Help for poison ivy?

[chocolatemint]

My DH is highly allergic -- what works for him is an EXTREMELY hot shower, as hot as he can bear. He says it takes the itching away for hours.

We first heard the idea from a friend who contracted Chicken Pox as an adult -- the super hot showers worked really well for that, too.

 

[joannjoe]

Why is this even on the Disney Budget Board? Shouldn't you just consult a doctor? It's not Disney nor budget related...

I think its budget related she is trying different things that work on others before she goes to the DR.

 

[bear_mom]

Have you tried oral Benadryl? I have one son who deals with it a lot. And the oral stuff does help sometimes. The other things you're trying don't do a lot for him either--takes the edge off a bit, but not complete relief by any means!

Also, for future reference, keep some Tecnu wash on hand (we got it at CVS). It's a liquid soap that you can use after you're exposed, before breaking out. When you think you might have been exposed, wash the area with this stuff and it helps remove the oils from your skin. They also make a gel to put on the rash, but we found it wasn't a lot different than Calamine.

He has had to do steroids a couple times when it's gotten on his face, near his eyes, or when he's had a really, really bad case. The doctor will give him a short course--like five days--and it's enough to really start the healing process. I'm not a huge fan of steroids, but sometimes you just have to!

I used to get poison ivy horribly - arm swollen twice its size horribly. Prednisone from the doctor didn't work, tecnu didn't work. The only thing I found that worked amazingly well was called Zanfel. It took the itch away immediately and allowed me to sleep for the first time in three nights. The itch did come back but I just washed with it again - after a few times it dried up my poison ivy rash completely. It is expensive but it was SO worth it to me to have relief at last. I discovered later that Walgreens sells a version of it called Walgreen's Poison Ivy Wash that works as well as Zanfel and is about half the price.

Thankfully I now live in a state where this awful plant doesn't grow!

Good luck!

Actually, the Zanfel and Walgreens Poison Ivy wash do an excellent job at removing the Urushiol oils from your skin. You should give it a try next time!

I have horrible reactions to PI, I got it three years in a row (dh didn't believe me that we had PI). Each time I had to go to the doctor and get at least two courses of steroids to get over it.

This year I got it again, but used the Zanfel and only got one little spot. I used it daily for a few days and it healed it quickly (4'ish days) and the itch was minimal.

 

[mrsstats]

DH recently got it. Went to walk in and they said Steroids are the only thing that works. He got pills and a cream. Took care of it rather quickly.

 

[Jamie25UGA]

I had it BAD last year and should have gone to the doctor but I didn't, I bought some otc cream specific for poison ivy which did NOT work at all. I was picking up my mom's medicine for after surgery and the wal mart pharmacist recommended zyrtec and cortisone 10. Both helped immensely and rather quickly.

I've got it again right now (UGH! the grass was too wet to cut one morning so I tackled another yard project and BAM...a week later poison ivy) and I started taking zyrtec before the bumps even started appearing and it is NOTHING compared to previous times I've had it.

 

[karenbaco]

Thank you everyone for the advice even though it isn't Disney related I went to the doctor twice. The first time they gave me an antibiotic ointment because the doc thought i may have developed staph infection where the blisters are. 2 Days later I was back at the doc because I developed a rash all over my torso resembling the measles. This doc said it looks like pityriasis rosea and unrelated to the poison ivy. He also gave me antibiotics for possible staph infection and did blood work. I find out the results of the blood work on Monday and I sure hope it's negative, these antibiotics are making me so nauseous. He did not prescribe Prednisone because even though my torso was covered in a rash it really wasn't too itchy thank God. My fingers still have ugly fluid filled blisters. I have tried so many products so far. Calamine, Aloe vera, epsom salt, vinegar, baking soda, steroid cream, benadryl cream, Zanfel, and Calagel. Nothing is helping the blisters.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

My sister got PI and a friend of hers told her to come over and get in her swimming pool because chlorine will help dry it up. And it did.

OP since you said the antibiotics are making you nauseous have you tired taking ginger capsules. They are great for nauseousness. You can get them at drug stores or Walmart in the vitamin section. Even York Peppermint patties are great for nauseousness or the red and white Starlite peppermint hard candies.

Antibiotics also kill the good bacteria in you body so I would eat some yogurt at least 3 times a day to restore the good bacteria.


In our house we have a bar of Grandmas Pure & Natural Lye Soap that we use after we have been out working in the flower beds. Just in case we have come in contact with PI. You can get this soap at Cracker Barrel, Amazon, Rural Supply stores.

 

[MrsCobraBubbles]

In my experience, if the rash has spread that much then it might be systemic at this point, and steroid shots are the only way to battle it. Sorry. I'm terribly allergic to poison ivy and exposure anywhere on my body will lead to a whole body rash in a day or two, I've always had to get a shot.

Spraying the itchy rash with a diluted vinegar/water solution will relieve the itch temporarily, you'll have to test how strong to make the concentration of the vinegar, too much will sting.

 

[sunshinehighway]

Salt water? My ex used to get poison ivy quite a bit. He'd make a salt water solution if he wasn't going to the ocean while he had it. He said the salt water helped dry it up.

 

[catgirl]

I know this sounds awful but I've found the best remedy is scratching the sores open & then wiping them down with bleach. I do this in the shower. I've had poison ivy many times, been given different types of oral steroids & topical treatments, bleach takes care of the itch & dries the spots in one treatment. Good luck!

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub.

 

[karenbaco]

Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub.

Tried it. Didn't help. Here is where I am at with the rash. I don't see these things ever going away. Ugh

 

[Dentam]

My blisters looked the same and it took using the Zanfel a few times for them to go down but it did at least get rid of the itching quickly. Hope you find something to relieve the misery very soon!

 

[karenbaco]

thank you

 

[pittsburghmom]

I second the bleach suggestion for those oozing blisters. Break open the blisters and apply bleach. It will dry it out pretty fast. If you don't want to try bleach, a different suggestion would be to get some FelsNaptha laundry soap (it come in a bar, like bath soap) and rub it to a lather on the blisters and just let the lather dry. Just keep doing this as often as you can. That will help dry out the blisters too. On a different note....I too get poison ivy really bad. I actually have it all over my legs right now, but for the first time ever I don't have the horrible oozing blisters. As soon as I knew I was exposed, I have been applying Lavender essential oil to the areas. Not only has it helped with the itching, but it has been keeping it from getting weepy and oozy. Good luck! Hope you get some relief soon!

 

[karenbaco]

Thank you so much. I will consider the bleach but that really scares me. Seems toxic to do that.

 

[alexcturner]

Redman Clay, it comes in a tube.

 

[jii2013]

Ivy Dry works the best. I get poison ivy if the wind blows and it's the only thing that knocks it out and keeps it from itching.

 

[bababear_50]

Healing Hugs are being sent your way.
a couple of suggestions to help control the itching:

Apply an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream for the first few days.

• Apply calamine lotion.
• Take oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, others), which may also help you sleep better. I found Zyrtec worked best for me.
• Soak in a cool-water bath containing an oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno).
• Place cool, wet compresses on the affected area for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day.

 

[GaryDis]

FWIW, hydro-cortisone cream is available over the counter in the US. It seems to work for me, but takes about fifteen minutes after application.