In the fall, when the colors gradually change on the trees, the leaves of the poison ivy vine turn a brilliant orange, yellow and crimson with an occasional blotch of purple. This dazzlingly radiant display of color is truly one of the plant's benefits. This oily irritant is present in almost all parts of the plant, even the roots. Whenever your skin brushes up against a plant part, some of this oil transfers to the skin. Most people who come in contact with this dreaded oil develop a rash anywhere from six to 48 hours later.
Some fortunate people are immune to it.
A good preventative technique is to wash the oil off right away. The gentle current of the upper Wolf is no substitute for washing thoroughly with soap and water. If you can wash the contaminated area within about five minutes, usually no reaction will occur. But once the skin absorbs the urushiol, red streaks may appear and within hours erupt into fluid-filled bumps. These red tracks elicit a vicious burning and an intense desire to plow your fingernails through the bumpy welts in an attempt to relieve the itching.