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What does Poison Ivy do to my Immune System?
Home » Climbing » Poison Ivy » What does Poison Ivy do to my Immune System?Our immune system protects our bodies from bacteria, viruses, and other foreign invaders that can make us sick. When the poisonous chemical urushiol touches the skin it triggers an immune response called dermatitis.
The urushiol makes its way down through the skin, where it is broken down. Your body’s T-cells recognize the urushiol as a foreign substance and they send out inflammatory signals that bring in white blood cells. The white blood cells then eat the foreign substances, but in the process damage the normal tissue. This results in the rash that occurs when you have Poison Ivy.
Poison Ivy causes an allergic reaction known as delayed hypersensitivity. This is what causes some allergic reactions that don’t emerge for several hours or even days after exposure. This is why most people do not have a reaction after their first exposure to Poison Ivy. Everyone has a different reaction to Poison Ivy and sensitivity usually decreases with age and with repeat exposures to the plant.
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