News 40 Health Reports: Scratching the Itch…Poison Ivy Season

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – If you spend enough time outdoors, there’s a good chance you’ll come in contact with plants that can irritate you…literally.

Poison ivy grows year-round but thrives during warm weather.

Dr. Shekar, a physician at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, says poison ivy is common in Kentucky and most cases are minor and they’ll go away on their own after a few days or a couple of weeks.

But, be on the lookout for symptoms like itching, redness, blisters or hives, especially if they continue to worsen or don’t go away.

She says tougher cases of poison ivy can be treated by your health care provider using steroids. She also says poison ivy cannot be spread from person to person.

And if the at-home treatments don’t work, see your healthcare provider since poison ivy sometimes needs help to go away.