Can You Get Poison Ivy in Winter?

[elizabeth-s]

Help! Is it possible to get poison ivy in winter? At the beginning of Feb I got a bad case of PI all over. I'm in the mid-atlantic area, so we were having pretty cold weather at the time. We didn't burn anything, so it wasn't from smoke.

Thanks!

[Macybaby]

It sure is! If you are sensitized, it's real easy to get it from handling a tool that came in contact with it months ago. Since it's a woody plant where the stem does not die, you can get it from that too. Usually the leaves are all dried up during the winter. The roots seem to never die, and even a 1/4" piece of root in the soil can cause problems, and start growing again.

When we lived in WI our property had it all over. I stopped worrying about how I may have come in contact, I tried to always wear gloves when I used tools that may have come in contact with the stuff, and especially if I was working in the dirt. I kept a bottle of Technu in bathroom and washed well after just about any work outside. This included petting or brushing the horses, as we had a lot in the pastures. I even carried a bottle of Technu in my purse, and if I felt an itch I'd go immediately and wash the area throughly. That cut down on my outbreaks significantly. The longer the oil is in contact with your skin, the worse the outbreak will be.

The first time I got it (age 42) I just washed and put stuff on it. I didn't realize my efforts at washing only spread the oil around my body. It started on the palm of my hand, and ended up on wrists, inner elbows, back of my knees, and my ankles. I've never had an outbreak as severe as that one - but I did a lot of research and made sure to have the right products on hand to deal with it. You know you live in an area with lots of it when the drug store has about 5' of shelf space devoted to products to deal with it LOL!!

I have not had a case in years - only because the property we own now (in SD) has none on it. Last time I started to itch I discovered it was from eating cashews - they can cause the same reaction (I think it's the shells that have the oil). It does not seem to bother me to eat them, but I can't hold them in the palm of my hand while doing so.

My husband never had an outbreak. Only upper level primates are sensitive to the oil, so I teased him about being a little bit lower on the evolution ladder.

Cathy

[Gailann Schrader]

Are you feeding hay? I have a bit of poison ivy right now. It's from the HAY I've been feeding. I handle the hay, get the oils on my hands/gloves, touch my face, get poison ivy. Even SMOKE from poison ivy will give you poison ivy if you are sensitive.

[MELOC]

smoke is the absolute worst way to get poison. my sister in law got it from a woodstove once. it looked like my brother beat the carp out of her. both of her eyes swelled shut and her whole face was puffy and even bruised looking.

[rwzzz]

I live in NE Pa and PI is everywhere. Last weekend I spent some time cutting away PI from around a pear tree I was trimming. I cut up & bagged the PI in plastic bags and threw in the trash. During the process I knew I contacted the PI and I am very sensitive. My eyes itch and water when I get close enough to see it. What I do is wash right away with dish soap, several times. I've read it washes the oil away better than regular soap. I usually break out within 24 hrs of contact, but so far I'm good.
I have tried the Tenchu (sp?) and it works good too, but I never find the bottles for sale alone, only in a kit form for about $20. Ouch. During Spring & summer at least once a week I pull it, and trim it from the apple trees, asparagus and just in general everywhere.
take care
BZ

[nehimama]

A couple winters ago, one January, I was cutting down some PI vine growing up the side of the shed, working over my head. Thought to myself "I oughta put on safety goggles." Then thought "Nah! Nothing's gonna happen."

Ri-i-i-i-i-ight. Got a few particles in my right eye, and had to go to the clinic for treatment.

Yep! You can get PI in the winter time.

NeHi

[vancom]

had it twice in winter. have it right now as a matter of fact. for some reason I always get it around my neck. i think it must be on on my gloves and then transferred to my neck when I am in the woods dragging, cutting, etc. i am so sensitive that i get it at least 3 times a year...

[romancemelisa]

I also have it right now, and am feeding hay.

[ldc]

I have it right now, from cleaning up a customers yard. Also, un-roasted cashews are a danger because they are in the same family. FYI- The irritant is called rushinol. ldc

[Ravenlost]

You can also get it from touching animals (such as dogs) that have been in contact with poison ivy.

[edcopp]

A pretty good book about getting poison ivy was titled "Never Kiss a Goat on the Lips". I don't recall the author but it was about just that, getting poison ivy. Goats love poison ivy.

[EDDIE BUCK]

Yep, you sure can. The worst I ever had come from cutting a tree with vines. The vines were PI and the chainsaw wrapped me up with saw dust. Poison Ivy saw dust at that. My chest and arms were full of them water blisters from PI. I no longer bother vines when I can,t tell what kind they are. Eddie

[Ohio Rusty]

You sure can !! summer before last I dug up a big patch poison ivy and never cleaned the shovel. Last winter I used that shovel again for some reason and I must have touched the shovel blade and touched my face. Days later I had a mess of poison ivy blisters on my chin that took a week to kill. That oil that is in poison ivy sure has staying power .....
Ohio Rusty

[country_wife]

The irritant is called urushiol, and yes, you can get it any time of the year. The oil can stay on clothing, tools, etc, for years if they are not washed. Soap and water will get rid of the oil, or you can use rubbing alchohol to neutralize the urushiol on your clothing, skin, etc.

Try this link for the most accurate info:
http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html

[Woodpecker]

i just had it took a walk through the woods thats what done it

[Woodpecker]

i just had it took a walk through the woods thats what did it

[hillsidedigger]

Raking and handling tree leaves with bare hands and arms where poison ivy grows will sure give a case of poison ivy rash anytime of year.

[js2743]

have you been cutting fire wood or any thing like that in the winter you can get poison oak and ivy from the vines that grows up the trees. then when its cut and you handle the wood it gets on you or the saw slings it while cutting.

[pheasantplucker]

most definately...especially (as someone metntioned earlier) if you handle firewood that has some running along it...

[Gailann Schrader]

If it's hairy, leave it alone...