Version July 2025
Please read the Disclaimer at the end of this page.
What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care in the emergency department ("ED").
What should I know? —
You came to the ED for a skin rash called "contact dermatitis." The rash was caused by touching the oil from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac plants. Or you might have been nearby when these plants were being burned.
Your rash is probably very itchy and might form fluid-filled blisters. The blisters can show up in different places at different times. Touching the blisters or the fluid inside does not spread the rash. But if the oil from the plants got on your clothes, shoes, or under your fingernails, this can spread the rash.
The rash should go away on its own within 1 to 3 weeks. The doctor might have given you medicine to help with itching and swelling. Take all your medicines exactly as instructed.
How do I care for myself at home? —
Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also do the following:
●Call your regular doctor and tell them you were in the ED. Make a follow-up appointment if you were told to.
●Do not scratch the rash. This can make itching worse. It can also cause irritation and make the rash last longer.
●To help with itching:
•Add oatmeal to a cool or lukewarm bath.
•Apply cool compresses. Dip a clean cloth in cold water, and put it on the rash. You can also put calamine lotion on the rash.
•If your blisters have started to pop, use skin products with aluminum acetate or "Burow's solution" in them (sample brand names: Dermeleve, Domeboro).
●Do not use antihistamine creams or lotions, numbing products with benzocaine, or antibiotic ointments with neomycin or bacitracin. These can make your skin itchier and more irritated.
●Wash all the clothes and shoes you were wearing when you came in contact with the plant. The plant oils can stick clothing, garden tools, or other items for a long time. Washing these things prevents you from getting another rash or giving someone else a rash.
●Bathe your pets if they touch poisonous plants. Wear gloves when you bathe them. Pets do not get a rash, but if they get the oil on them, people can get a rash from touching their fur.
●Know what poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac look like, so you can avoid them in the future. Even dead plants can cause the rash.
•Poison ivy and poison oak have 3 leaves coming off a single stem.
•Poison sumac has 5, 7, or more leaves on each stem.
●If you come in contact with a poisonous plant again, gently wash the area as soon as possible. Do not rub or scrub. It might help to use a damp washcloth with liquid dish soap under running hot water.
When should I get emergency help?
●Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
•Are having so much trouble breathing you can only say 1 or 2 words at a time
•Need to sit upright to breathe, or cannot lie down
●Return to the ED if:
•The rash spreads over large parts of your body, especially if it covers your face, is around your eyes, or is on your genitals.
•You have trouble breathing when talking or sitting still.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for advice if you have:
●A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills
●Signs of a skin infection, like swelling, redness, warmth, pain, or drainage from the area of the rash
●A lot of swelling
●New or worsening symptoms
Patient education: Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac (The Basics)
Patient education: Contact dermatitis (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use topical medicines (The Basics)
Patient education: Poison ivy (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Contact dermatitis (including latex dermatitis) (Beyond the Basics)
