Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2019 May/Jun;30(3):183-190.
doi: 10.1097/DER.0000000000000472.

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Dermatitis: What Is Known and What Is New?

Yesul Kim, Alexandra Flamm, Mahmoud A ElSohly, Daniel H Kaplan  1 , Raymond J Hage Jr  2 , Curtis P Hamann  3 , James G Marks Jr
Affiliations

Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Dermatitis: What Is Known and What Is New?

Yesul Kim et al. Dermatitis. 2019 May/Jun.

Abstract

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are the most common causes of clinically diagnosed allergic contact dermatitis in North America. Approximately 50% to 75% of the US adult population is clinically sensitive to poison ivy, oak, and sumac. We reviewed the botany and history of these plants; urushiol chemistry and pathophysiology, clinical features, and the prevalence of allergic contact dermatitis caused by these plants; and current postexposure treatment and preventive methods, including ongoing investigations in the development of a vaccine (immunotherapy). Although extensive efforts have been made to develop therapies that prevent and treat contact dermatitis to these plants, there lacks an entirely effective method, besides complete avoidance. There is a need for a better therapy to definitively prevent allergic contact dermatitis to these plants.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources