As temperatures rise and Arlington's trails beckon with the allure of summer adventure, so too does the risk of an ill-fated brush with nature's itchiest villains: poison ivy and poison oak. Arlington Parks & Recreation has provided pearls of wisdom for befuddled nature-goers who might not tell apart a Boxelder from its itch-inducing doppelgangers, according to the City of Arlington.
Differentiating these two greens isn't just a trivial pursuit, it's a necessity for any intrepid park roamer, poison ivy can take the form of a shrub, bush or climbing vine and always comes with a trio of leaves, the middle one typically sporting a slightly larger facade than its flanking comrades, the Arlington Parks & Recreation's guide advises, but take a wrong step and you may find yourself in an ordeal of red, itchy, and blistering reminders that you missed the mark, poison oak, less common in these parts, disguises itself as an upright shrub with leaves that wouldn't look out of place on actual oak - lobed, somewhat hairy, with all three also sharing a tell-tale green in summer, with a turn to orange or brown come fall.
Steering clear of these botanical boobytraps requires more than a sharp eye - dressing for the occasion counts too. Long pants and sleeves can stand between you and a calamine-drenched future, Danica Dodson from Arlington Parks & Recreation suggests in their recently published guide, and if that's in the laundry, it's best you backtrack rather than risk squeezing past potential plant peril, even if your skin doesn't directly touch the leaves, stems, or roots, the unseen assailant, urushiol oil, is itching to latch onto any bit of exposed skin it can find.
If, despite your best plans, the itch finds you, timing is your next best ally; the guide recommends washing the affected skin with soap and warm water as soon as possible to mitigate the urushiol oil's clingy tendencies. Rash relief can usually be found at home with some calamine lotion or hydrocortisone, a cold compress for the hot itch, a dollop of patience perhaps, but keep those scratching fingers at bay if you can to avoid further complications, and if things ever escalate, it's always smart to consult with a medical professional because while most cases resolve at home, some reactions can turn severe.
