'Poison' versus `English' ivy

FDA Consumer, July-August, 2003 by Wade Shuford, NIOX Nitric Oxide Test System

I have a question about your very informative article, "Outsmarting Poison Ivy and Its Cousins" in the September 1996 FDA Consumer (www.fda.gov/fdac/ features/796_ivy.html).

I am sensitive to poison ivy. I understand that English ivy does not contain urushiol, but when I touch English ivy I get the same miserable reaction as with poison ivy. This happens even when there is no poison ivy in the area, or on anything that I have knowingly come in contact with.

I do wear plastic gloves when around English ivy. What else can I do to stop or reduce this sensitivity to English ivy? Since it is not the urushiol causing the reaction with English ivy, would the cleaning routine you recommend for poison ivy (washing with rubbing alcohol, water alone, then soap and water) also help with my reaction to English ivy?

Wade Shuford

Conover, N.C.

Jill Lindstrom, M.D., a medical officer in the FDA's Division of Dermatologic and Dental Drug Products, replies:

It is possible for English ivy to cause a contact dermatitis similar to a poison ivy rash. The same preventive measures would be recommended when a sensitive person comes in contact with English ivy as with poison ivy. However, according to current recommendations, washing the skin with regular soap and water and removing and laundering clothing should be sufficient. Rubbing alcohol isn't likely to add any benefit, and may be irritating to the skin. Note that, because the reaction starts so soon after contact, these measures need to be taken within 10 minutes of contact to be completely effective.