Our Poison Ivy Wash will thoroughly sooth your skin, fight rash and ease itching if you’ve developed a reaction. But the first step towards effective treatment is quickly recognizing when you have, in fact, been exposed to the pesky plants. And with something as contagious and irritating as poison ivy, the earlier you can diagnose a rash, the better.

So here’s what to look for if think you might have a poison ivy reaction:

Where were you?

You’re probably not dealing with a poison ivy rash if you’ve been stuck indoors for the past week. But knowing where people run into poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac can be a big help toward knowing if that unfamiliar red area on your leg is indeed one of these kinds of reactions.

Poison ivy grows in two basic ways-as a vine and as a shrub. Were you around those famous “leaves of three?” Poison oak usually grows as a shrub, and poison sumac grows in standing water in peat bogs, with leaves containing seven to 13 leaflets.

The urushiol resin, that causes the reaction, stays active on leaves for up to five years after the plant dies. So even if you went tromping through the woods around a bunch of dried shrubs or vines on a dead tree, you might be exposed.

So – looking back – if you were around this kind of stuff, what should you look for next?

Poison Ivy Symptoms:

Poison Ivy Rash

• Itching in the approximate area where you’ve been exposed.
• Curvy red streaks or general redness on the skin.
• Small bumps or larger raised areas (these are hives).
• Fluid-filled blisters (watch for leaking).

You’ll usually see the rash develop within a couple of days (although it might take longer-so if you think you might have a reaction, keep an eye on your body for up to 15 days, especially if you’ve never been exposed to poison ivy before).

You can learn everything you need to know about poison ivy on our Poison Ivy Info page.

You take off hiking through a twisting, overgrown, yet beckoning trail through the woods with only your cunning and the pack on your back. Your reward? Cool evening sunset breezes, glistening ripples across the lake, fresh caught fish over a campfire… and itching, scratching, and uncontrollable rash.

Ahhh—the sights, smells and burning sensations of camping in late summer/early fall. Unfortunately, if you’re going rub shoulders with nature, parts of nature are going to try and rub off on you.

Poison ivy, oak and sumac just aren’t afflictions that should be ignored. But thanks to IvyClear, treatment for poison ivy rash never needs to wait…even when camping in the wild outdoors.  Here’s why we take poison ivy (and its treatment) seriously and always recommend being prepared by packing IvyClear Poison Ivy Wash:

1. Reactions can spread.

Urushiol oil—the toxic, sap-like stuff that makes you break out into rash—is the only part of poison ivy that can spread a rash to other people or other parts of your body (the oil can stay active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years). If left untreated, the toxic antigens can spread quickly to other parts of your body.

2. Reactions can leave lasting damage.

If the poison ivy wounds become infected, it’s possible to leave extensive scarring, made worse by scratching and neglect. In some extreme cases, doctors could even be needed to treat excessive fluid. IvyClear helps avoid this escalation.

3. Lasting reaction is unnecessary.

The unique formula of IvyClear Poison Ivy Wash removes the urushiol by surrounding the the toxin and bonding with it, allowing the oils to be washed away with water and providing immediate relief to the affected area. It takes just seconds to apply, and consistently prevents toxin spread if quickly applied.

We know that you’ll never want to leave a campsite early—especially one that you had to crash through the woods to get to. So we made IvyClear Poison Ivy Wash come in small, convenient, easy-to-pack bottles. There’s no reason to leave it behind.

So treat it. Clear it. And finish this summer worry-(and poison ivy)-free.