Hi Shannon -
First off - poison sumac is not a vine but a shrubby plant that grows in swampy or very wet areas. Poison ivy can and generally does grow as a vine. So you probably only have poison ivy (or poison oak? I don't know where you are located).
Here's a bit of advice which I know is VERY hard to heed but trust me (I've had dozens of rashes) it works. First - don't scratch as that can just make matters worse. Second - don't stress as that also can make matters worse. The rash normally runs about 10-14 days though can go longer. Keep it clean and dry. The other important thing to remember is that not all remedies work for all people - this is an allergic reaction. You may have to try a couple different things until you hit on what works for you. Personally, I just ignore it and it goes away -- not really realistic for most folks. I never found calamine to work well for me but others swear by it. You might consider using baking soda to help dry out the blisters if you have any. You can also look to the treatments section for advice from others.
A poison ivy rash normally does not break out on first exposure. Its an immune system reaction and so normally you have to have X amount of exposures to sensitize your system. You've probably been exposed in the past but just didn't know it.
OK - now for the control. The very first thing is to make sure you understand the plant - knowledge is the key to keeping rashes away. Second - take a peek at the control section for how to keep those vines under control. Here are some notes I posted on clearing from a garden area. Patience is key here to ridding your property of poison ivy. Look at Brush-B-Gon or RoundUp (concentrate so that you can mix it up) and spray on the plants. My husband adds a little bit of liquid soap (like Dawn) to the mix to help it work better against the plant. Roots - got to get them up if at all possible. Otherwise, you'll be looking at new shoots next year.
If you are going to be using powered equipment (mower, weed trimmer, etc.) in areas where you suspect poison ivy, it really is a must that you wear long pants and long sleeves. Otherwise, you are right back with another rash - and perhaps more painful than this one. Those devices just chew up the leaves and send little bits of leaves, stem, and most importantly urushiol oil into the air. As for doing yard work - I'm probably a fool but I do it in shorts (I do make sure I have good shoes on though - a few years straight of pi rash on the top of the foot teaches one a lesson). I do though make sure I visually inspect every bit of where I'll be working to make sure that it is poison ivy free. Once again, knowledge is your best friend. The more you know about the plant, the oil, its reactions, and its control the better off you are in keeping reactions down to a minimum. |
