Does poison ivy spread by scratching the rash? Can it spread from person to person?
Question:
Answers:
• The best way to avoid getting a rash from poison ivy, oak or sumac is to stay away from the plants. You can't get a rash from just standing near a patch of poison ivy the urushiol oil in the plants, which causes the rash, can only transfer to your skin by direct contact.
• However, your pet can run through a patch of poison ivy, oak or sumac and get the urushiol on its fur. Then when the animal jumps up on you, or you pet it the urushiol can transfer to your skin. Dogs seem to be immune to the oil, but many a dog lover has developed a serious rash from the oil on his pet's fur.
• Avoid burning poison ivy, oak or sumac. Poison ivy vines often grow around trees and can be easily overlooked and tossed into a campfire. The smoke can carry the urushiol oil into your respiratory system causing serious allergic reactions inside your nose, throat and lungs. If you believe you have inhaled smoke from burning poison ivy, see a doctor immediately, the allergic reaction can be very serious.
• If you are going to be hiking in a wooded area where these plants live, wear protective clothing long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into your socks or boots and cloth or leather gloves. There are some barrier creams that have been shown to help prevent the oil from getting on your skin.
• If you get the oil on your skin, wash as soon as possible with lots and lots of cool water. The sooner you wash, and the more water you use, the less likely you will be of getting a rash.
• Although a number of studies have been done on treating the rashes, no one has proven that any home remedies really work. The most common suggestions are to apply calamine lotion to the rash or rub the rash with an ice cube. These remedies may or may not work, but they probably won't cause any harm.
• If the rash covers more than 20 percent of your body, or develops in sensitive areas like the eyes, mouth or genitals, see a doctor immediately. Physicians can prescribe steroids in either cream form or by injections that may decrease the allergic reaction. Extremely sensitive people may need to be hospitalized.
Excerpted from Woodall's Monthly Regional RV/Camping Publications.
Other Answers:
yes
yes and yes, dont touch it or other people, wash it with soap and water. it spreads everywhere. it definately spreads to others
Yes and Yes.
It can also be on your pet's fur and you get it by petting it.
Poison Ivy can spread from scratching and touching another part of your body, as well as person to person through touch depending on the other person's aversion to it.
yes scratching will spread the infection and any one who touches it or your contaminated(no offense) hand will get it.It is very communicable
Yeah don't scratch and use an antibiotic.
yes, so put calamine lotion on a.s.a.p.
Yes. When you get poison Ivy, it's VERY important not to scratch! If you scratch let's say your leg then your eye, not a good situation to be in. The best remedy to prevent scratching is to put something like a cream or lotion on it. I personally like to put baby powder on it b/c it tends to cover up the rash a bit and medicate it as well. It also helps with the oozing.
I think is is oil based, so it is probably VERY easy to spread from person to person with direct contact. I hope you don't have it, I hear is is VERY uncomfortable.
yes it goes from person to person, because when you scratch a place on your body, the oil ( which is what makes you itch ) gets on your hands and then it can be transferred. I've had poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac all at the same time. my eyes were swollen shut! not that you needed to know that, but it can get ugly, so get some calamine lotion, and if you need to itch, even though you shouldn't.get a plastic fork, or something you can throw away and lightly itch it just to pass the itchy feeling. Don't use your nails or anything really sharp because you'll leave scars.
it spreads both ways, and if you have it please stay away from me.I may not die from it, but I'll be miserable for over a week, and that's if I take my meds
Yes and yes! Antihistamine for the allergy itch, calamine lotion to dry up the oils from the ivy you have on you. And wash your hands a lot
I was at the doctors the other day for poison ivy and was told that it can not spread from scratching but it is the oils of the plant that are in the clothing, or on bedsheets if you did not shower after being exposed that makes it appear it is spreading. If you have poison ivy change your bed linens, wash the clothes you were wearing, bathe any pets that may have been exposed.
This is technically "no", but effectively sort of "yes"
The thing that causes the reaction (rash, etc.) from poison ivy/poison oak is the urushiol oil from the plant.
This binds very strongly to skin oils, which can then be transferred from person to person - or to other parts of your own body.
The rash itself is not contagious, but if you haven't cleaned away all the plant oils, scratching that area and then touching elsewhere or someone else can cause it to spread.
Yes it spreads when you scratch. The "poison" binds to your skin.
From: Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac Information Center FAQs
(Third Choice on the Left)
"Rhus plants(poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac) are the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in the US. Rhus plans contain the potent antigen urushiol, which will sensitize 60% to 80% of the persons who are exposed to it. .(It) may be carried on the fur of pets, clothing, shoes, toys, tools, or other objects and then transferred to the skin. Approximately 24 to 36 hrs after a sensitized person is exposed to the urushiol, a blistery, itching rash develops. Usually within 15 minutes of contact, the urushiol binds to skin proteins. If it is washed off with soap and water before that time, a reaction may be prevented. After the antigen is fixed, however, it cannot be washed off or transferred to other areas. Scratching or oozing blister fluid cannot spread the antigen to other areas of the body or to other persons. New lesions that appear a few days after the primary lesions represent less sensitive areas or areas where less antigen was deposited, not spreading of the antigen. Because the course of the reaction usually is 12 to 15 days, 2 weeks of medication should be prescribed. Reference [Dermatology in Primary Care 1994]
If it is like Poison oak (west coast) it can spread by scratching as the oil from the plant gets under your finger nails. or you move the oil into a larger area from the initial rash as you spread the oil around. If one is highly sensitive to the oil, that person can get it from another by having skin to skin contact. a person can get it from the clothes of another, so it is important to wash clothes in hot water if they have been in contact with poison oak. a person who is highly sensitive can get it from smoke that comes from poison oak that is burning. my brother got bad case of poison oak on his genitalia by getting it on his hands and then going to the bathroom to urinate. He was miserable. there are others who are not sensitive to it and do not have a problem with it.
Source(s):
My life experience and from my nurses training.
I am something of the poison ivy king. I used to get it all the time for a while there and each time it was worse because I had become sensitised. Even had it around my eyes and just about everywhere else. Yes, there too. Terrible stuff.
You can get it from someone burning its leaves, you can get it from clothing, shoes and someone's bedding (sheets, blankets, pillow cases). So yes! It can be spread person to person.
Spread by scratching.. Sure. Also, scratching it make it take longer to heal.
No, if your poison ivy spreads or seems to spread in straight lines (you'll know it when you see it), or it seems to be mostly between your fingers, then you may have something else like scabbies.
yes and yes to both questions. Cortisone cream is a good treatment, apply it after washing the area with alcohol
Source(s):
me the poison ivy kid
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