[pct-l] poison oak

[bodhisattvavow at hotmail.com (Matt Bradley)]

blisterfree wrote: "Are those of us who are most likely to have run-ins with
poison oak in fact the least likely be adversely affected by
it? Anyone care to scratch this philosophical itch?"

Interestingly, urushiol reactivity is highly variable.  Even though we often
speak of a person being "immune" to it the reaction actually has nothing to
do with the immune system.  In fact it is an allergic reaction.  For this
reason it is possible for a person to develop or lose "immunity" over a
lifetime.  I have never contracted a poison oak rash despite the fact that I
practically bathe in urushiol in the woods around my house.  I should be
more careful however.  Not only can a person's reactivity change over time,
it can also vary by region.  Because of the biodiversity of toxicodendron
species a person may be allergic to poison oak in one field and have no
reaction to it when contacting plants even within a few miles of the first
field.  Also, (most of you probably already know this) the rash is not
communicable after initially washing off the urushiol.  The liquid that
sometimes forms under the skin with a urushiol rash is produced by the body
and is essentially harmless.  OK, end of lesson.
Peace and Love,
Matt