Spending More Time Outdoors? Watch Out for Poison Ivy
☘️ Warm weather means more time outside, but it also means a greater chance of running into poison ivy. Knowing how to identify it (and what to do if you touch it) can save you from an uncomfortable, itchy experience.
How to Spot Poison Ivy
- Look for three leaves per stem, often shiny, with asymmetrical or mitten-shaped edges
- The plant may have a red stem
- Poison ivy can appear as a woody shrub or a vine
- Sometimes it has smooth, shiny berries
Remember: Leaves of three, let it be.
What Happens If You Touch It?
- You may develop a red, itchy rash or even blisters
- Immediately wash the area with soap and water to remove the plant’s oil
- For relief, try:
- Cool compresses
- Calamine lotion
- Colloidal oatmeal baths
- Over-the-counter antihistamines or hydrocortisone cream
If the reaction is severe, be sure to see your doctor.
Prevention Is the Best Medicine
Learn to recognize poison ivy in your area and avoid contact altogether.
📞 Have questions? Call the Missouri Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 for free, confidential help.
Transcript with visual descriptions
Visual: Thumbnail with an image of green poison ivy leaves and the title "Watch out for poison ivy." The Missouri Poison Center logo is at the bottom right.
Visual: Person 1, a young man in a black hoodie, stands in a forest with a stream. An alert graphic reads "🚫 Watch out for Poison Ivy! 🚫".
Person 1: Warm weather means more time outdoors. But it also means a higher chance of running into Poison Ivy. Let's learn how to spot it and what to do if you touch it.
Visual: Close-up of green poison ivy leaves on a tree trunk. A red circle animation appears around a cluster of three leaves.
AVO: Look for three leaves per stem, often shiny and asymmetrical. The leaves might look like little mittens with a red stem. Poison Ivy can be a woody shrub or a vine, and it sometimes has smooth shiny berries.
Visual: A smaller Person 1 pop-ups on screen on the lower left corner pointing to the cluster of three leaves.
Person 1: Remember leaves of three, let it be.
Visual: Close-up of hands washing with soap and running water in a white sink.
AVO: If you touch Poison Ivy, you can get a red, itchy rash, or even blisters. Wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible to remove the oil of the plant.
Visual: Close-up of hands applying lotion to skin.
AVO: For relief, use cool compresses, calamine lotion, or take colloidal oatmeal baths. Over the counter meds can help too. For severe reactions, see your doctor.
Visual: Person 1 is now in front of a white background. Above him is the Missouri Poison Center logo with the number 1-800-222-1222.
Person 1: The best defense is to avoid Poison Ivy altogether. Learn how to recognize them and steer clear of them. For more tips and questions, please give us a call.
