Poison Ivy Info?

Wondering if anyone could tell me when a poison ivy breakout ceases to be contageous? Someone told me today that once a rash is washed it isn't contageous by contact anymore. Since this person is literally covered with poison ivy right now and I will be around him tomorrow, I'd really be thankful for any replies :)

i've never heard that it was contagious from one person to the next. Some people are affected by it (directly from the plant) and some folks aren't. I haven't heard of a single case where one person can pass it off to another. I think you'll be fine.

Thanks, Shoe. I guess I was thinking of cases where scratching made it spread to other parts of the body?? Thought it would also apply to spreading to a different body (lol), but no?

There are people that swear it can be spread from one person to another. I had a pharmacist look at me sideways when I protested that it could not be spread that way! I have read lots about it. The only conclusion I have been able to reach is that it is a contact dermatitis. The plant is covered with an oil that sticks to your skin. Some people react in seconds and some not for days. The rash is reaction telling you that you have touched the plant. Once the oil is washed from your skin, you should not be able to pass it on. Whenever I think I have come in contact with it, I immediately rub dish soap, bleach or alcohol on my skin and rinse it off well. Bleach and alcohol also help dry it up faster. There are those times I don't realize I touched it.....usually when I hit it with the weedwhacker and mist myself. ITCH ITCH!

According to my dermatologist, it is not contagious to someone else.

I am very allergic to poison ivy, poison oak, that sort of thing, and I use something from the pharmacy called Zanfel. It is not cheap, but worth every penny. Call a few to see if they carry it. It's got grit to it, and what you do is wet the area that has the rash, apply this product, and rub it good. It'll hurt a little bit, but it suspends the Urisherol (sp) oil, and helps it heal a lot quicker. You'll have to do it a few times, but mine went away within a few days, or less. They say if you think you've come into contact with it, you have 15 minutes to get it washed-off, and use a strong soap like dish soap, or FelsNaptha, if you are fortunate to have it any store in your area, and you should be okay. Hope this helps.

the rash is not contagious. the only way poison ivy can 'spread' from one person to another is if there is 'oil' from the plant[roots included] on the clothing or shoes or fur of another being. a person usually doesnt get the blistery rash for a few days [during which we can hope they've showered the oils away]

Thanks so much for the info everyone! Very interesting. I've been blessed to never have had poison anything before, but wanted to check out the possible dangers anyway (small children and all). Very good to know, especially since my poor mom (buckeyemomsgard) is constantly rashed out somewhere at sometime during the whole growing season ;) Poor thing. Now she doesn't have to worry about spreading the rash to our little ones! Thanks!

you"catch" poison ivy from the oil that the plant generates. Some people are totally allerbic and some people don't get bothered at all. My brother-in-law is one of those lucky ones. We used to get it as kids since we played everywhere and occasionally used to catch it from our dogs if they had rubbed up against any. My mom washed us down with naptha soap. The brown laundry soap. This seemed to work well for preventing the rash if you think you have come in contact. you can shave it into warm water and dissolve it and wash your clothes with it too.

i make it a point to wash in fels naptha soap every hour on the hour - every time i go out because i'm so sensitive. there's a bar of it somewhere near every sink. make the family wash their hands too after petting the cats because of them getting into the poison.

You won't break out from Poison Ivy unless you are allergic to it. You probably aren't since you've never had it. I never have either, but know someone who suffers from it yearly. Funny how that fels naptha soap is still around.

I was around it all my life and never had a problem. When I was 26 I got the worse case my Doctor had ever seen.My eyes swelled shut for 10 days and my arms swelled to the size of my thigh.I had small children at the time and there was never a pass along at all.I have been around it when weedeating and panic but I try to stay away.I really feel for your poisoned one. Im 45 now and have never forgotten the 350.00 electric bill that month because I was just so darn hot!Doctor can give shots now that really help clear it up in no time. Good Luck

the only way you get Poison Ivy, or Oak is by contact with the plant or from smoke frome burning it