Why does poison ivy cause itching?

Why does poison ivy cause itching?

Daniel Behroozan (Dermatologist) gives expert video advice on: What are the most common causes of itching?; Can stress cause itching?; Why does poison ivy cause itching? and more...

Poison ivy actually causes itching because it elicits an immune response in your body. So poison ivy, when it comes into contact with your skin, activates your immune system to release mediators such as histamine and other mediators that can cause an itch response.