How Long Does Poison Ivy Last

You had a great time hiking in the woods, but now you're feeling itchy. And you start to see a raised red rash appear on your skin. These are classic signs of poison ivy.

If you've had poison ivy in the past, you may wonder, how does the poison ivy rash spread? And how long can you expect poison ivy to last?

Most cases of poison ivy will heal completely within a couple of weeks. But there are a few stages of poison ivy rash to get through first. Here's what the stages of poison ivy rash look like.

What are the stages of a poison ivy rash?

Poison ivy rashes follow a predictable pattern. Let's look at the typical stages of poison ivy rash with pictures.

1. Itching and redness

The first symptom of poison ivy is intense itching in the spot where the rash will eventually appear. Soon after the itching starts, the skin starts to become red in fair skin or violet or brown in darker skin. The discoloration often appears in lines or streaks where the plant brushed up against skin.

If you've had poison ivy rash in the past and you come into contact with the plant again, symptoms of poison ivy rash can start within a few hours. But if it's your first time getting poison ivy, it can take a few days or even weeks for itchiness and redness to appear.

2. Raised rash and blisters

Next, that area of discolored skin will develop raised bumps. These may look pink, red, violet, or brown. You'll also notice fluid-filled blisters starting to form. The blisters may break open and ooze clear fluid.

This is usually the most severe stage of a poison ivy rash. Blisters and bumps start to form within a day or two of when the redness and itchiness start. The bumps and blisters can continue to form over the next 7 to 10 days.

3. Crusting

This is the last stage of a poison ivy rash. Blisters will slowly start to dry out and crust over. Bumps start to disappear and the rash becomes less itchy. Blisters won't all go away at the same time. Instead you'll notice them slowly fading over several days. It can take up to a week for all the blisters to fade once they've crusted over.

Altogether, it can take up to 3 weeks for a poison ivy rash to go away without treatment. After the rash heals, people with darker skin may have dark patches (called post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) that can take months to fade.

How long does it take for poison ivy to stop spreading?

It depends.

Poison ivy rash is an allergic reaction to the oil on the plant leaf, called urushiol. Unfortunately urushiol can stick to clothes, under fingernails, and even on pet hair. This means that you might accidentally spread the oil for days after coming into contact with the plant. That means you can get blisters on new areas of your body if the oil is still on your clothes or body.

Keep in mind: The rash itself is not contagious. So you don't have to worry about fluid from the rash causing it to spread to other parts of your skin. The only way the rash spreads is from repeat exposure to the poison ivy plant oil. That's why it's important to wash yourself and any clothing or gear that may have come into contact with the plant.

How can you get rid of a poison ivy rash fast?

There's no way to get rid of a poison ivy rash immediately. But there are plenty of home remedies for poison ivy rash that can help relieve symptoms fast, including:

• Calamine lotion

• Cold compresses

• Oatmeal baths

• Hydrocortisone cream

• Burrow's solution

Severe cases of poison ivy can be treated with prescription steroids, which help stop itching within a day or two. You'd have to take steroids for 2 weeks to avoid a "rebound rash" after stopping the medicine.

When should you get care for poison ivy?

Most cases of poison ivy rash can be treated at home. But sometimes, prescription medication is needed. Get medical care if you have signs of severe poison ivy rash like:

• Rash on your face or genitals

• 25% or more of your skin is covered in rash

• Fever

• Worsening rash even with over-the-counter (OTC) treatment or home remedies

• Signs of a skin infection like pus, swelling, and pain

Images used with permission from VisualDx (www.visualdx.com).