HELP! Bad case of poison oak (aka contact dermatitis)

[SettinSail]

DS 15 has a horrible case of poison oak on the front of one leg and back of the other. About 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, dark red, crusty oozing mess! He was exposed on July 14 and I didn't know about it until a few days later when I saw a small red irritated area. It has gotten steadily worse since then. We have washed the areas well daily, applied calamine, rubbing alcohol, hydrocortisone, neosporine (not all at the same time). Please share any remedies you have had success with. I am on the verge of calling the Dr. Sorry if this is not budget related but I received fantastic tips from you all for DS's excema.

Thanks!

 

[cjnix29]

We are at the tail end of this right now with my DH. Get some Ivy Dry. It really works well. DH has refused to see a doctor about it, so he keeps washing it with Dawn detergent, and make sure you are washing sheets, etc. There is also this soap you can use, but we got to it too late. If you go the pharmacy, the pharmacist should be able to direct you to the right stuff. Some people have gotten steroid shots to stop the inflammation. DH refused to do that. Good luck, I'm sure he's miserable!

 

[scootch]

When it gets that bad, it usually needs steriods. From experience, you are better to get the steriods sooner than later. My husband kept trying every product out there and ended up having to have three rounds of steriods to get rid of it. He got it again this year, went to urgent care and the steriods got rid of it lightening fast this time!

 

[Mom2m&k]

Just get him to the doc and get steroids! It will be so much better much faster. DH generally gets it at least once a year!

 

[ilovemk76]

DS 15 has a horrible case of poison oak on the front of one leg and back of the other. About 6 inches long and 3 inches wide, dark red, crusty oozing mess! He was exposed on July 14 and I didn't know about it until a few days later when I saw a small red irritated area. It has gotten steadily worse since then. We have washed the areas well daily, applied calamine, rubbing alcohol, hydrocortisone, neosporine (not all at the same time). Please share any remedies you have had success with. I am on the verge of calling the Dr. Sorry if this is not budget related but I received fantastic tips from you all for DS's excema.

Thanks!

When mine got that bad the only thing that worked was a Rx steroid.

 

[cyndik1111]

Poison oak (and ivy/sumac) causes a rash from the oils on the plant. Once you wash the oils off your skin, it no longer induces the rash. But these types of rashes take at least 2 weeks to run their course, getting worse before getting better. People think the oozing rash is contagious. That is false. That clear liquid is just your body's reaction to the exposure. One problem is that people forget that the oils get on whatever they were wearing at the time of exposure, such as boots, coats, gloves, garden tools etc. These need to be washed, or they will continue to "reinfect" you.

As for treatment, steroids are best for a bad case. They must be taken for 2 weeks (taper course) or you can have a rebound effect- where the rash comes back worse after you stop the steroids. So those 7 day taper medrol dose packs are not enough.

Good luck. We see a lot of this in the summer in our ER and it can be very uncomfortable.

 

[SurlyMermaid]

I had a horrible case of poison oak all over my arms that itched so bad it woke me up at night. The only thing that helped me was an old wive's remedy of making a tea out of boiled peach tree leaves. Let it cool and dab on with cotton balls. Sounds weird, but it really worked!

 

[queenbetsey]

golden seal tea. rub it on or soak if the area can be soaked (foot hand etc)

 

[letsgoreds]

100% call the doctor/dermatologist and get some serious steroids. My DH is crazy allergic and always seems to find something itchy. It goes to the weepy stage very quickly and doesn't resolve until he has some big time steroids on board.

Two times ago, his GP ordered some mild steroids, which didn't do anything...so he called his dermatologist who pretty much laughed at the dosage and doubled it. So...if it doesn't clear up quickly (get specifics when you see the doc), call to up the dosage.

Good luck!

 

[Sadie22]

DS once had a case so bad it got infected. It took a long time to heal. Take him to the doctor for prescription medication.

 

[wiggles]

Zanfel...it's not cheap but you can get it at walmart. Stops the itching so it can start healing.

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

Just another poster advising a call/visit to your doctor to get steroids. My DH & I both got terrible rashes from poison ivy several years ago and no OTC creams, ointments, home remedies, etc worked. Once we got on oral steroids prescribed by our doctor the rash cleared up quickly.

 

[rusty4]

Wash the sheets in hot water. The oil may still be on them. Benadryl should help. But for more immediate relief he will probably need steroids.

 

[auntfrannie]

I get contact dermatitis about 4x per year. Over the past few years I've become very sensitive to plants. I have to call the dr each time to get steroids. The OTC creams & sprays don't do anything at all for me and the rash spreads incredibly quickly.

My dr gives me a 6-day tapered dosage treatment and I've never had any problem with the rash bouncing back.

 

[pat fan]

Sounds like steroids are in order, or if you would rather not go the chemical route, there is a homeopathic option. It is Rhus Tox. You can find it at Natural food stores etc...under different brands. Some just are called Rhus Tox, but the bottle we have right now is labeled Poison Ivy/Oak with Rhus Tox as the ingredient. My DH uses it whenever he gets it and it works.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Zanfel! It is the only thing that works for me. I get it really bad. If the zanfel doesn't work then I get the steroids from the doctor, but I have side effects from steroids so I try to avoid it if possible.


Pretty much any other over the counter treatment is worthless, and doesn't even stop the itching.

 

[timmac]

DS11 had this happen about two weeks ago... the day before he was supposed to go to camp for a week. Roughly 50% of his body was covered in it... he went to the ER and got the steroids, which helped immensely. (And he still made it to camp!)

 

[lurkernj]

Zanfel...it's not cheap but you can get it at walmart. Stops the itching so it can start healing.

We use this too. Usually works like a charm. It's a scrub that dries out the oil. It was recommended to me by a pharmacist that works on my floor.

 

[Friendly Frog]

Steroids are the only thing that will work for me.


When I was younger one shot would knock it out. Or one round of the 7 day pack.

I am so sensitive now that I have to get a steroid shot AND the 7 day pack, AND use a very high prescription steroid cream and anti itch ( forgot the name ) medications. Yes, all used at the same time. Sometimes this is followed up with a prednisone round too!

Not great for my body, but I have no real alternative.

 

[poohguys]

I usually get it really bad too. I have had the steroids. This time I used a cortisteroid cream that DH had for eczema, it cleared it up right away. Here is the name of it: clobetasol propionate. Good luck, I know how uncomfortable it can be.