only 3 are produced when the plant is flowering) and they turn scarlet in the fall. Poison Ivy turns scarlet, yellow, light green...all sorts of colors in the fall.

Also note the red colored trunks on the trees in the background, they are covered with Virginia Creeper, and are safe to climb.
Virginia Creeper is not poisonous to touch, and does not branch out like Poison Ivy. Also its vines don't grow numerous rootlets like poison ivy, rather it gets tendrils which form little suction cups whatever it is climbing.

[hoborich]

"Leaves three, let it be". Also watch for the white berries.
Many years ago, I was doing yard work, and just ripping out old vines with my bare hands, never giving a thought to what they were. The next day, my arms itched and burned like crazy, along with some spots on my face and body that I had touched. I washed thoroughly with soap and water, which just spread it! Wound up at the doctor. Gave me some cream and cortisone stuff. It took over a month for it to go away.
Just this past summer, I noticed it regrowing up a couple trees in the yard. I sprayed it with a couple cans of poison ivy killer. That stuff really works! Then, I followed the vine to the ground, and cut it at ground level, and soaked the ground around it with the poison ivy killer. Everything for six feet around died and turned black. Hopefully it's gone for a while.
There is tons of it out in the country, growing around highway guard rails, and bridge abutments. Once you've had an experience with it, you'll never forget it. The oil from the vines and leaves soaks into your skin within about five minutes, and once it's in, it will be months before it clears up!

[dmitzel]

I stay out of the wooded areas now, for good. That stuff near about killed me 20 years ago. The poison plants create an allergic reaction that worsens the more you're exposed to it - I used to get it seasonally as a kid, playing in the woods. Now I'm practically on a respirator due to my high sensitivity.

It sucks as camping, hiking, etc. I have to be extra careful now, which effects scouting with my son and such.

[J T]

"Leaves three, let it be". Also watch for the white berries.
Many years ago, I was doing yard work, and just ripping out old vines with my bare hands, never giving a thought to what they were. The next day, my arms itched and burned like crazy, along with some spots on my face and body that I had touched. I washed thoroughly with soap and water, which just spread it!

Unlikely. You must have had urushiol oil from the plant somewhere else if it spread, like on your clothes. Using soap and water to wash the contacted area would not result in it spreading. Also, it's quite typical for the rash to keep "spreading" days after contact. In reality it's not actually spreading unless you've touched the clothes you were wearing and they haven't been washed yet. Some areas of your skin might take long to react to the oil than others, giving the impression that it is spreading.

I get poison ivy nearly ever spring/summer/fall...and often in the winter when I've touched something I was wearing months ago (boots, for example) that came in contact with the plant. I often get it between my fingers from tying my laces that came in contact with the oil.

Here are a couple of pictures from climbing the "infamous tree" that Jeff mentioned above. I climbed the tree to take a train picture on the morning of October 12. Three days later, on the evening of October 15, this is what my left arm looked like:



And then, 2 days later, a full 5 days after contact, this is what it looked like:



It didn't spread, nor did I come in contact with more of the oil. This was all from the initial contact on the 12th, but areas of skin on my arm just reacted differently, giving the impression of it spreading.

One big myth about the poison ivy rash on your skin is that it spreads if you touch another part of your body or someone else, or just by itching it. Not true. That rash is your body's defense mechanism to the oil, and the liquid inside is part of that defense mechanism, like when you get a blister on your foot from shoes.

You're definitely right about one thing, though, and that is the time it takes for it to go away. Nearly three months later, faint rashes on my arms (both arms were bad, but the left was much worse) are very itchy with my dry skin. I know it's from the poison ivy because I can still make out a slight pattern from how the rash originally was on my skin.

By the way, here's the shot I got that made me suffer:



Was it worth it? Hmmm....

[J T]

I stay out of the wooded areas now, for good. That stuff near about killed me 20 years ago. The poison plants create an allergic reaction that worsens the more you're exposed to it - I used to get it seasonally as a kid, playing in the woods. Now I'm practically on a respirator due to my high sensitivity.

