Poison Sumac Guide: How to Prevent Poison Sumac Rash

Poison sumac (Toxicodendron vernix) is a small tree or shrub that grows in very moist areas of the eastern and southeastern United States. A stem of the poison sumac plant contains seven to thirteen leaves. Its leaves secrete the plant oil urushiol.

Urushiol prompts an allergic reaction in many people, causing a skin rash that is formally known as allergic contact dermatitis. This itchy rash can cause oozing and blisters when irritated. When airborne, urushiol can enter your lungs, causing you to cough and have difficulty breathing.

Use these four tips to identify poison sumac in the wild.

1. 1. Poison sumac grows in moist regions. Poison sumac grows in wet areas throughout the eastern United States—particularly in southern states.
2. 2. Poison sumac looks shrub-like. Poison sumac grows as a shrub or a small tree. This makes it different from its poison plant cousin poison ivy, which grows like a vine or groundcover.
3. 3. Poison sumac leaves appear in groups of seven or more. A branch of poison sumac contains seven to 13 leaves. Poison sumac leaves are also smooth at the edges; nonpoisonous sumac plants have leaves with rough, jagged edges.
4. 4. Poison sumac is often found near bodies of water. Poison sumac often grows along riverbanks and lakes and in swampy areas.
5. 5. Poison sumac has green or white berries. In contrast with harmless sumac shrubs, which feature upright clusters of bright red berries, poison sumac plants display drooping clusters of white berries in the fall and green berries in the summer. The berries are also oblong as opposed to perfectly round. Throughout the spring and summer, poison sumac may also feature clusters of small, yellow-green flowers.

Use these simple tips to distinguish between poison sumac, poison oak, and poison ivy.

• Poison sumac: This poison plant grows in the eastern United States—particularly the Southeast. It grows as a small tree or shrub with leaf arrangements of seven to 13. Unlike poison ivy or poison oak leaves, poison sumac leaves have smooth edges.
• Poison ivy: Poison ivy plants grow in most parts of the United States, although they do not appear in deserts, Alaska, or Hawaii. In the east, poison ivy typically grows as a vine. In the west, it more frequently grows as a low-lying shrub. In most cases, its leaves grow in groups of three and feature jagged edges and pointed tips. It can grow in all types of settings from the forest to riverbeds to open fields.
• Poison oak: Poison oak is a shrub that grows in the western United States. In some cases, it appears like a vine. Its leaves appear in groups of three and can often resemble real oak leaves with curved edges and rounded tips. Poison oak survives drier climates better than poison ivy or poison sumac.

Following a few general tips can help you prevent a poison sumac rash.

1. 1. Avoidance: The best way to prevent poison sumac rashes is to avoid the areas where poison sumac grows. Stay on maintained hiking trails or manicured playing fields. When accessing rivers or lakes, try to use proper landings that have been cleared of vegetation.
2. 2. Proper clothing: If you must walk through the underbrush, wear long pants and long sleeves. Wear close-toed shoes with socks pulled up high. Know what poison sumac looks like, and scan for it as you walk.
3. 3. Maintained gardens: You can sometimes pick up poison sumac oils indirectly from garden tools or your pet's fur. Clear your yard of these plants to prevent accidental transmission.

While a poison sumac rash is highly unpleasant, it can be managed with a variety of treatments, much like those used to treat a poison ivy rash or poison oak rash.

1. 1. Home remedies: If a poison sumac rash appears on your skin, you can start by rinsing the affected area with cool water and applying cool compresses. Once you’ve rinsed, you can soothe your itchy skin with an oatmeal bath. This involves soaking in a tub of warm water and colloidal oatmeal (oatmeal that has been ground into a fine powder). Avoid applying lotions with fragrances, exfoliants, or other irritants while you’re treating a poison sumac rash.
2. 2. Over-the-counter medicine: Poison sumac itching is caused by your immune system, and in many cases, antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can dim this immune response. Calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream can be applied topically to prevent the affected areas from itching or blistering.
3. 3. Prescription medications: For particularly bad cases of poison sumac rash, a dermatologist may prescribe an oral corticosteroid such as prednisone to temper your allergic reaction. Contact your healthcare provider if other remedies are not working. You may be a candidate for oral steroidal treatment or topical steroids.
4. 4. The emergency room: Occasionally poison sumac causes a severe reaction that requires immediate medical care. If you feel your airway tightening or have difficulty swallowing, go to the emergency room immediately. You may also need to visit the ER if a red rash appears on your genitals or face.

Certain outdoor activities carry an elevated risk of serious injury. Wilderness scenarios require extensive survival gear, including but not limited to food, water, maps, protective clothing, and first aid, along with mental and physical fortitude. This article is for educational and informational purposes, and is not a substitute for hard skills and expertise.

Prepare for any outdoor journey by grabbing a MasterClass Annual Membership and committing Jessie Krebs’s wilderness survival course to memory. As a former United States Air Force Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape instructor, Jessie can teach you everything you need to know about packing for a trip (neon is the new black), purifying water, foraging (crickets: the other white meat), starting a fire, and signaling for help (forget SOS).