how long does it take for poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac to take effect?

Answer 1

I have different reaction times with every exposure and I don't know why!
I can break out with in the hour or not at all!
The location is usually different, so maybe, poison Ivy etc. is more or less potent by soil types???

Answer 2

If you come into contact with poison ivy, oak, or sumac, wash the skin in cool water as soon as possible to prevent the spread of urishiol. If you get a rash, oatmeal baths and calamine lotion can dry up blisters and bring relief from itching. You can also talk to a health care professional about medicines that may help.
If you don't cleanse quickly enough, or your skin is so sensitive that cleansing didn't help, redness and swelling will appear in about 12 to 48 hours. Blisters and itching will follow. For those rare people who react after their very first exposure, the rash appears after seven to 10 days.

Because they don't contain urushiol, the oozing blisters are not contagious nor can the fluid cause further spread on the affected person's body. Nevertheless, Epstein advises against scratching the blisters because fingernails may carry germs that could cause an infection.

The rash will only occur where urushiol has touched the skin; it doesn't spread throughout the body. However, the rash may seem to spread if it appears over time instead of all at once. This is either because the urushiol is absorbed at different rates in different parts of the body or because of repeated exposure to contaminated objects or urushiol trapped under the fingernails.

The rash, blisters and itch normally disappear in 14 to 20 days without any treatment. But few can handle the itch without some relief. For mild cases, wet compresses or soaking in cool water may be effective. Oral antihistamines can also relieve itching.

Answer 3

I'm one of those lucky people who break out with PI if I'm even close to it on a hot day. There is no day or two lapse, either. The last time I had a PI rash, it came up within a couple of hours of exposure.
If you know you've been exposed, be sure to undress in such a way that you don't touch the outside of your clothes. The oil from all 3 of the plants you mentioned will hang around on surfaces it touches (including your dog's coat) and will get you later. Wash all the clothes which were exposed in a separate load of laundry from any other garments.
Do wash your exposed skin as soon as you can with lots of soap and water. Different people recommend specific soaps (Old fashioned lye soap, for example), or products like Technu, but I find washing with whatever soap is at hand and lots and lots of warm water works, if you do it soon enough.
Good luck!

Answer 4

you mean allergic wise??? It effect people differently. I have no reaction to poison ivy or oak others may have very severe reaction

Answer 5

You break out within minutes. It's important to wash any skin that touched the plant immediateley with soapy water.

Answer 6

that depends on the age of the person and his sensitivity to it!! people become more tolerant of this as they age,, except for some who are very sensitive,,thats why many children get the calomine treatment but you don't see too many adults in the PINK!!

Answer 7

3 days on average