A Bad (well to me) case of Poison ivy

[Andrea]

i have taken so much advice from so many people but this is it... it has been going on for 2 weeks now.

I have taken baths in salt
i have taken baths in baking soda
i have used tons of different lotions


i can't even think of what all i have done. Any more advice please ???

The itching is finally going away, but it is still spreading and it looks awful. i am having to wear long sheelves to work ( it's so hot outside) plus now i am moving to wearing band aids on my other hand...

any more advice will be great.

 

[KirstenB]

Have you asked your dr for prednisone? I catch poison ivy every summer, and he prescribes me a 10 day dose that stops the itching within 1 day every time. He says he doesn't like to prescribe it, but says it's fine for short-term use like this.

 

[chell]

Go to CVS and get their brand of poison ivy soap. You can find it around the allergy section and it is in a little plastic container. Don't be shocked at the price though. It's about $18 for 3 small bars of soap. My husband breaks the bars into 4 pieces and uses only one section at a time for a shower then throws the remaining section away. He is VERY paranoid of spreading any if he reuses the remaining piece the next day.

If his doesn't start to clear up soon he has to go to the doctor for a steroid shot.

I hope you find relief REAL soon!

 

[tileman]

Yep steroid shot when I get it it's bad. One year I was out of work for over a week what a mess.

Take care.

Ron,

 

[JessicaR]

Go and get Zanfel. If it truly is a Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac , Zanfel will work.

Still spreading after two weeks? It could be on an object you keep coming in contact with. Have a dog? Did you wash EVERYTHING you had on that day including your shoes?

If it is a terrible problem after two weeks time to see your doctor.

 

[tiggger1]

tecnu works well also. I had poison ivy so bad that I needed 2 rounds of pregnisone and it still came back, the pregnisone made it managable

 

[torinsmom]

If it is spreading after two weeks, it has probably gone systemic. That happens to me everytime I get poison ivy or oak. If so, you will definitely need steroids to get rid of it. Good luck! I would rather go through labor than have poison ivy!

Marsha

 

[dis-happy]

Did you post a couple weeks ago when a lot of people (including me) recommended Zanfel? Wish you had tried it. It really works. But I agree that by this point it may be systemic...do you still have new outbreaks? You probably need to get prednisone from your doctor. But next time, use Zanfel!

PS. Hope you feel better soon....outbreaks can take around 4 weeks to clear up.

 

[madge]

Ivy Dry. No idea what's in the stuff, but the doctor recommended it a couple of years ago for DS when he had a terrible case of poison ivy. it works.

 

[Sabeking]

You need a Dr.'s apt. !!!!!! Steriods

 

[Andrea]

Did you post a couple weeks ago when a lot of people (including me) recommended Zanfel? Wish you had tried it. It really works. But I agree that by this point it may be systemic...do you still have new outbreaks? You probably need to get prednisone from your doctor. But next time, use Zanfel!

PS. Hope you feel better soon....outbreaks can take around 4 weeks to clear up.

hey, nope wasnt me that posted !!! wish i did post early then i did though.. maybe it wouldnt be so bad now !!!!

yeah i am still getting new outbreaks, i just got some on my stomach now. it was only on my legs and arms. now my stomach and neck !!

 

[OctMtnWoods]

The leaking blisters do not cause the rash to spread. Oils cause it to spread.

You probably still have oil on something & you keep touching it. Along with washing all your clothes when in contact with poison ivy, its a good idea to also wash you shoes AND your shoe laces. So many people never think of their shoes and re-expose themselves to the oils everytime they tie their shoes.

Tecnu (cleaner) will help. Use on everything including garden tools, hiking sticks.......

http://www.teclabsinc.com/products.cfm?id=1F5604C8-9D05-4675-56129F6D83DF2417

I've seen it at CVS.

There are other Tecnu products are itch & rash relief.
http://www.teclabsinc.com/product-categories.cfm?id=1E8FDCC1-F136-4EBF-EF2DA11F1E0BAEB8


Tecnu (all products but especially the cleaner) is sworn by in the outdoor community & for people who work in poison ivy areas.

 

[catgirl]

This may sound like a strange cure, but the only one that works for me. I have had poison ivy many times, been given several types of steroids and creams that never work.

Now all I do is scratch the area (to open blister) and pour bleach onto it. I know it sounds extreme, but it really works! When it appears on my face, I put the bleach on a paper towel and dab the area. The bleach burns a bit, but actually it's a good burn that feels great (makes me sound like I'm off my rocker)

Good luck in whatever treatment you choose.

 

[Buckalew11]

My DD gets it and jewel weed lotion (for the healthfood store) helps. You keep it refrigerated and dab it on.
Also from there, Rhustox. Tiny little pills you dissolve under your tongue. Several at a time, several times a day.

These two things help more than anything else we've ever tried.

I hope you get better soon!!

 

[PaulaSue]

Go to the doctor RIGHT AWAY. They have pills that help make it go away fast. Benadryl also.


2 years ago I got it really bad with swelling all over. I was the one caring for my Dad who just had a knee replacement that week. Needless to say I had to get rid of it fast and not let him get it.

 

[torinsmom]

Yes, do wash things that the oils could still be on, but if it is coming up in areas like your stomach, I would bet that it is systemic. Get a sick appt or go to urgent care to get some steroids.

For the actual itchies, I find that Gold Bond lotion works for an hour or so. I go through a lot of it when I have outbreaks. The store brand works fine as well. Ice works for some people and heat works for some people. The doctor has also given me a prescription for Elicon and that dries them up quickly. Now when I feel the first tell tale itch, I use that and don't get a full on breakout.

Marsha

 

[debbi801]

Doctor first to make sure it is still poison ivy. If you are still breaking out in new rashes, you are either still coming in contact with the oils or it could have become impetego from your scratching. Either way, the doctor can give you steroids which will help immensely.

Zanfel, use it in the shower.

Dommesboro solution. It's amazing. You disolve the tablets in water and then soak gauze pads in the solution and apply to the rash. It dries it up quickly.

Wash anything that came in contact with the oils in hot water.

 

[scrapquilter]

Go to the doctor and get prednisone if you haven't already. There is no point suffering and being miserable.

 

[chell]

This may sound like a strange cure, but the only one that works for me. I have had poison ivy many times, been given several types of steroids and creams that never work.

Now all I do is scratch the area (to open blister) and pour bleach onto it. I know it sounds extreme, but it really works! When it appears on my face, I put the bleach on a paper towel and dab the area. The bleach burns a bit, but actually it's a good burn that feels great (makes me sound like I'm off my rocker)

Good luck in whatever treatment you choose.

My friend's adult son does this and swears by it. She always tells me how crazy he is for doing this. I'll have to tell her I've heard of someone else doing it now.

 

[WDWBarb]

Definately go to the doctor. My nephew thought he had a bad case of poison ivy last year and it turned out to be staph. Antibiotics cleared it up.