Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are plants that contain an irritating, oily sap called urushiol. Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin, resulting in an itchy rash, which can appear within hours of exposure or up to several days later. A person can be exposed to urushiol directly or by touching objects -- such as gardening tools, camping equipment, and even a pet's fur -- that have come into contact with the sap of one of the poison plants.

Allergies to Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac WebMD provides information on allergies to poison plants -- poison ivy, oak, and sumac -- and how they're treated. 51 /delivery/73/94/7394c0e8-aef0-44c6-8646-e58cc0747905/wbz-allergies-to-poison-ivy-oak-and-sumac_,400k,1000k,750k,.mp4 06/15/2017 00:00:00 1280 720 wbz-allergies-to-poison-ivy-oak-and-sumac /webmd/consumer_assets/site_images/article_thumbnails/video/wibbitz/wbz-allergies-to-poison-ivy-oak-and-sumac.jpg 091e9c5e81711017

Urushiol is found in all parts of these plants, including the leaves, stems, and roots, and is even present after the plant has died. Urushiol is absorbed quickly into the skin. It can also be inhaled if the poison plants are burned. The smoke may expose not only the skin to the chemical but also the nasal passages, throat, and lungs. Inhaled urushiol can cause a very serious allergic reaction.

The rash that results from the poison plants is a form of allergic contact dermatitis. (Dermatitis is swelling and irritation of the skin.) Skin is not automatically sensitive to urushiol. Sensitivity builds up after the skin is exposed to the substance. When initially exposed to urushiol, the skin alerts the immune system of the presence of the irritating chemical. However, it's common for no visible reaction will occur the first time a person comes in contact with a poison plant. The immune system then prepares a defensive reaction for the next time the skin encounters the substance. This sensitizes the skin so that new contact with urushiol causes an allergic reaction.