not susceptible to poison oak would i be susceptible to poison ivy?

[Muse]

AFAIK never reacted to poison oak, however the next few days am very possibly exposed to poison ivy. Should I expect that I might I have a reaction?

 

[Meghan54]

My wife has no problem with poison oak but poison ivy slays her. So, YMMV. No one can really tell if there'll be a reaction until exposed to the allergen.

 

[Ichinisan]

I hear some people that were not previously sensitive can become sensitive later in life. Perhaps due to an over-exposure event.

 

[BoomerD]

You just never know...they both contain the same allergen, urushiol...

 

[IronWing]

Science can not be conducted in a data vacuum. Please report back your results so we have something to work with and thank you for taking one for the team.

 

[1sikbITCH]

Also, your body changes over time. You might grow out of or into allergies along the way. As a child my eyes swelled shut because I ate seafood (iodine). At age 20 I said fuck it and have been eating seafood without reaction ever since.

Never had hay fever before, am on prescription meds for it now.

 

[NetWareHead]

Both plants contain the same poisonous oil so Id say no.

I also was immune to poison ivy and never ever got it as a kid. Walked through it, never a problem. I remember by dad buying a lot that we cleared, cut down trees and prepped it for building. That included removing a ton of poison ivy. Never got it and I didnt protect myself.

Fast forward to my 30s and I approached poison ivy in my backyard with the same bold confidence. First time in my life I came down with it on my face, my chest, my junk etc... Id say a good 50% of my body had it. Truly awful experience that lasted for over 2 weeks.

I was so shaken by the experience that when I need to clear it, I use chemical defoliants or cover myself from head to toe. We had a small area on our property that I needed to brush cut that was filed with poison ivy. Long sleeve shirt & pants, gloves plus a turban I fashioned out of a big towel that covered my entire face and head. Barrier cream on any exposed skin. Had a decontamination station setup outside with a hose and soap where I could strip down to my boxers and get rid of my clothes before going inside. All affected clothing was immediately laundered with hot water while I took a shower.

 

[BxgJ]

Both plants contain the same poisonous oil so Id say no.

I also was immune to poison ivy and never ever got it as a kid. Walked through it, never a problem. I remember by dad buying a lot that we cleared, cut down trees and prepped it for building. That included removing a ton of poison ivy. Never got it and I didnt protect myself.

Fast forward to my 30s and I approached poison ivy in my backyard with the same bold confidence. First time in my life I came down with it on my face, my chest, my junk etc... Id say a good 50% of my body had it. Truly awful experience that lasted for over 2 weeks.

I was so shaken by the experience that when I need to clear it, I use chemical defoliants or cover myself from head to toe. We had a small area on our property that I needed to brush cut that was filed with poison ivy. Long sleeve shirt & pants, gloves plus a turban I fashioned out of a big towel that covered my entire face and head. Barrier cream on any exposed skin. Had a decontamination station setup outside with a hose and soap where I could strip down to my boxers and get rid of my clothes before going inside. All affected clothing was immediately laundered with hot water while I took a shower.

On your junk.....
Oh I bet that was unpleasant.

 

[NetWareHead]

On your junk.....
Oh I bet that was unpleasant.

You really realize after poison ivy how much your hands touch and mindlessly roam all over your body. Scratch an itch here, wipe some sweat off your brow, tap the side of your face in thought, push off of your knee when getting up from the ground, tuck your shirt into your pants, scratch your balls and hold your junk while you piss. And so on and on and on. I even needed to hit my cell phone with baby wipes in case any oil got on there. Every time you touch any skin, you spread the oil and will have a reaction there.

 

[SKORPI0]

http://www.poison-ivy.org/

"This photo, taken in New England on April 20th, shows that the flower buds show up soon after the first leaves."

 

[BurnItDwn]

I used to think I was immune to poison ivy.

Then I spent a whole summer with my legs covered in nasty drooling poison ivy sores.

Best to play it safe even if the odds are in your favor.

 

[Squisher]

I just watched a video a couple weeks ago of a guy claiming that if you wash yourself thoroughly with soap and a washcloth within a few hours of exposure you won't suffer from the rash. He used used/black motor oil to show how washing with just your hands and a bar of soap was ineffective at removing an oil from your skin.

 

[DrPizza]

I just watched a video a couple weeks ago of a guy claiming that if you wash yourself thoroughly with soap and a washcloth within a few hours of exposure you won't suffer from the rash. He used used/black motor oil to show how washing with just your hands and a bar of soap was ineffective at removing an oil from your skin.

This. I wipe down thoroughly with 97% (or whatever high percent it is) alcohol. THEN wash with plenty of soap and water.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

I hear some people that were not previously sensitive can become sensitive later in life. Perhaps due to an over-exposure event.

I'm one of those people. Until my late 20s or early 30s I could roll around in the stuff and would not get a single bump. Now I get a severe reaction if I even look at it funny.

If you think you're going to be exposed or already have been exposed (or even if you already have a bad rash) try Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub. If you've been exposed wash with the stuff thoroughly, it dissolves the oils and minimizes or completely prevents an outbreak. Even after the rash comes washing with the stuff several times a day dries up the rash much much faster and helps with the itching.

 

[NetWareHead]

I just watched a video a couple weeks ago of a guy claiming that if you wash yourself thoroughly with soap and a washcloth within a few hours of exposure you won't suffer from the rash. He used used/black motor oil to show how washing with just your hands and a bar of soap was ineffective at removing an oil from your skin.

I understand the fervor in wanting to annihilate all traces of the urushiol but I think this is a poor comparison. Im sure it is nowhere near as gummy, sticky and dirty as used motor oil. That being said, I'd go crazy overboard too.

This. I wipe down thoroughly with 97% (or whatever high percent it is) alcohol. THEN wash with plenty of soap and water.

Good call on the alcohol. Ive used acetone and mineral spirits as a degreaser to do the same.

 

[IronWing]

Just drink tomato juice.