Can poison ivy, oak or sumac rashes be transferred from person to person or does a person have to come in direct contact with a plant?

My sister was here last week and she developed a rash from when she was home. Now I think I have it. She's highly allergic but I have never had it before; even when I would come in contact with a plant when I was younger. I don't have any poison ivy plants in my yard.

Thanks!

By Kellyj on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 08:13 pm:

You have to come in contact with the plant resin to have poison ivy. Poison ivy, sumac etc... are allergic responses to the plant resin. It is the same type of response that a person with a metal or dye allergy would have. Both are noncontagious rashes, both are allergic responses, they just look different.
If she was wearing shoes, hat, or anything that had come into contact with the resin and you touched that item, that is the only way that you would have poison ivy etc... The rash is not transmitted person-person.
If she has not done so already, she should wash any items that she had on when exposed. She should also wash any linens that she came in contact with before showering. If she has pets and the plants are in areas that they may get into, they can carry the resin on their fur. If the plants are on her property and she decides to remove them, she should not burn them.
So I guess that bottom line is that it is possible that your rash is a reaction to the same plant resin that your sister was exposed to if you came into contact with any of the unwashed items or pets that had been exposed. But if your rash is poison ivy, you did not get the rash by touching your sister's rash.
I doubt that helps much I hope the rash isn't too uncomfortable. Take care.

By Annie2 on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 08:18 pm:

Thanks, Kelly. I have a spot on my calf about the size of a silver dollar. Extremely itchy. I scratched a mosquito bite and thought maybe it turned into impetigo but it doesn't look like that either.

I'm using Benadryl cream to ease the itch but if it doesn't clear up by Monday I'll check with my dr. Knock on wood that it hasn't spread.

Thanks

By Nicki on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 10:48 pm:

Annie, I just got a poison ivy rash from one of our cats yesterday morning. He came up to me while I was watering the garden, I picked him up and gave him the usual hug and minutes later I saw the rash and felt the itch. One spot actually looks like his paw! The stuff grows everywhere here.
We use Tecnu to stop the rash from spreading and Benadryl for the itch. I hope you will clear up soon! It's so hard not to itch, isn't it? These warm days don't help, either.

By Debbie on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 11:25 pm:

Annie, ditto Kaye. Zanfel wash works great. My ds always gets this, and Zanfel is the only thing that works. It is a paste that you wash with in the shower. Last time my ds had this he was covered from head to toe in the ugliest. bright, red rach. I used the wash, and the next day it was pink, and the following day it was completely gone. It also takes the itch away immediately.

By Dawnk777 on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 - 11:56 pm:

Oh yuck. I've managed to avoid poison ivy, for 47 years now and I hope I got 47 more years, too!