Is a Poison Ivy Rash Contagious?
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Contagious
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Other people cannot "catch" poison ivy by coming in contact with the rash on another person.
Scratching Poison Ivy Blisters
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The clear substance that appears from blisters that have been scratched will not spread the rash.
Why Poison Ivy Spreads
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The more urushiol oil you come into contact with, the quicker the rash appears on your body.
How Other People "Catch" Poison Ivy
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Many people who get a rash think they came into contact with someone else's rash; in actuality, these people probably came into contact with clothing, yard tools, pets or car upholstery that had remnants of urushiol oil on it.
Avoid Spreading Poison Ivy
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To avoid the spread of poison ivy, wash everything that has come into contact with a poison ivy plant in order to remove the urushiol oil. Since poison ivy oil can stay active for years, this is a crucial step in eliminating the spread of a poison ivy rash.
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