Plants to Avoid: Poison Oak and Stinging Nettle

Poison Oak

Poison Oak

Identification: Poison oak is a shrub with a leaf shape resembling an oak leaf. The leaflets are dull green and can be red in the fall. It can grow up to three feet tall, sometimes making it appear as a vine. If you are unsure whether a plant is poison oak, it is best to follow the rule: Leaves of three, leave it be.

Symptoms: Poison oak contains the toxic resin, urushiol, in all parts of the plant. Urushiol is harmful to humans but not to animals. If your skin comes in contact with any part of the plant, usually an itchy red rash will form. The rash can resemble burns, swelling, or even blistering. Symptoms can take 24-48 hours to appear and sometimes up to a week. Urushiol will stay on clothes, pets, and other materials for months, causing reactions even without direct contact with the plant.

If you have any of the following, go to the emergency room immediately:

  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing

  • A rash around one or both eyes, your mouth

  • Swelling on your face, especially if an eye swells shut

  • Itching that worsens or makes it impossible to sleep

  • Rashes on most of your body

  • A fever

Treatment: If you are experiencing a mild reaction and know it is from coming in contact with poison oak, the first step is to rinse your skin with lukewarm, soapy water. The sooner you are able to rinse your skin, the better. Next, be sure to thoroughly wash all of the clothes you are wearing. The oils can also stick to different surfaces, so wash anything that may have come in contact with urushiol.

  • Do not scratch the rash and leave any blisters alone.

  • Take short, lukewarm baths.

  • Use calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream.

  • Apply cool compresses to the itchy skin.

  • Consider taking antihistamine pills. These pills can help reduce itching. You should not apply an antihistamine to your skin, as doing so can worsen the rash and the itch.


Stinging Nettle

Stinging Nettle

Identification: Stinging nettle stems are thin, square, and grow between 6 and 8 feet tall. Leaves are narrow, dark green, 2 to 4 inches long, with a tapered tip. The edges of the leaves are toothed, and the leaf surface is distinctly veined and rough looking. The leaves grow opposite along the stem.

Symptoms: If a person comes in contact with stinging nettle, an itchy rash may occur. This is because stinging nettles contain fine hairs and chemicals that irritate human skin. If people come into contact with stinging nettles, they may experience:

  • a rash

  • raised bumps

  • spots lighter than the surrounding skin

  • pain in the area of the sting

  • irritated or itchy skin

The symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

  • trouble breathing

  • difficulty swallowing

  • wheezing

  • feeling dizzy or faint

  • vomiting

  • nausea

  • increased heart rate

  • tightness in the chest

  • severe and rapid swelling around the face, mouth, throat, or under the skin

  • loss of coordination

  • tremors

  • muscle weakness

  • stomach pain

Treatment: Wash the area with soap and water to remove the chemicals, and the discomfort should subside within a couple of hours. It is crucial to avoid scratching as it worsens the rash and can cause infection. If washing alone does not help, try using over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, antihistamines, or hydrocortisone creams.

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