Just tell the ppl that you got into poison ivy. Simple. Probably a lot of parents out there who will be glad you do so in hopes their kids will listen better to them about the dangers of poison ivy.
I don't seem to have a reaction to it. But, I do have reactions to other things & find that those nitrile gloves like dentists & docs use are great for all kinds of uses. They're cheap & you buy a whole box full at a time.