FACTS

1. Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are plants that contain an oil called urushiol, which causes the characteristic red, raised, blistering, intensely itchy rash.
2. Not Everyone is Allergic to These Plants.

The degree of the reaction you have to these plants (or whether you have a reaction at all) varies from person to person, depending on how sensitive your immune system is to the urushiol oil. People who aren’t sensitive to urushiol (about 15% of the population) may be exposed to the oil and have no reaction at all.

3. Clothing is the First Line of Defense.

The first line […]