ugg Poison Ivy!!!

[babylady4]

Quote:
Thank you for providing the right info!

I too suffer from the effects of the urushiol oil found on Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac (I just had it last week in fact). You can ONLY get the nasty rash from coming into contact with the plants and getting the oil on you (touching them or breathing in the smoke if someone is dumb enough to burn the stuff). The Dr. will give you a steriod shot or pills which will reduce the swelling, itching, and irritation quickly but be forewarned; the doc will only give you the steroids a limited number of times (too hard on the liver).

Hot water on the effected areas will subdue the itching for a while; it sort of tricks the nervous system since the itching and pain receptors are very similar. I found a wonderful product that contains an antihistamine and an analgesic, and the effects last for 8 hours. It is called Ivarest and it is made by Blistex. WONDERFUL PRODUCT! It also contains calamine to help dry the rash.

Washing everything you have come into contact with right before you noticed the rash will help you deduct where you are getting re-exposed. It takes 10 min of contact on the skin for the rash to develop and the amount of time the oil is on the skin will determine how bad the rash becomes. It takes 24 hours for the rash to develop after exposure, so start back to the day before you got the rash and work your way from there with what you wash. Using rubbing alcohol and then soap and water will get the oil off completely. Personally I would not put rubbing alcohol on the open oozing rash due to the amount of pain that would be involved!

Good luck, I feel your pain (and itch)!

 

[gwennym]

I normally have a pretty nasty time with PI, too.

I use Dawn dishwashing liquid as my #1 soap on the PI, although I'm using Joy right now with good effects. Really, anything that will remove the oil from the plant from your skin will do the trick. I had some Burt's Bees PI Soap that seemed to help last time, but didn't do anything for me this time ....

As for anti-itching, take Benadryl oral (caps or tabs) --- I also use Gold Bond anti-itch cream and/or Aveeno anti-itch lotion. Plain 'ole calamine lotion works good at night -- you wouldn't necessarily want to walk around work or the grocery with white calamine splotches all over you !!

I totally empathize --- get well soon.

Gwen

 

[jerseygirl1]

The drugstore sells an over the counter cream for Poison ivy, I highly suggest it - it is basically a scrub, that you add a dab of water to and make a paste, rub it on the area (this scrub removes all the oil from the plant) and leave it on for 5 minutes - then wash off and VOILA - the itch is gone, and so is the poison ivy - if it's a very bad case, you may have to do it once or twice a day. The scrub is expensive, but worth it - about $20 a tube.

 

[Whispering Winds]

I don't know if this will help at this stage, but I showed acreage last week and walked in P. Oak and Ivy. Came home and took a hot shower and scrubbed with Lava soap, and I didn't have one spot. I was amazed, as I almost always get it somewhere I missed. . .maybe that would help dry it up. It is miserable, I know that . . .feel sorry for you!! If it doesn't show signs of drying up in a day or so, you might want to go to the doctor. Bad stuff you have take, but it does the trick!

 

[AHappychick]

wow guys thanks so much good info.

I had been doing the jewl weed (tons of it here) and some other things. I did call my dr and will get a shot but only as my last resort since I am hoping that it will not get to that point.

I did shower right away but had been working in the brush for the day before and so i guess I was not fast enough. I have never had it like this. I am going to try a bunch of the things you all said and am very glad I can take off my long sleeves and not worry about my ds's tender alabaster white baby skin

btw I just picked up 22 white turkeys to raise for the holidays

 

[maplesky7]

ok... send me 5 turkeys and i'll be good.

 

[AHappychick]

Quote:
got them from your neck of the woods (Natures Hatchery

)

how ya feeling?

 

[wyliefarms]

The best thing we have found is a product called Zenfel (spelled wrong, but pheonotically) It is non-perscription, but our pharmacy has it behind the counter. Cost about $40 for the tube. Works wonders and the poision ivy disappears. Follow the directions and it may need to be used more than once if outbreaks continue.

My husband is highly allergic to it and if he comes in a washes with Zenfel after an expousure, he doesn't break out at all.

 

[key west chick]

Hot water or a blow dryer on the rash causes a release of histamines in the body. It will itch like crazy for a few minutes but the relief can last for hours.

 

[ODS-n-ENS FARM]

I agree w/Maple. Wash with Fels Naptha soap immediately after contact w/plant. It helps get oil off skin. Also wash w/it after touching animals because they can carry the oil.
My parents used to take to the beach when I was young ,the salt water helps dry it out.