Allergic to Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac
Some people are allergy to certain plants, like poison Ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Those plant can cause a temporary irritation when contact to our skin. This happen because our body can't accept the protein contain on those plants.Not all people allergy to these plant, up to 85% of Americans are allergic to poison ivy, and 15% resistance to any reaction. If we have allergy to poison ivy, we are more likely allergy to poison oak and poison sumac as well because all these three plants contain the same rash triggering plant oil called as urushiol.
Sensitivity of people to poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are varies from a mild to severe reaction, and may not cause any reaction at all first time you're exposed. Allergic reaction can lessen over time if exposed to these plant repeatedly. In fact some people completely lose their sensitivity to these plants later in life.
Three types of transmission can occur:
- Direct contact, when touch brush directly to the skin against the plant
- Indirect contact, when touch pets, gardening tools, sports equipment, or other objects that already contact first with those plant.
- Airborne contact from burning these plants, which release particles of urushiol into the air that can penetrate our skin, eyes, nose, throat, or respiratory system.
