Test your knowledge of summer rashes, from poison ivy to swimmer's itch, with this quick and easy quiz.
I. Common Myths About Poison Ivy
True or false: Scratching poison ivy blisters will spread the rash.
The answer is false, according to information from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). Poison ivy, as well as poison sumac and oak, is caused by a reaction with urushiol, a colorless oil found in the sap of those plants. The resulting rash often produces painful, fluid-filled blisters, but the fluid in the blisters cannot spread the rash. If you have urushiol on your garden gloves, however, and you wipe your forehead or eyes, you can spread the rash to those parts of your face.
True or False: You cannot get poison ivy from the plant's roots or from dead foliage.
The answer is false. Poison ivy is caused by a reaction to urushiol, which is found in the sap of the plant. The sap, however, is not just present in the leaves and twigs-it can also be found in the roots. What's more, the oil that contains urushiol is still present in the plant's foliage, even if they're dead, according to information from the American Academy of Dermatology.
II. Bug Bites, Ticks, and Bees, Oh My!
True or false: Lyme disease always creates a round, bull's eye-shaped rash.
The answer is false, according to information from the Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The bull's eye-shaped rash, which is called erythema migrans, does not occur in about 20 percent of patients. For these people, a firm diagnosis of Lyme disease may be more difficult to confirm. Although there are blood tests for Lyme, some may produce false negative results in patients who have recently contracted Lyme, says the CDC.
True or false: The last time you got stung by a bee, you got hives. To protect yourself this summer, you should consider asking your doctor for a one-time dose of epinephrine, a type of drug designed for treating severe allergic reactions.
The answer is true. Bee stings can be life threatening if you're allergic to bees, so many people who've had even mild reactions in the past ask their doctor for a portable dose of epinephrine. An epinephrine injection works by relaxing the muscles in the airways and tightening the blood vessels, according to information from the National Institutes of Health. (One commonly prescribed device, called an EpiPen, is about six inches long and will fit in most purses.) Anyone who develops breathing problems, swelling of the lips or throat, faintness, confusion, rapid heartbeat or hives after a bee sting should seek immediate emergency care, according to information from the Mayo Clinic.
III. The Wrath of a Summer Rash
True or false: Swimmer's itch and heat rash are one in the same.
The answer is false, according to the CDC. Swimmer's itch, also known as cercarial dermatitis, is a rash characterized by small blisters or small, reddish pimples. It is caused by an allergic reaction to tiny parasites produced by certain species of snails living in ponds, lakes, and the ocean.
Heat rash, on the other hand, is caused by sweat glands that are blocked. The trapped sweat under the skin builds up, causing small red or purple bumps. As the bumps burst, they may cause a prickling sensation, which is why some people refer to heat rash as prickly heat.
True or false: White patches on the skin are caused by a yeast infection of the skin.
The answer is partially true. Some white patches on the skin, known as tinea versicolor, are caused by a common fungal infection. The fungus is actually a form of yeast that lives in the skin pores, according to information from the AAD. The fungus interferes with the tanning of the skin, creating uneven skin color. In other cases, however, white patches on the skin may indicate vitiligo, a disorder where the cells that make pigment (color) in the skin have been destroyed. Always consult your doctor or dermatologist for more information.
For a slide show of common summer rashes, complete with visuals, visit
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/poison-ivy/SN00022
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