A poison ivy rash is red and itchy that has small blisters and bumps. Your mom probably told you to beware of plants with three pointed leaves. The offending part is urushiol oil. Usually you’ll see the rash
a few days after you touched the plant. It can last for three weeks but people often get more eruptions because the oil resin is re-contacted through your clothing, shoes or pets. When we are walking down trails or exploring the woods, we aren’t usually looking down and observing the types of plants that brush up against us.

You can get a poison ivy rash from gardening so be observant of what
plants are around you. They can spring up anywhere so you don’t have to be camping or doing a hike up a remote trail to get the rash.

Touching the blisters isn’t what spreads the poison ivy rash. It is spread by the urushiol oil and this is why people The allergy to urushiol is the most common one so there is a good chance that contact with the oil will result in a break out. They estimate that 90 percent of people who directly touch the oil will have a reaction.

Sometimes the oil can be released into the air by grass cutters (ie trimmers). If you can wash the oil off your skin, it isn’t contagious because the blisters themselves are not what spreads it to others or around your body. However, it is easy for their to be residues of oil on clothing and elsewhere so be a detective. The resin can remain on your shoes, tools and other surfaces. Also even if the plant is not alive, it still may have the oil on it that can cause a rash.

Generally you’ll know if you have the poison ivy rash due to the fact
there will be extreme itching with bumps and possibly blisters. Tecnu
is useful to remove the oil. IF you were out with your dog, give him
a good bath as well as it may be on his fur. Remember to take oatmeal baths to help reduce itching and redness.

For relief, cold washcloths, calamine and anti-inflammatory creams are
useful. Aveeno oatmeal baths help as well. For sleep you may need benadryl depending on your reaction and the severity. Sometimes cortisone based creams or medications are used to reduce inflammation and reacion.

Enviromentally, fires that contain the urushiol oil can cause reactions
so be careful in exposing yourself to this as well as any fires you may make during camping or bonfire events. Sometimes people burn areas
of their yards if there are fire ants or for other reasons. Scout out
whether or not there is poison ivy in the vicinity as it should NOT be burned due to oil release issues.