June 29

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7 Home Remedies For Poison Sumac

By Shereen


Suppose you were exposed to poison sumac while outdoors. First, you need to act quickly.

We all know how miserable poison sumac is on your skin.

As a kid, I remember my mom covering me head to toe with calamine lotion.

Yes, those were the days before the internet when moms learned from their moms. But that's how it worked back then.

Treatments and remedies were passed down from generation to generation.

So, in today's post, I want to share with you 7 home remedies for poison sumac that my mom used on me.

Where is Poison Sumac Found

Sumac is a common plant in many parts of the northeast United States and Canada.

The plant grows along highways and fields, often in clusters or thickets.

However, it can be a nuisance to some homeowners when it takes over parts of their properties.

Sumac grows in dense clumps and branches that can reach several feet in height, and when left unchecked, these clumps can grow quickly and thickly to the point that they choke out other plants and take over the yard. 

Sumac also likes to hang out along the banks of lakes, rivers, and swampy areas.

What Does Poison Sumac Look Like

poison sumac plant

Poison sumac is a shrub that grows in moist areas. It has small, shiny, green leaves along woody stems that can grow up to 6 feet tall. 

Each stem contains seven to 13 leaves arranged in pairs.

Most people say that the rash from poison sumac is worse than its cousins, Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

It produces tiny white flowers that develop into bright red berries in the fall.

These berries ripen in late summer or early fall, typically green at first and turning red as they mature.

When ripe, the berries are fuzzy and contain an oily liquid that gives them a repellant quality against many animals, including humans.

Poison Sumac Rash Stages

Poison sumac rash symptoms include blistering, swelling of the skin, and a fluid-filled blister called a vesicle that breaks and releases fluid containing potassium hydroxide (KOH) into the skin.

The liquid or irritant causes the skin to become reddened and swollen.

Other symptoms include itching, burning of the skin or blisters, and blisters that crust or form ulcers.

The rash typically appears within 24 hours of exposure and lasts one to two weeks or longer, depending on the amount of exposure and the severity of the rash.

  • First Stage: Shortly after being exposed to the sap of poison sumac, the affected area will likely swell slightly. This occurs because the plant's sap contains an oily liquid irritating your skin. The swelling will usually go away after a few days.
  • Second Stage: A blister or tiny bump will appear where the fluid comes into contact with your skin. The blister or spot might be red or have a pink tint, and it may feel soft to the touch.
  • Third Stage: The blister or bump typically begins to dry or harden after a day or two. As the blister dries or hardens, it may turn a shade of yellow to brown or darker.
  • Fourth Stage: After about a week, the blister or bump will disappear, and the area will heal where the blister or spot was.

However, some people experience a delayed reaction where the blister or bump takes several months to go away and can leave a permanent mark on the skin.

Some people also develop a permanent scar where the skin has turned dark, or a portion of the skin turned black.

Symptoms of a Poison Sumac Rash Initial Symptoms:

You may notice redness and swelling in the affected area around 24-36 hours after exposure.

Home Remedies For Poison Sumac

Here are 7 home remedies for poison sumac that I tweaked a little to come up with my own version:

#1 Apply Cool Compress

Poison sumac causes rashes that itch like crazy and are incredibly uncomfortable.

cold pack for poison sumac

So, the first home remedy is to thoroughly wash the affected area with cool water and apply a cold compress to the rash or skin rash for 15 to 20 minutes.

The cool water will help relieve the itching, while the cold compress will help soothe the rash.

#2 Apply White Vinegar to the Affected Area.

White vinegar is an excellent remedy for poison sumac rashes because it neutralizes the acids in the poison sumac, which causes itching and burning sensations. 

  • First, apply white distilled vinegar to the affected areas with a cotton ball or swab. 
  • Then rinse the area with water and allow to dry thoroughly before reapplying the vinegar if necessary.

#3 Make a Paste of Baking Soda and Water.

Make a paste of baking soda and water, spread it over the affected areas, and let it sit for about 30 minutes to an hour before rinsing it off.

Baking soda neutralizes the acids in the poison sumac and is used to soothe and nourish your skin.

This will help dry out the blister or bump and prevent it from popping open and causing additional skin irritation.

#4 Honey and Oatmeal Paste

Combining honey and oatmeal can help soothe the itchy sensation caused by poison sumac and speed up the healing of your rash. 

  • Mix one tablespoon of honey with two tablespoons of oatmeal and apply it to the affected areas. 
  • Leave it on for 15 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water. 

Repeat this process twice a day for the best results.

#5 Lukewarm Bath

Soaking the affected area in lukewarm water may help reduce the itchiness caused by the poison sap from poison sumac.

The warm water acts as a heat sink and draws the fluid away from the skin.

Additionally, this will not further irritate the affected area and should reduce the itchiness caused by the sap from poison sumac.

You can also add some oatmeal or baking soda to your bath.

#6 Use Calamine Lotion

Okay, you got me with this one I know technically this is not a home remedy.

Yes, you have to buy it from the store.

Make sure you wash the affected area with soap and water first.

Then apply a generous amount of calamine lotion to the affected area.

Wash the area with soap and water regularly and reapply the lotion as needed to relieve and prevent symptoms from worsening.

#7 Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera gel has been used for decades to soothe burns and insect bites as well as soothe poison sumac rashes.

  1. First, wash the affected areas with soap and water to remove any sap or dirt from the skin before applying aloe vera gel to the affected area. 
  2. Reapply the aloe vera gel to the affected area 2 or 3 times a day until the rash goes away or until the skin has healed and the rash is no longer present.

Other Sumac Treatments

You may want to take antihistamine pills: Antihistamines can help reduce the itching and swelling caused by the poison sumac rash.

You can buy antihistamines over the counter in drug stores or grocery stores. However, before doing this, make sure you consult your doctor first.

Wash Everything: This includes your clothes, camping gear, and shoes that you wore while outdoors.

Since poison sumac oil sticks to just about everything, you must wash everything thoroughly to avoid a reaction once you arrive home.

Do Not Scratch: As tempting as it is to scratch your poison sumac rash, it can make the skin irritation worse and prolong the duration of the rash.

Scratching can also lead to infection.

Leave Blisters Alone: If you have blisters that happen to open, leave them alone.

You might think you should remove the overlying skin.

But do not do that. Leaving the overlying skin there will help protect the raw wound underneath and prevent infection.

To Sum it Up

If you're outdoors and exposed to poison sumac, it's important to act quickly.

If you're lucky, you will only have mild skin irritation and redness since the poison sumac usually dries up right away and doesn't cause a severe reaction or skin damage.

However, if the plant's sap gets on your skin or in your eyes, you must wash it off immediately with soap and water or with water and white vinegar solution.

If the sap gets in your eyes, rinse them immediately with cool running water and see a doctor immediately.

Avoid scratching the rash, and don't use any products or ointments that will make the rash worse.

Your rash should only last 7 to 10 days.

If it lasts longer, you may have an infection. So, make sure you see a doctor if that's the case.

About the author 

Shereen

We are the ones behind the scenes of Remedies Insider. My name is Shereen and the other guy, haha, is my loving husband, Rob. Our mission with our website/blog is to show people the many different home and natural remedies that can help heal, protect, and provide relief from common everyday ailments.

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