Toxicodendron Dermatitis

Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron dermatitis is a urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, i.e. a rash caused by the urushiol compound. Urushiol is an oily organic allergen produced by poison ivy, poison oak, and other plants in the Anacardiaceae family. The following is a list of pros and cons of having toxicodendron dermatitis and an overall rating of the rash experience.

Pros:

—It offers one the chance to practice self-control by not scratching the extremely itchy rash.
—If two people have the rash or have had the experience in the past, they can bond over their shared understanding of the agony it causes.
—It's kind of fascinating how one measly little chemical compound can cause so much itching and misery.

Cons:

—Unrelenting itchiness.
—The rash is unattractive: it causes red boils and blisters from which a yellowish oil oozes.
—Instead of sleeping at night: writhing and groaning while waiting in vain for the itchiness to subside.
—Though it may start out concentrated in a small area, the rash often expands and appears at other places on the body.
—Whimpering quietly doesn't help. Nothing helps. It just gets worse and worse and worse.
—Anyone suffering from the rash must wonder if God is still in heaven.


Overall score for toxicodendron dermatitis: 0.4 points out of 1000.