Poison Ivy
 

Someone I work with just told me that their spouse informed them that poison ivy lays dormant in your body for six years, and can resurface at any time. This sounds highly unlikely to me, as I understand the rash to be the skin's reaction to the oils of the plant.

Has anyone heard of this?

never....she's thinking of aids. :p:D
the oils can remain on un-washed surfaces for years, though.

Nope. She's either pulling your leg or smoking crack. Take your pick!

Six years? Sounds ridiculous to me ....

BUT ... allergens do have a shelf life in the blood system. No idea how long they can remain, but I am aware that they can come out well after the fact once, for example, your immune system gets weak or your stress level goes up enough.

Prolly a matter of days though, rather than years.

Hmmm, this lady doesn't have M.D. behind her name though, does she?

JW

She has vd.

if she touched the ivy and then her pee-pee, she does.

like McDreamy's wife :D

sorry osuche will know who I mean :D

From the little I've read on this, I think that a hypersensitivity to an allergen may remain, where a much reduced exposure can trigger a response out of all proportion.

Herpes perhaps? Shingles can present with similar symptoms.

ROFLMAO ~~ Comic justice

Shingles does this but NOT PI!

You can touch something that has poison ivy on it that has been "dormant" and have a breakout. Even in the winter months when the ivy looks dead/dormant it still has oils that can infect.

Six years is a bit much. However the exposure to poison ivy need not be from the oils of the plant. It depends on your sensitivity to it. I am highly allergic to it. Doctors said that inhalation around the plant can cause me problems.