Is Poison Oak Contagious

A skin rash due to poison oak is an allergic response to an oil present in and on the poison oak plant. This oil is called urushiol. Urushiol is found in all parts of the poison oak plant. It is present in the sap of roots, stems, leaves and berries. Urushiol is also present on the surface of the entire poison oak plant. Nearly 85% of the human population is allergic to urushiol, and hence the poison oak shrub. By touching the plant itself you can come in contact with urushiol and can develop the allergic reaction.

What are the Symptoms of Poison Oak
Mostly, people develop itchy pustules in the area of contact with the poison oak shrub as a natural reaction against urushiol. The sensitivity of your skin determines the intensity of allergic response. Poison oak symptoms can begin within 24-48 hours after physical contact. The symptoms can, at times, take as long as 5-6 days to appear. The most common symptoms of poison oak are:

• Itchy skin rash in the form of bumps and blisters.
• Blisters finally break open, ooze, and then dry or crust over.
• Swelling in the contact area.
• Red irregularly shaped spots that can either be flat or raised.
• Suddenly experiencing intense itching.

How do you Get Poison Oak
The oil, urushiol is present in the resin of the plants. Urushiol is easily transferred from plants to other objects through physical contact. It can spread through toys, shoes, clothing, tools and animals that have come in contact with urushiol. Even the smoke from the burning oak plant has urushiol in it. Therefore, you should avoid touching the objects which you suspect to have urushiol oil on it. If poison oak plants are there in your vicinity, wear long pants and full-sleeved shirts to avoid any contact with them. Wash your hands, garments and shoes as soon as possible after coming back home. This would prevent you from physical contact with urushiol. In case you have touched the poison oak plant and have been exposed to urushiol, wash the area of contact with soap frequently. Washing the skin with ordinary soap in an interval of three hours is known to be effective in the prevention of allergies. In case you have developed the allergy despite taking the above-mentioned precautions and care, consult a medical professional immediately for proper treatment.

Is Poison Oak Contagious
If you or your friend has contracted poison oak, you might be wondering how contagious is poison oak. You might be curious to know whether itching or scratching the rash spreads poison oak. To your relief, poison oak is not contagious. Only the substance urushiol can spread poison oak. Once the oil from the plant's resin has bonded to the victim's skin, it cannot spread the poison oak. Blisters and pustules are a natural reaction by the body against urushiol. The fluid that oozes out from the blotches does not contain urushiol and hence, cannot spread it. However, scratching the rash is not recommendable as an open blister is more prone to infection.

The oil that has come from the original physical contact with the poison oak plant, spreads on the skin for the first two or three days. After three days, there should be no new formation of dermatitis rash. If some blister formation takes place after a gap of three days, then re-exposure to the oil through pets, clothing and other objects is its most probable reason.

By now, you must have obtained a clear answer to the question "Is Poison Oak contagious?". It is "Not". It does not spread from person to person until urushiol is present in the medium of contact. The presence of this oil is when poison oak is contagious. In case of any contact with the poison oak plant, wash your exposed body part, garments and shoes as a precautionary measure.