Does poison ivy spread through simply touching it?

I know that I got it through the plant itself. And I know that the "oil" will make it spread... but what about the outbreak itself? If i scratch a poison ivy rash does it make it spread to other areas simply by touching?

Does poison ivy spread through simply touching it?
no, it won't. you only get a rash on the places where you touched the actual plant
Reply:how does the poison ivy look like
Reply:Technically, Yes... it can happen, but it really depends on the allergic sensitivity of the person who comes in contact with it %26amp; the amount of the oil that you come in contact with.



The reaction caused by poison-ivy, urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, is an allergic reaction.



Urushiol oil can remain active for several years, so handling dead leaves or vines can cause a reaction. In addition, oil transferred from the plant to other objects (such as pet fur) can cause the rash if it comes into contact with the skin.



If poison ivy is burned and even if the smoke then inhaled, this rash will appear on the lining of the lungs, causing extreme pain and possibly fatal respiratory difficulty.



As far as scratching is concerned... if you pick up some of the oil on your hands from the initial area of body contact %26amp; then you touch another part of the body, yes it can spread the oil around to the other area... But if you just scratch the blisters that the allergic reaction causes (after the oil has been washed away), the oozing fluids released by itching blisters do not spread the poison.



I even knew a teenage guy who's face would swell if he so much as stood near the plant.
Reply:No, you're fine. The rash spreading by scratching or touching it is an old wives tale. Go ahead and scratch away if that makes you feel better.