It's worth noting that the skin rash that occurs in humans after exposure to 
poison ivy is, in fact, an allergic (ie immune) reaction to the oil on the 
leaves of the plant. Accordingly, the rash tends to be worse with repeated 
exposures over time as your immune system "remembers" exposures in the past. 
Curiously, a small percentage of people (10% or so) fail to develop the usual 
allergic response to poison ivy. I do not advise challenging yourself to see if you 
are one of the lucky 10%, however.
 
Bruce MacPherson
South Burlington



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