Hi Jennifer,
I am highly allergic to poison ivy so I stay away from any possibility of contact with it. I just came home from a dermatologist appt. today where we are treating round two of a recent breakout. Since I had not been in contact the Doc and I had a lengthy conversation and since then I have been doing some research on the web here's what I learned.
1. You do not have to come in contact with the plant itself.
2. If you touch ANYTHING that has the plant's oil (URUSHIOL)
from the plant on it you can catch the rash. This includes:
a)another person,
Mother's day I caught PI from hugging my son who
worked in the yard, showered and was leaving
b) pets
I am dog sitting and evidently the dog has come in
contact and has the oil somewhere on her and I developed
the rash
after petting her.
c) fabrics; including clothing, furniture, sheets, carpets,
etc
d) objects of all kinds
Here's more bad news. The doc says the:
3. oil can last on clothing, furniture, toods, gloves, clothes, ANTHING for up to six months. (articles I've found on the web states the oil can remain active up to 5 years!!)
4.Each time you come in contact with one of the poison plants and/or the urushiol you can become more allergic/toxic than the time before.
precautions I've followed in the past include putting sheets on my furniture as soon as I am aware of a break out, washing bedding daily, and using paper towels to dry hands instead of cloth hand towels
This time I am particularly worried the dog got the oil on my furniture. She does not get on the furniture but she is a black lab and tall enough to brush along sofas and chairs. At this point I am researching how to hopefully make my furniture safe since I am so highly allergic (the Doc recommended professional cleaning for all furniture and carpet � However, being single on a budget that is just not a real option for me at this time)
Anybody out there have any affordable, safe, effective way to clean furniture of the URUSHIOL. Most of my furniture is fabric upholstery.
I appreciate any advice/suggestions....and good luck Jennifer. I hope you are able to pin point where you are coming into contact! I hope this information was helpful to you and others too.
Sherry
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