A member asked:

What could create more urushiol in your skin?

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Brant Ward answered

Specializes in Allergy and Immunology

Nothing: Urushiol, the active chemical in poison ivy, bonds almost instantly with your skin; once you wash away the excess it cannot be spread. Your immune system attacks the areas with the most urushiol first. As the immune system gets "up to speed" it attacks areas with smaller, even microscopic, amounts of urushiol. The lag before this happens is why it appears to spread.

Answered 7/15/2013

5.2k views

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