What is Shingles? Shingles is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which is also the virus that causes chickenpox. If you have had chickenpox, the varicella-zoster virus is in your body and never completely, of fully, goes away. Once you have chickenpox, the virus is ‘inactive’ in the body, but can become ‘reactivated’ later in life,…
What is Poison Ivy? Poison ivy causes a rash that is itchy and red. The rash can persist for around 2 weeks. It develops after physical contact with a poison ivy vine. What causes poison ivy? Poison ivy is a plant that contains an oil called urushiol which many people are allergic to. Poison oak…
What does a poison oak rash look like? Poison oak rashes look identical to poison ivy rashes because they both produce the same kind of oil, called urushiol, that many people are allergic to. It is contact with this oil that produces the itchy rash. There is no way to tell the difference between the…