It sucks as camping, hiking, etc. I have to be extra careful now, which effects scouting with my son and such.

Sorry to hear about that, D.M. I've never been affected that bad, even though I tend to get it every summer and often year round. I grew up in the country for the first decade of my life and the summers were sometimes brutal for me. Back then, it was Caladryl lotion or some Fels Naptha soap for treatment. When I was teen, I learned about using bleach on my rashes. Most people will tell you not to do that, but I still using it in moderation. My arm above, when it got as bad as it did, I used a little bleach on it. Burned like hell at first, but it dried the rash out in within a few days it scabbed up and the itching was greatly reduced. I've never had any adverse reactions to using bleach either. Like I said...moderation. I usually use some OTC medication, and have never seen a doctor for treatment. Nothing they can really do that an OTC med can't do, IMO.

[PerRock]

Most up-to-date teachers & books that deal with PI now tell people not to wash with soap and water. Because if you don't use enough (and most people don't) it will spread. Instead there are varrious creams & ointments they suggest getting.

That all being said I still think that the best remedy is; if you think you've come in contact with it, wash as soon as possible (like full-on shower) and use plenty of Fels-Naptha Soap.

peter

[Garry K]

Just a note.... If you're looking to dispose of poison ivy, do NOT burn it! If you inhale the smoke from burning poison ivy, you will get poison ivy blisters inside your lungs, which is not a good thing to have happen to you.

I was camping last fall, and one of the guys was about to throw a log on the fire that had some poison ivy vines and leaves attached to it. Several of us other guys yelled at him at the same time to NOT do that!

Garry K

[MDH]

By the way, here's the shot I got that made me suffer:



Was it worth it? Hmmm....

And it's an excellent shot, but only you can answer that question!

[AARR]

By the way, here's the shot I got that made me suffer:



Was it worth it? Hmmm....

Funny, but that's like sleeping with a woman, getting a STD, and asking if it was worth it

[J T]

Just a note.... If you're looking to dispose of poison ivy, do NOT burn it! If you inhale the smoke from burning poison ivy, you will get poison ivy blisters inside your lungs, which is not a good thing to have happen to you.

I've always heard that, too. I can't even begin to imagine how brutal the suffering would be!

Funny, but that's like sleeping with a woman, getting a STD, and asking if it was worth it

Good one, Don.

[hoborich]

Unlikely. You must have had urushiol oil from the plant somewhere else if it spread, like on your clothes. Using soap and water to wash the contacted area would not result in it spreading. Also, it's quite typical for the rash to keep "spreading" days after contact. In reality it's not actually spreading unless you've touched the clothes you were wearing and they haven't been washed yet. Some areas of your skin might take long to react to the oil than others, giving the impression that it is spreading.

I don't remember. It was 20 years ago. But it was an experience I will never forget. My arms and chest looked like the photos in the above post. It does continue to spread for several days.

[J T]

I don't remember. It was 20 years ago. But it was an experience I will never forget. My arms and chest looked like the photos in the above post. It does continue to spread for several days.

I've had it all over my legs, arms, some areas of my neck, the top of my head (this last time), and even some areas I'd rather not talk about ( ), but somehow I've been able to avoid my chest.

[AARR]

Guys, this may be hard to believe, but I am immune to poisin ivy. I have stepped in it barefooted, pulled it like a weed with my hands, brushed up against in with my bare skin, and I have never gotten more than a slight itch from it. I have always been hesitant to say anything because I'll probably jinx myself.

[MQT3001]

Guys, this may be hard to believe, but I am immune to poisin ivy. I have stepped in it barefooted, pulled it like a weed with my hands, brushed up against in with my bare skin, and I have never gotten more than a slight itch from it. I have always been hesitant to say anything because I'll probably jinx myself.

me too. I've fallin into it (walking on logs and falling off) and seen no ill-effects fro it even though I didn't wash or anything.

[GP9R]

Guys, this may be hard to believe, but I am immune to poisin ivy. I have stepped in it barefooted, pulled it like a weed with my hands, brushed up against in with my bare skin, and I have never gotten more than a slight itch from it. I have always been hesitant to say anything because I'll probably jinx myself.

me too. I've fallin into it (walking on logs and falling off) and seen no ill-effects fro it even though I didn't wash or anything.

