Poison Ivy, Oak, or Sumac: Other Plants That Cause a Rash

Topic Overview

Some plants contain the same oil (urushiol) found in poison ivy, oak, or sumac, or they contain a substance that is similar enough to urushiol to cause a similar rash. Contact with these plants can make you allergic to urushiol so that future contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac will cause a rash, even if you never had previous contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac. These plants include:

  • The ginkgo tree.
  • The Japanese lacquer tree.
  • Mangoes (the allergenic oil is in the fruit's rind and leaves).
  • Cashews (the allergenic oil is in the shell).
  • The Indian marking nut tree.
  • Tropical silk oaks (sometimes grown as ornamental houseplants).

Related Information

Credits

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerWilliam H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerH. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last RevisedAugust 30, 2011
By: Healthwise StaffLast Revised: August 30, 2011
Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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