A patient recently came into our dermatology clinic with a rash and a story similar to so many others. He had been out camping with friends a few days earlier and helped carry some logs to stoke the fire. Little did he know he was going to pay for lending a helping hand. A couple days later, red patches appeared on his forearms and chest, which soon began to itch miserably and form water blisters. If you have ever spent any time outdoors—in the woods, working in the yard, even at the edges of a playground—maybe you’ve experienced something similar after encountering poison ivy. It’s not easy to forget. Poison ivy is found everywhere in the continental U.S., mostly in Eastern and Midwestern states. Unfortunately for us humans, it is a hardy plant that can grow under many different conditions. Its favorite places are in wooded areas, gardens, and roadsides …