Well, anyone confused, please do some research, as the GP is misguided.
And with all due respect, a GP does not have NEARLY the knowledge
about it as does the Dermatologist.
For 50 years this has been the understanding, and research since then, up to today, has confirmed it. They are NOT contagious.
There are different ways to get it, though, which should be understood as something DIFFERENT from a conclusion that
contagiousness in the general sense is possible.
It's all explained further in the following MAYO CLINIC article:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/poison-ivy/symptoms-causes/syc-20376485
(excerpt from article: A poison ivy rash itself isn't contagious — blister fluid doesn't contain urushiol and won't spread the rash.
And you can't get poison ivy from another person unless you've touched urushiol that's still on that person or his or her clothing.)
(Side note: Dermatology is one of THE most difficult residency programs to get after graduating from medical school, and it
takes super-outstanding medical school performance and record to be considered. Only the top 1% are accepted.
A GP residency, on the other hand, is what you do when you can't get accepted into a difficult, hard-to-get residency program.
Not judging, just fact.
GPs know a lot about everything, but Dermatologists, Neurologists, Cardiologists, Orthopedic Surgeons, etc, etc hold a
world of knowledge about their specific field, far more in-depth.
The study level is far more intense. When a GP can't treat certain things, or doesn't feel personally competent to treat certain things,
they refer the patient to the specialists.
God bless the GPs , though!!!----they work tirelessly and are our first-line of defense in medicine. I admire them greatly,
and right now there is a huge shortage. We have one we go to for regular check-ups, and we have a Dermatologist as well as other specialists, chosen by me (not by my GP). When anything of concern happens, however, I promise you I'm not phoning the GP.)