Unique Content Article: What makes poison ivy so contagious?

What makes poison ivy so contagious?

by Scott Mogul

What is the cause of poison ivy and what makes poison ivy so contagious? Poison ivy is a plant that grows all through the United States and is common in the eastern U.S. An oil found in the plant, called urushiol, causes a rash in most folks but not in everyone. Almost 85 perfect of folks will develop a rash if they come into contact with poison ivy. The rash can vary in intensity and in some cases, it can be very itchy and cause significant pain.

<b> How Is Poison Ivy Spread? </b>

There are three ways in which poison ivy is spread.

<b>Direct contact</b> - touching any portion of a poison ivy plant, including the leaves, stems, and roots, can cause a rash since all the parts of the plant contains urushiol oil.

<b>Indirect contact</b> - urushiol oil can stick to most anything, including clothing, gardening tools, sporting equipment, even pet fur. Touching anything which has urushiol on it may cause a rash. Touching someone else that's got a poison ivy rash won't make you get a rash rash, however, unless that person has just recently touched the plant and still has the oil on their skin; most people do not develop the rash till 12 to 72 hours after contact with the plant and by then they probably won't have any oil left on their skin.

<b>Through the air</b> - burning poison ivy releases small particles of urushiol into the air, which can land on the skin and lead to a rash. This only will happen if the plant is burned, however; urushiol oil that causes the rash does not typically float around in the air.

<b> Learning to Avoid Poison Ivy </b>

The best <a href="http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/poison-ivy-symptoms.html">way to avoid poison ivy</a> is to be taught how to identify the plant and avoid it when you see it. Since the plant regularly grows in the same areas as other plants, making it tough to spot, wear long pants and socks if you're going to be in areas where you're likely to come into contact with poison ivy. If you do come in contact with poison ivy, or think you could have, wash all areas of exposed skin with water and soap asap. Wash your clothing in hot soapy water, too. If you remove the oil from your skin fast enough, you may be able to avoid breaking out in a rash.



To get more information and resources on skin therapy, be certain to visit the Health And Skin Guide website. This website has instructive information on subjects such as the <a href="http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/poison-ivy-contagious.html">reasons for poison ivy</a>, how to get <a href="http://www.healthy-skin-guide.com/">appropriate nutrition for your skin</a>, and tips to keep your skin youthful looking.

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New Unique Article!

Title: What makes poison ivy so contagious?
Author: Scott Mogul
Email: dirasu.993863.0@articlesamurai.com
Keywords: poison ivy contagious,what causes poison ivy,poison ivy rash,poison ivy itchiness,poison ivy plant
Word Count: 415
Category: Health & Fitness
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