Also called: Ivy poison · Rhus dermatitis · Toxicodendron dermatitis
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac
If you spend time outdoors, chances are you have been bothered by poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac at some point. Most people are sensitive to the plants' oily sap. The sap is in the root, stems, leaves and fruit of these plants. If it gets on your skin, it causes a blistering skin rash. The rash can range from mild to severe, depending on how much sap gets on your skin and how sensitive you are to it. Problems can also happen if the plants are burned. Airborne sap-coated soot can get into the eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system.
The best way to avoid the rash is to learn what the plants look like and stay away from them. If you come into contact with the plants, wash your skin and clothing right away. If you develop a rash, ask your pharmacist about over-the-counter medicines. For severe rashes, see your doctor.
National Park Service
It sits within Skin, Hair and Nails.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Other Poisonous PlantsFood and Drug Administration
- Poison Ivy RashMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Poison Ivy RashAmerican Academy of Family Physicians
- Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac: What Should I Do if I Touch a Plant?American Academy of Dermatology
- Poisonous Plants and WorkNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Diagnosis and Tests
- Rash EvaluationNational Library of Medicine
- Skin Rashes and Other Skin ProblemsAmerican Academy of Family Physicians
Treatments and Therapies
- What to Do about Poison IvyNemours Foundation
Prevention and Risk Factors
- Protecting Yourself from Poisonous PlantsNational Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Dermatitis, Toxicodendron. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.