True or False?

Poison Ivy rash is not contagious

- True - Rubbing the rash won't spread poison ivy to other parts of your body (or to another person). You spread the rash only if the plant resin or oil has been left on your hands.

You can catch poison ivy simply by being near the plants

- False - Direct contact is needed to release plant resin or oil, but you can get poison ivy from forest fires, direct burning, or anything else that can cause the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower, trimmer, etc.

Poisonous plants always have 3 leaves

- False - Poison ivy and poison oak do have 3 leaves on a cluster, but poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch.

I cannot get a rash from a dead poison ivy plant

- False - The resin or oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to 5 years

I've been in poison ivy many times and never broken out. I'm immune.

- False- About 90% of people are allergic to the resin of poisonous plantsl, it's a matter of time and exposure. The more times you are exposed, the more likely it is that you will break out with an allergic rash. For the first time sufferer, it may take up to 7 to 10 days for the rash to appear.

If your child gets a poison plant rash, you can use oral Benedryl, Calamine lotion, or Hydrocortisone cream or call the office for an appointment.

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