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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 urushiol, is the plant resin 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 themselves touching or making direct physical contact with any of the contaminated items surfaces.
Myth No. 2 — Scratching your blisters will cause the rash to spread.
FALSE: Since the poison ivy rash is a result of you 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, 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 will never be.
FALSE: If you have never been in contact with poison ivy before or never experienced an allergic reaction despite making contact with 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 alter over time. You may become more or less sensitive during different peak times of year, or for that matter within your own lifetime. For example: Spring provides the greatest significant possibility leads to poison ivy exposure is by inhaling poison ivy pollen. If you were once as a child, allergic to urushiol, it may now become the opposite effect in adulthood, or vice-versa.
Myth No. 5 — If you’re standing near a poison ivy plant, you may experience an allergic response.
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 smoke, it is possible to experience poison ivy allergy, always knowing the urushiol is airborne and shall immediately locate itself inside your eyes, ears, nose, 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 still can get an allergic rash from touching something that previously has the plant’s urushiol on it, such as contaminated worn clothing or shoes, your pet’s fur, contaminated door knob, or gardening equipment.
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, and leather and clothing. It can persist remaining active as long as seven long years. Recent studies revealed that if urushiol were to be found existing inside any 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 the outer surface of any of your previously worn 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
FALSE: This great sayings serve as a constant reminder that are held true only for poison ivy/poison oak. Distinguishing: poison sumac’s leaves never are grouped in 3s. Poison sumac leaf can exhibit up to 13 leaflets, and unlike poison ivy/oak, poison sumac never grows as a vine.
Myth No. 10 — There is no way to prevent a poison ivy rash
FALSE: While there is no known cure for poison ivy, oak, sumac. The best means of prevention is by avoidance thru proper plant IDentification. Learn to IDentify to avoid contact.
We’re Just “Itching” To Get Rid Of Your Poison Ivy
Poison Ivy New Seeding Poison Ivy - Beware Virolent Red Poison Ivy - Early Red Spring Growth
Poison Ivy With Flower Bracts Showing Poison Ivy Leaves of 3
Poison Ivy Ruffle Leaves Poison Ivy Leaves of 4* Poison Ivy Leaves of 6*
Poison Ivy Autumn Colors
Poison Ivy Berries/Seeds
Poison Ivy Shrubby Bush
Poison Ivy On Building Poison Ivy Woody Vine On Fence Poison Ivy Woody Vine Poison Ivy Woody Vine
Poison Ivy Up Telephone Pole
*Various forms of poison ivy.
1-888-P.I. RELIEF ® (1-888-747-3543)
1. WHAT CAN I DO TO RELIEVE THE ITCH?
There is no cure for the rash once it begins, only relief from the symptoms. Avoid further contact with the plant oils if possible. Once contact is made with the oil, immediately flush exposed body parts with cold running water and soap. Seek medical attention if rash persists for more than 3 days.
2. DO THE BLISTERS, OR BREAKING THEM
CAUSE THE RASH TO SPREAD?
No. The blisters are the body’s natural allergic response to the poisonous plants. If the blisters break and ooze, this fluid does not cause rash to spread further. Once original contact is made with the plant, the rash caused by the oil will continue spreading until such time the oil is washed from the body. If new areas of rash appear after 3 days, you are getting re-exposed to the plant oil, most likely occurs from contaminated clothing, tools, or even your cat or dog.
4. HOW LONG DOES THE URUSHIOL RESIN LAST?
URUSHIOL DOES NOT EVAPORATE since it is not an oil, it is a resin. It can remain active for several years or longer once transfered to hand tools, clothing, pet’s fur, kid’s toys, etc.
5. I’VE NEVER HAD POISON IVY RASH BEFORE.
CAN I GET IT NOW?
Yes, you can begin getting the rash at any time during your life. Three out of four people are sensitive to poison ivy/oak. Sensitivity is just a matter of being exposed enough times until the body becomes allergic to physical contact being made the poisonous oils.
6. SHOULD I WRAP OR COVER THE RASH WITH
BANDAGES?
No. Air is helpful to healing any wound. It is important to keep the rash clean. Seek medical attention if rash persists more than 3 days, turns red, becomes feverish, or show signs of infection.
7. ARE DEAD P.I. PLANTS SAFE TO TOUCH OR
BURN?
No. The poisonous oils remain active, does not evaporate, should not be touched. All parts dead or alive, including the roots, contain the irritant urushiol, a resin that causes the rash. Never burn dead vines or wood.
8. DO I NEED TO CLEAN URUSHIOL RESIN
FROM MY CLOTHING AND TOOLS?
Yes. The poison ivy resin remains active on an item’s surface, causing a rash occurring months, or even years later. Thorough removal by washing the resin away from a strong cleanser is important to avoid future contamination by unsuspecting victims.
9. CAN I GET THE RASH FROM MY PETS?
Yes. the animal’s fur protects their skin against poison ivy resin. However, the resin will remain active on their fur, and upon touching will contaminate you. Suggested removal of the poisonous resin should be performed with a strong P.I. soap, to help avoid future contamination and rash by family members.
