When does poison ivy stop spreading?
So you got exposed to poison ivy, and now you’re experiencing the consequences. Yesterday you developed a rash on your forearm, and today a rash on your neck! When will the spreading stop?
Good news, it has already stopped spreading!
Poison ivy rashes are caused by urushiol, the oil found in the plant. Once absorbed into the skin, urushiol tends to bind to skin protein, which puts your immune system into overdrive, attacking infected cells to destroy what would otherwise be a harmless substance.
Urushiol oil is the only way for poison ivy rashes to spread. If you’ve washed off all the oil, the spreading would have already ceased. Fair warning, though—urushiol tends to stick to surfaces for up to five years, so remember to wash any of the following:
- Clothing exposed to poison ivy.
- Tools that touched the plant.
- Gloves.
- Your shoes.
When cleaning any of these, remember to separate them from items not exposed to the plant.
The bad news—expect rashes in places you’ve touched.
If you’ve discovered you’ve been exposed to poison ivy too late, you’ll expect rashes to develop anywhere you’ve touched. It usually takes 24 to 48 hours after exposure to the plant for rashes to manifest. Each time you touch a different spot on your body, the concentration of urushiol oil lessens.
Poison ivy rashes developing on different parts of the body at different times would understandably make it appear like the rash is spreading. But in actuality, the spots were already previously exposed but are just taking time to develop symptoms.
If you have a rash forming after some time, for instance a week later or longer, it is because you are coming in contact with the rash-causing oil somehow. This is common with surfaces where the oil may still be sitting because it was not removed as stated above.
How to stop poison ivy rashes from spreading
The only way to stop the rashes from forming is by wiping the urushiol oil from your skin as soon as you’ve been exposed to it. For most people, there is a 20-minute window to remove any trace of the plant oil on you. For best results in minimizing rashes, here are the steps to follow:
- Remove the oil on your hands. Products that specialize in eliminating urushiol like Tecnu Detox Wipes would be preferable.
- Remove any clothing article you suspect has been exposed to poison ivy. You can either dispose of them, wash them thoroughly and separate them from your other clothes later.
- Wipe down tools and any items you used thoroughly. Tecnu Original and Detox Wipes can be used to clean tools.
- Bathe as soon as you can with soap and water. Use Tecnu Original in the shower for effective mitigation.
With these steps, you will minimize the severity of the effects of poison ivy.
Preparing yourself for the outdoors
Exploring the outdoors with friends and family can be a memorable experience. While getting a poison ivy rash would be memorable too, it will also ruin your vacation. It would be best to be prepared for anything you encounter in the wild.
Tec Labs is the #1 provider of products to combat poison ivy both in the wild and in your backyard. Their products are guaranteed to keep your outdoor adventures a fun, memorable experience!
