Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIs It Contagious?PreventionCan It Spread?Treatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Is It Contagious?
Prevention
Can It Spread?
Treatment
Poison ivyis a plant found throughout the United States. It typically has three leaves on each stem and grows on a vine or bush. Touching poison ivy can cause swelling, blisters, and an itchy rash that’s often referred to as poison ivy as well. About 85% of people are allergic to poison ivy and develop a rash.
Poison ivy rash is not contagious. In the general sense, it can’t be spread from person to person. However, it can be spread if you come into contact with the plant oil (urushiol) on the unwashed clothing or skin of someone with poison ivy. Urushiol is odorless and can transfer to anything that touches the plant.
This article explains when poison ivy might spread, how to prevent transmission, and how to heal a poison ivy rash.
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Poison Ivy and Contagiousness
Can poison ivy spread from person to person? The short answer is no, but the long answer is a little complicated.
When It Is Contagious
The urushiol in poison ivy is persistent, sometimes clinging to objects for years.Be wary of things that may have come in contact with the plant oils, including:
Poison Ivy vs. Poison Oak Rash: What Are the Differences?
When It Isn’t Contagious
Also, poison ivy can’t be passed on after the oils are washed off the person with the rash, as well as objects and pets.
Preventing Poison Ivy Transmission
The best way toprevent the spread of poison ivyto other parts of your skin or to others is to remove the urushiol from your skin, clothing, and other objects.
If you have come into contact with poison ivy, don’t wait for the rash to develop. Immediately and thoroughly wash your skin with cool water and soap. Experts recommend the following for getting urushiol off your skin:
Be sure to wash gently since aggressive scrubbing can rub the oils into your skin.
If you think your pet may have brushed up against poison ivy, give them a bath, making sure to wear protective rubber gloves. Wash your garden gloves and tools regularly to prevent inadvertently coming into contact with poison ivy oils.
How to Tell the Difference Between Shingles & Poison Ivy
How Spreading Poison Ivy Looks
Why does it look like poison ivy is spreading on your skin if it’s not contagious? The reality is that you may have brushed up against poison ivy with more than one body part. Since the rash doesn’t usually appear immediately, knowing exactly where the plant touched you can be difficult to detect.
Symptoms of poison ivy rash include:
Symptoms may begin a few hours or two to three weeks after exposure if you have never had a poison ivy rash. The symptoms can last up to two weeks.
Poison Ivy Rash: What It Looks Like and How To Prevent It
How to Heal Poison Ivy Rash
After thoroughly washing your skin, clothing, and objects to remove the poison ivy oils, you can also treat the symptoms of your rash.Poison ivy treatmentoptions include:
Usually, rashes improve in a week to 10 days.If your rash is still not improving after that time, it may be infected. See adermatologist(a medical doctor specializing in skin conditions) or another healthcare provider for an evaluation.
Summary
Poison ivy is not contagious, meaning the rash does not spread from person to person. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t get a poison ivy rash from another person. If a person has urushiol oil (the sap on the leaves and stem of poison ivy) on their skin, clothing, or other objects, and you come into contact with the oil, you can develop a poison ivy rash.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Skin Association.Poison ivy, sumac, and oak.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.UConn Health.Poison ivy fact sheet.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: Who gets a rash and is it contagious?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What should I do if I touch a plant?.UpToDate.Patient education: Poison ivy (beyond the basics).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What does the rash look like?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Skin Association.Poison ivy, sumac, and oak.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.UConn Health.Poison ivy fact sheet.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: Who gets a rash and is it contagious?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What should I do if I touch a plant?.UpToDate.Patient education: Poison ivy (beyond the basics).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What does the rash look like?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Skin Association.Poison ivy, sumac, and oak.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.UConn Health.Poison ivy fact sheet.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: Who gets a rash and is it contagious?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What should I do if I touch a plant?.UpToDate.Patient education: Poison ivy (beyond the basics).American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What does the rash look like?.American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.
American Skin Association.Poison ivy, sumac, and oak.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants.
UConn Health.Poison ivy fact sheet.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: Who gets a rash and is it contagious?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What should I do if I touch a plant?.
UpToDate.Patient education: Poison ivy (beyond the basics).
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: What does the rash look like?.
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Poison ivy, oak, and sumac: How to treat the rash.
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