BEFORE YOU GO
10 poison ivy myths you should know Myth No. 1 — Poison ivy rash is “contagious”. FALSE: Poison ivy rash actually is an allergic response to urushi-
ol, it is the plant’s resin that is similarly shared by poison ivy, oak and sumac. While the rash, once it is touched cannot be spread from person to person, prior contact made with urushiol-contaminated items easily can spread the rash to others by them touching or making direct physical contact with any one of the contaminated surfaces. Myth No. 2 — Scratching your blisters will cause the rash to spread. FALSE: Since the poison ivy rash is a result of being allergic to the plant’s urushiol, you cannot spread the rash simply by touching your fluid filled blisters. However, if or when urushiol remains actively located on your hands, or elsewhere, you easily can spread it to multiple parts of your body or to others. Myth No. 3 — If I wasn’t allergic to poison ivy once, I shall never be. FALSE: If you have never been in contact with poison ivy
before or never experienced an allergic reaction despite making contact with any of these plants, does this mean you’re immune to urushiol? Over time, your body may develop sensitivity to urushiol after just one limited exposure. Yet for others who appear to exist as immune or more resistant, they might require themselves being repeatedly exposed several times to poison ivy before noticeable rash symptoms first appear Myth No. 4 — Once you experience poison ivy allergy, you’re always allergic. FALSE: Your sensitivity to urushiol periodically may change or
by knowing the urushiol is airborne and immediately shall locate itself inside your eyes, ears, nose, face, throat and lungs. Myth No. 6 — You can only get poison ivy rash by touching a poison ivy plant. FALSE: While the most common way to get a poison ivy reaction
is to physically touch a poison ivy plant, you can still get an allergic rash by touching something that previously has the plant’s urushiol on it, such as contaminated worn clothing or shoes, your pet’s fur, a contaminated door knob, or gardening equipment, etc. Myth No. 7 — Once a poison ivy plant is dead, the
poison ivy plant no longer remains toxic-to-touch.
FALSE: Urushiol always remains active within either a dead or alive
plant. It also remains active on all previously contaminated non-porous surfaces, along with leather and clothing. It can remain active as long as seven long years. Recent studies suggest that if urushiol were to be found existing inside any one of the great pyramids of ancient Egypt, the Urushiol to this day would remain toxically active. Myth No. 8 — Keeping yourself completely covered
will prevent an allergic reaction from occurring.
FALSE: Although wearing protective clothing, i.e., long sleeve
shirt, pants, gloves while working is a great ounce of prevention measure, it does not guarantee you will not come into direct contact with urushiol elsewhere afterwards, since the invisible resin adheres to all clothing, tools, shoes, and surfaces allows for accidentally making contact with any outer existing surface of any one of your previously worn but now discarded protection suit, tools etc. Myth No. 9 — If it has, “leaves of three, let it be.” If it “looks like, hairy rope, don’t be dope!”
alter over time. You may become more or less sensitive during different peak times of the year, or for that matter within your own lifetime. By example: a) Spring provides the greater risk of exposure to poison ivy through inhaling poison ivy pollen. b) If as a child you were once allergic to urushiol, as an adult it may have the opposite effect on you, or vice versa.
FALSE: This great sayings serve as a constant reminder that are held true only for poison ivy/poison oak. Distinguishing: poison sumac leaves never are grouped in 3s. Poison sumac leaf can exhibit up to 13 leaflets, and unlike poison ivy, p. oak, poison sumac never grows as a vine.
Myth No. 5 — If you’re standing near a poison ivy
Myth No. 10
TRUE: In order to experience a poison ivy allergy, you must come in direct contact with poison ivy. When a poison ivy plant is either in flower pollinating, or by burning any of these plants and inhaling the resulting smoke, it is possible to experience poison ivy allergy,
FALSE: While there is no known cure for poison ivy, poison
plant, you may experience an allergic response.
Issue 1, 2021
— There is no way to prevent a poison ivy rash oak, poison sumac the best means of prevention is avoidance through proper plant IDentification. Learn to IDentify so as to avoid making contact.
VEGETATION CONTROL
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