How to Spot Poison Ivy (Before Your Kids Do!)

If your family is anything like mine, warm weather means barefoot adventures, backyard playtime, and stick forts in the woods. But with all that fresh air and sunshine comes a not-so-welcome guest: poison ivy and its sneaky cousin, poison sumac. Both poison ivy and sumac contain urushiol oil, which causes that infamous itchy, blistering rash. 

And here's the kicker -- you don’t even have to touch the plant directly; your dog’s fur, your kid’s clothes, or shoes can carry the oil.

Knowing how to spot these pesky invaders before your kids brush up against them is a skill. With help from Watkinsville's only Urgent Pediatric Care clinic, Prime Time Pediatrics, let’s break down how to stay "itch-free" this summer:

What Is Poison Ivy?
You've probably heard the phrase: “Leaves of three, let it be”, and that’s your first line of defense! While there are other vines that look suspiciously like poison ivy, like the Virginia Creeper, that are not harmful when touched, it is still a thoughtful mantra to help you avoid potentially harmful leaves when in wooded areas. Poison ivy typically grows as a low plant on the ground, a shrub, or a climbing vine up trees or fences, and is often mixed in with other plants, so tread carefully!

Here's what to look for:

• Three pointed leaflets per stem. No more, no less.
• It may have small greenish flowers or white berries.
• In the summer, leaves are a deeper shade of green and may appear waxy when viewed from above, lighter and hairy when viewed from underneath.
• Leaves that can be shiny or dull, often with a reddish tint in spring and vibrant red and yellow coloring in fall.
• Poison ivy vines have thin, "hairy" roots that help to anchor the plant along trees.
• In winter vines stand out due to their very hairy nature.
• 🔍 Pro Tip: The two most outer leaves will have a "mitten" or "thumb" appearance.

What About Poison Sumac?

This one’s trickier because it doesn’t follow the “leaves of three” rule. Poison sumac is more common in wet, swampy areas (think creekside walks or marshy trails) and can also be found as a woody shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 feet tall.

Here's what to look for:

• 7 to 13 leaflets arranged in pairs with a single leaflet at the end.
• Leaves are smooth-edged, oval-shaped, and have a glossy surface.
• It produces white or gray berries that hang down like little strings of pearls.

Image Credit: PlantSnap.com

What to Do If Your Child Has Been Exposed

1. Wash skin ASAP with soap and cool water, within 10 minutes if possible.
2. Wash clothing, shoes, and gear. Urushiol can linger and can continue to cause rashes.
3. Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream for relief.
4. Cool compresses and oatmeal baths help too.
5. Seek pediatric advice if the rash is widespread, on the face, or becomes infected.

As Watkinsville's only Urgent Care Pediatric clinic, Prime Time Pediatric Urgent Care provides compassionate and thorough pediatric care when your child's primary care physician is unavailable.

No appointments are necessary! Parents and caregivers are able to expedite their visits using the "Fast Pass" system online where all forms and information can be filled out ahead of time for both new and established patients. The child will immediately be placed onto on a waitlist to be seen as quickly as possible.

Learn more about this location and the services they offer by clicking the link below.