The symptoms of a poison ivy rash include the following:
- Redness
- Itching
- Bumps
- Swelling
- Blistering
- Black spots or streaks (rarely)
The rash typically appears 12 to 48 hours after exposure to poison ivy and lasts two to three weeks.
The rash develops only where your skin was exposed to the oil. Touching the rash doesn’t spread it, and the rash itself is not contagious. However, if you still have oil from the plant on your fingers and then you touch your face, for example, it’s possible to transfer the oil to other parts of your body and cause the rash there as well. Urushiol tends to absorb quickly, so you’re at risk of spreading it for just a short period.
Generally, the areas of the skin with the most oil on them will develop a rash first; the areas with less oil will develop a rash later.
It’s also possible for the oil from poison ivy to stick to your clothing, shoes, and even your pet’s fur. In this case, touching your clothing or pet could also cause a rash. (Most pets aren’t allergic to poison ivy, though.)
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