Are hot tubs bad for poison ivy?

Answer 1

In theory yes. The oil from Poison Ivy can last a very long time and is very resilient. It can even survive being burnt in a fire and the smoke that is inhaled can cause blisters in the lungs. Many experts say it can last up to 10 years after the plant has died. If you shower prior to going into the hot tub and used soap it probably would not cause any problems but I would check with a Doctor first. If you got into a hot tub with a hyper sensitive person, and there are many, even a small amount diluted into the water could cause the rash to appear. I believe that something like 1 in 13 are not affected by the oil. Pretty good chance everyone you know will get the rash if exposed. Considering the parts of the body exposed and that they would be the most sensitive to the oils I would not go in even if no one else was in there. If you had it on your shins and got into the tub it could spread to your abdomen or worse, genitals, ouch. Talk about socially inappropriate scratching! Your hands and the soles of your feet tend to be the least affected to the oil due to the thickness of the skin in those areas. Last, despite what you may hear you cannot be desensitized to the affect of the oil. Most children when exposed do not develop the rash. Your body becomes more sensitive to it the older you get from even the smallest exposure. This leads many people to falsely believe that Poison Ivy does not affect them and foolishly expose themselves to the plant and find out the hard way. I was one of them.

Answer 2

Yes, infection spreads only when the person comes into contact with the plant.