The best defense is to steer clear of the plant, learn to identify it. Even though it is a vine, usually growing up trees and rocks, it also grows along the ground. People often confuse poison ivy and poison oak with another vine called Virginia creeper which has five leaves, not three. It is the oil in the poison ivy's leaves and stems that cause some people to break out into an itchy, blistering rash. If you think you've been exposed to either poison ivy or poison oak, wash up immediately with cool water.
Warm water opens the skin's pores and allows the oil to penetrate deeper.
This seems to help neutralize the poison. Just remember to watch for those three leaves. All material on this web site is copyrighted. Printing for personal use only.