So thats what that smell is

[J T]

Guys, this may be hard to believe, but I am immune to poisin ivy. I have stepped in it barefooted, pulled it like a weed with my hands, brushed up against in with my bare skin, and I have never gotten more than a slight itch from it. I have always been hesitant to say anything because I'll probably jinx myself.

My dad is the same way. He had it a lot when he was a kid back in the 30s, but now, as an 80 year old man, he could roll in the stuff and it wouldn't phase him. He's got some tough Hungarian skin...hardly ever burns, but tans really easily. Me, I've got my mother's fair Irish skin. I burn easily and my skin reacts to anything and everything.

Poison ivy is my #1 nemesis in life. As much as I like to be outside, I'm am constantly looking for it while hiking or doing whatever. Hell, I had to walk through it a few weeks ago for my job! Luckily I was able to step around each plant.

[A No.1]

Is poison Ivy still active and or dangerous in the winter? I thought the smaller plants and leaves all died off. Can you get it this time of year?

[PerRock]

I've never gotten it, but still act as if I did. As I can still give the oils off to someone else who does get a reaction. My mom never got it as a kid either, but years later she now apparently does (or so she claims).

The smaller plants aren't realistically going to be found under the snow* & shouldn't give you any issues. The Vines still can however.

peter

*I would assume that it is physically possible to locate a PI plant under the snow. As to whether you'd get a reaction, is iffy the fact that the plant is dead & has had snow (water) on it for some time would indicate that it's less likely to have the oils. That being said it might still, so I wouldn't go looking for it.

[Jochs]

Guys, this may be hard to believe, but I am immune to poisin ivy. I have stepped in it barefooted, pulled it like a weed with my hands, brushed up against in with my bare skin, and I have never gotten more than a slight itch from it. I have always been hesitant to say anything because I'll probably jinx myself.

me too. I've fallin into it (walking on logs and falling off) and seen no ill-effects fro it even though I didn't wash or anything.

From what I understand everyone is born with immunity to poison ivy. Most people lose their immunity after the first contact, others lose it after many contacts.
Our neighbor cut down a tree of hours that had poison ivy growing in it and was unaffected by it, and said he was not allergic to poison ivy. Just in the past year or so he got a bad case of poison ivy, so if you are immune now, you may eventually lose your immunity.

Another note, only female plants get berries. The vines in the pictures I took were male plants and have no berries. In the future I'll try to find some plants with berries in the winter, because the vines still carry the poisonous urushiol oil and touching the vines or berries can result in a rash.
And yes, never burn poison ivy because the urushiol burns in the smoke and will cause a severe allergic reaction in your respiratory system.
Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)is closely related to Poison(Swamp)Sumac (Toxicodendron vernix.), which contains more concentrated urushiol and is worse than poison ivy. Field Sumacs (Rhus spp.)(Staghorn, Smooth, and Winged) contain trace amounts and do not normally cause allergic reactions.
Staghorn Sumac female plant (Rhus typhina)may cause allergic reaction to some. It is found in fields, and dies if roots are flooded, unlike Poison Sumac.

Poison Sumac: (shiny green in summer, turns red and orange in early fall...found in boggy areas, only female trees get berries)

In this photo, Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia..{harmless}) is on the left, with 5 leaves, while Poison Ivy is on the right side, with 3 leaves.

[J T]

Is poison Ivy still active and or dangerous in the winter? I thought the smaller plants and leaves all died off. Can you get it this time of year?

I know of a tree that is wrapped with poison ivy vines if you want to test it out.

Poison Sumac: (shiny green in summer, turns red and orange in early fall...found in boggy areas, only female trees get berries)

I always wondered what that plant was. Years ago when I was doing lawncare I rubbed up against one of those plants with my left arm. Within a few minutes, I had some painful itching....almost like I had brushed up against a tiny cactus or something. It was nothing like poison ivy, though, as I never really got a long term rash and I think it only itched for a few hours.