Does exposure to the sun affect the spread of poison ivy rash?

Dear acelefty-ga;

Thank you for allowing me to answer your interesting question.

Sunlight, heat, sweating and detergents are all irritants and can
ENHANCE the allergic reaction, but do not cause it to spread. By
preventing contact with direct sunlight, hot baths, and soap one can
limit the irritation to some degree, thus the scratching ? which can
?IN SOME CASES? [see below] enable the outbreak to become more angry
and pronounced. So, you see, it isn?t direct sunlight itself that
causes it to spread but the irritation caused by the itching and
scratching.

I also want to address two myths:

MYTH: Scratching will spread the rash. 

Not True: Rubbing and scratching a poison ivy rash will NOT cause it
to spread to other parts of your body unless urushiol oil (the natural
irritant in the plant) is left on your hands. Scratching can cause
damage to the skin and even cause infection to occur, but scratching
alone does not spread a poison ivy rash.

MYTH: Poison ivy, oak, and sumac are contagious.

Simply False: A poison ivy rash is an allergic reaction to the
urushiol oil in the plant. One person?s sensitivity to this substance
cannot pass to another person. Only the urushiol oil itself can be
spread by contact with another person. If one person gets urushiol oil
on their skin from another person then sure, an outbreak can occur if
he is sensitive to the substance; but otherwise a poison ivy rash is
an individual problem that IS NOT contagious and breaking the blisters
of a poison ivy rash DOES NOT release urushiol oil that can cause the
rash to spread further.

I hope you find that my answer exceeds your expectations. If you have
any questions about my research please post a clarification request
prior to rating the answer. Otherwise I welcome your rating and your
final comments and I look forward to working with you again in the
near future. Thank you for bringing your question to us.

Best regards;
Tutuzdad-ga ? Google Answers Researcher



INFORMATION SOURCES

AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
http://www.aad.org/default.htm
http://www.aad.org/NR/rdonlyres/0A67E605-01E1-4C7A-B493-9959923A8282/0/di_spring03.pdf

POISON IVY, OAK AND SUMAC INFORMATION CENTER
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/welcome.html
http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/fastfacts.html




SEARCH STRATEGY


SEARCH ENGINE USED:

Google ://www.google.com


SEARCH TERMS USED:

POISON IVY

SPREAD 

SUNLIGHT

URUSHIOL

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Clarification of Answer by tutuzdad-ga on 26 Aug 2005 19:34 PDT

Great Customer! Thank you for your generous tip!

tutuzdad-ga

The answer was excellent, and the reply speed was satisfactory.
Thank you.

No, but the warmth from the sun (or being in a warm room) will make
the rash itchier.  Best thing is to keep cool.

Also be ware of touching the rash with your hands and then touching
more sensitive skin, yours or someone elses.  Indeed, no rash may
develop on your hands, although they were in contact with the poison
ivy (or poison oak), but they could still transmit it without your
having scratched the rash.  Scrub them.