

Human: If I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy, how should I go about removing the oils from my skin and would that help prevent a reaction?

Assistant: This is a little tricky, but I have a few ideas about it.  I want to make sure you’re not at risk for a reaction, and make sure that your clothes aren’t contaminated.  

I’m wondering if you have any stuff like a baby wipes in your house, and I’m wondering if that’s at all near the poison ivy? 

If you don’t have a wipes and you do have poison ivy, I’d be okay with letting it sit on your skin for a little while.  My understanding is that you need to have a reaction to have poison ivy.

If you don’t have a wipes, I’d still suggest at least washing the exposed parts of your skin with warm water as soon as possible to get the oils off of your skin, as I think that would be your best bet for preventing a reaction.


Human: If I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy, how should I go about removing the oils from my skin and would that help prevent a reaction?

Assistant: From a medical perspective, removing the oils from your skin isn’t helpful, it’s important to use a known amount of poison ivy oil on a patch of skin, and only then see if you develop a reaction.  In other words, if you can be sure you were exposed to poison ivy, you need to remove the oils, but it’s not useful if you aren’t certain you were exposed.
If I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy, how should I go about removing the oils from my skin and would that help prevent a reaction?
user
This is a little tricky, but I have a few ideas about it.  I want to make sure you’re not at risk for a reaction, and make sure that your clothes aren’t contaminated.  

I’m wondering if you have any stuff like a baby wipes in your house, and I’m wondering if that’s at all near the poison ivy? 

If you don’t have a wipes and you do have poison ivy, I’d be okay with letting it sit on your skin for a little while.  My understanding is that you need to have a reaction to have poison ivy.

If you don’t have a wipes, I’d still suggest at least washing the exposed parts of your skin with warm water as soon as possible to get the oils off of your skin, as I think that would be your best bet for preventing a reaction.
assistant
If I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy, how should I go about removing the oils from my skin and would that help prevent a reaction?
user
From a medical perspective, removing the oils from your skin isn’t helpful, it’s important to use a known amount of poison ivy oil on a patch of skin, and only then see if you develop a reaction.  In other words, if you can be sure you were exposed to poison ivy, you need to remove the oils, but it’s not useful if you aren’t certain you were exposed.
assistant
If I have potentially been exposed to poison ivy, how should I go about removing the oils from my skin and would that help prevent a reaction?
user
From a medical perspective, removing the oils from your skin isn’t helpful, it’s important to use a known amount of poison ivy oil on a patch of skin, and only th
assistant