Poison ivy / Giftsumak

I have a poison ivy rash, the worst I have ever had. I guess I am now officially allergic to this pest. Well, it had to happen some time. I pulled three small plants out on Friday, with gloves on, but it didn't help. I wasn't careful enough. So now I am red, blistery and itchy with rashes on my face, neck, arms, belly and hips. I don't know how it spread so bad. At least I am not as bad off as this guy! and did you know that Batman battled Poison Ivy too?

Poison ivy is in the same family as mango and cashew nuts (Anacardiaceae), and incredibly common around here. You probably can't go more than a meter or two in the forest without seeing some. This is how it looks, if you don't know this plant, and some hard-core sceince facts:

" It's the world's most common allergy, affecting nearly half of all Americans. Each year, about 50 million people get a reaction from poison ivy, sumac and oak — including many people who aren't allergic to anything else.

The wicked itch and bothersome rash are the result of urushiol oil, a potent toxin. Get as little as one-billionth of a gram on your skin and you might be scratching yourself silly. "