Q: If I intentionally contract poison ivy every few months, will I gradually build a resistance to it?
A: Some researchers have tried to desensitize patients to poison ivy and poison oak by giving them increasing doses of the oil over a period of time. This has been less than successful and complicated with intolerable side effects such as outbreaks in the gastrointestinal tract. Unlike inhalant allergies to pollens, dust mite and animals, allergy to poison ivy works through the skin's exposure to urushiol, an oil also present in poison oak and sumac. Reaction is a delayed hypersensitivity reaction, a different mechanism than inhalants. You cannot be desensitized to it with allergy shots or repeated exposure. In fact, repeated exposure to poison ivy may escalate the severity of future reactions.
- Dr. Michael C. Hollie, The Allergy & Asthma Group; member, Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society
Submit your health-related questions for a medical doctor to lwilson@timesfreepress.com.