How does poison ivy spread?

Answer 1

No, although scratching damages the skin and leaves open wounds, which may infect.

Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac -- all secrete Urushiol, an oil which causes the antigen reaction. Once it's absorbed or washed off, it's gone. The serous fluid in the resultant blisters is NOT antigenic.

Answer 2

It spreads through your blood. It cant spread to anybody else though. :] im so smarticle because i get it every year Dx it hurts! I am not lieing even ask your doctor

The rash and blisters are a reaction to the oily sap called urushiol that is found in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumak. Your skin can be exposed to urushiol in several ways: through direct contact with the plant, or by touching gardening tools or other items that came in contact with the plant. Urushiol can remain on items for a long period of time, so you can continue to be exposed to it when you touch the clothing or shoes that you were wearing. Your pets can even get urushiol on them when running in the woods and then expose you to it.

Many people believe that the reaction is spread through your blood or by scratching and rubbing the blisters. However, urushiol is not found in your blood stream nor is it in the blisters. For this reason, the allergic reaction to poison ivy is not contagious from one person to another. It is only spread through direct contact with urushiol.

Depending on an individual's sensitivity to urushiol, and also the amount of urushiol that a person was exposed to, the reaction can occur within a few hours or days later. Also, some areas of your body are more sensitive, whereas some areas (such as the thick skin on the soles of your feed) take longer to react.

If poison ivy is continuing to spread on your body:

(1) You are continuing to have contact with a source of urushiol (either the plant itself or some object that came in contact with the urushiol).

(2) Some parts of your body had a more immediate reaction and some parts are having a delayed reaction.

Answer 3

Poison ivy can spread through direct contact with the plant's oil, urushiol, which is present in all parts of the plant. This oil can be transferred by touching the plant itself or by touching contaminated objects like clothing or tools. Additionally, the oil can become airborne if poison ivy is burned, leading to potential inhalation and skin exposure.

Answer 4

Wash it with dish soap, dawn works best. It kills the active oil that starts the rash, urushiol. That can keep it from spreading.

Answer 5

Yes, then do not do it.

Answer 6

yes