Is Poison Ivy Contagious?

Posted 05-27-2010 12:05 am by

If you never had poison ivy, consider yourself luck.  Poison ivy creates a terrible, itchy rash that oozes across your skin. It can really make a person miserable! If you have ever had poison ivy, you have likely noticed that people were avoiding coming in contact with you.  Is Poison ivy really contagious?

The oil (urushiol) from the poison ivy plant is incredibly contagious.  If that oil is still on your clothes or your skin or anything else, anyone who touches it can get the rash too.  Even if the oil is dried, it can still make your skin react.

Once the oil is washed, you are no longer contagious.  It's normal for the rash to first appear 24 to 48 hours after contact with the plant oils.  Scratching the blisters will not spread the rash.  The fluid in the blisters is not contagious either.  You can't spread poison ivy from one part of your body to another through the rash.

Even the dead plants can contain active oil for a long time and can give you a rash.  Wearing clothing does not protect you because the oil can stick to your clothes, which you might come in contact with.  The severity of the rash depends on the sensitivity of your skin and the concentration of the oil.

Always take precautions to avoid poison ivy plants.  Remember the saying, leaves of three, let them be!

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