if you come into contact with poison ivy but clean it and several hours later no rash, are you fine?

Question

if you touch poison ivy but clean it right after (like within minutes) and like 6 hours later there's no rash or itch, does that mean you're fine, or does it take a while to develop?

Answer 1

You're mostly likely safe or at least you will have greatly reduced any reaction by washing soon after exposure. It depends on what you mean by cleaning it. Plain water may only remove a small amount of the oil. Regular bar soap is only a bit more effective. If you used rubbing alcohol or a grease-dissolving soap like Dawn then that is much more effective at removing the oils. Urushiol (the chemical in poison ivy sap that causes the allergic reaction) can start to bind to skin cells in 10 to 15 minutes. The time of the appearance of the rash after exposure is quite variable. The reaction can appear from a few hours up to 10 days later depending on the particular person's sensitivity and how big of a dose they got. Most people begin to react in 24-48 hours. Just make sure you've washed the exposed areas thoroughly under running water (not a bath). Also, make sure you clean clothes, shoes or anything else that may have come into contact with the plant.

Answer 2

if it's been several hours and you have not had a reaction you most likely won't. Some people are not sensitive to poison ivy. You also may have cleaned it off in time. Or a combination of both.

Answer 3

It sounds like you are not allergic to the poison ivy and that is good.

Answer 4

It can take longer than 6 hours before the symptoms really start to show. Make sure you rinse it with COLD water, as hot water will open your pores and could make it worse.

Answer 5

you should be ok