An any allergy is prevented to a great extent just by avoiding the contact with the allergen. Poison oak allergy is no exception. You need to take all the measures not to get contact with poison oak tree or any of its products, if you are allergic to poison oak. In this article we give some more tips to avoid poison oak allergy.
Poison oak: There are two types of Poison oak: Toxicodendron pubescens and Toxicodendron diversilobum, of which the latter is more toxic. Toxicodendron pubescens is known for its allergic effects upon skin contact. More than half of United States population is sensitive to poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac.
Some of the symptoms of the allergy are:
- Itching that appears within 24 to 72 hours of contact
- Small red bumps which later develops into blisters
- Rash that can appear anywhere in the body
Some precautionary measures that can you can take upon getting exposing to poison ivy are:
- Do not burn the plants of poison ivy in open air. Burning releases the allergens into the air and thus increases the risk of allergy
- Cover yourself with proper clothing to protect your skin. Using gloves, long sleeves and long pants decreases the chances of direct contact of allergens.
- Be careful with pets who carry allergens in their fur. Bathe them regularly and wear protective clothing while doing so.
- Wash clothes that you suspect having plant oil. Wearing unwashed clothes can cause a rash in anyone who wears or handles them.
- Know all the things that can cause allergy. Oak oil can be transferred from objects like gardening equipments, watering pipes, etc. See all means to avoid the contact as anything can carry oil (allergens).
