What is Poison Oak?

Poison Oak is a similar form of poisonous ivy and is a member of the cashew cashew, anacardiaceae. Poisonous fruit is white and berries similar and is somewhat furry. On the Pacific coast is a variety of poisonous oak rhus diversiloba. It is a shrub or sometimes climbing plant with leaves with three leaves and toothed leaves that are hairless. Both species are poisonous as well as the Apoison Ivy. The plant generally occurs at heights below 4,000 feet (1200 meters). When you touch it, the oil is absorbed into the skin and produces a rash. The rash is the result of your body trying to fight the poison. It has been going on and touches the pet, you can also get an infection. Interestingly, pets are immune to the state. Poison Oak can also get out of touch of clothing if it contains uniform trace amounts of Urushiol.

Once you absorbed poisonous oil into the skin and the rash appears, does not produceThe rash by scratches. This is because the rash is directly caused by your immune system, not from the poison itself. The oil that can flow out of the rash is not poisonous urushiol, but oil excreted from your own body. You may think you spread the infection by scratching, but you're not.

The best way to avoid poisonous oak is to recognize it and when you return home from a hike, wash everything you wore - including your shoes!