Poison Ivy- Help!

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I went hiking at a state park this weekend and now my entire left leg is covered in poison ivy, and part of my right leg too. I've been using Caladryl (calamine lotion with an analgesic), but it doesn't work well on the most concentrated spots. When I'm home, I've found that tying a wet towel on the areas helps (thanks WebMD), but I have two classes and can't exactly walk around with a towel tied to my leg.

It's to the point that tonight I was practically in tears because of how bad it itched. I am going to try to get into my university health center tomorrow, but sometimes you have to wait a week or more for an appointment. I'm trying to find something to do in the meantime.

I cannot use Topical Benadryl, I am deathly allergic to it (as in I can't breathe). The main ingredient, diphenhydramine, is a known allergen. Naturally, I am leery of any topical medication and read ingredient lists carefully. Other than Benadryl or other diphenhydramine containing medicines, is there anything in your experience that relieves in the incessant itching? This is the first time I've ever had it and I'm about to climb a wall!

 

[Chipmunk89]

A friend of mine recommended Australian Tea Tree Oil when I had poison ivy. It worked pretty good for me, and i was covered in it. Especially on my face.

 

[shortbun]

For itching, rub the inside of a banana skin on the blistered areas. It takes away the itch for several hours, we used to use this remedy as kids. I know a woman who swears by getting in a warm then hot shower for as long as she can stand it. Says it takes the itch out.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Can you get that at Wal Mart or Walgreens? Or is that a specialty item? The town where I go to university is a little podunt rural town, if I can't find it there I don't have access to it. I would have to drive an hour and a half to get to a bigger city with more options.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I take a hot bath every night, and I tried that, especially allowing the water to run over the worst parts, and it made it itch 10x worse.

 

[shortbun]

I take a hot bath every night, and I tried that, especially allowing the water to run over the worst parts, and it made it itch 10x worse.

Yeah, I wondered about that. Get some bananas. Tea tree oil, though more prevalent now, is mostly found at specialty shops and health food stores. Some larger groceries have it.

 

[lynxstch]

you can get it at walmart or any of those bigger stores, about $4-5 a tube, I am highly allergic to poison ivy/oak/sumac..and so far it's the ONLY thing that's worked for me..you put some on, let it dry, and it really takes the itch out..good luck, hope you feel better soon!

 

[seven dwarfs]

My son just had poison ivy and it was awful. He cried and cried and I felt so bad! I read on the Internet for ideas and tried wiping vinegar on the rash. I will say it burned when we put it on but it cleared it up. I used it two times in one day and by the next day it was better! I wish I had known this when I was little as I have suffered from poison ivy many, many times. I did put calamine lotion on afterwards to prevent him from itching. Good luck!

 

[Hercules10]

Unless you can get to a Dr. quick and get a cortozone shot (don't take the pills, they take forever) then you might as well stick it out. I use to get that stuff all the time and slowly built up a resistance to it.

Best of luck and do try the tea tree oil. It did help me.

 

[shirleyb]

My son and I just finished with terrible cases of poison ivy. His eyes completely swelled shut, and mine partially. We were both put on oral steroids. The hot water thing really did help me. I had to make the water so hot that I thought I would actually get burnt from it, and let it run over my arms and back for about 10 minutes. It was the only thing that would let me get some sleep at night.

Other folks swear by putting clorox on their skin, but my skin is very sensitive because of my psoriasis and I was leary to try that.

 

[ckay87]

My son just had poison ivy and it was awful. He cried and cried and I felt so bad! I read on the Internet for ideas and tried wiping vinegar on the rash. I will say it burned when we put it on but it cleared it up. I used it two times in one day and by the next day it was better! I wish I had known this when I was little as I have suffered from poison ivy many, many times. I did put calamine lotion on afterwards to prevent him from itching. Good luck!

Well, if it burns, it can't itch! That's what I told my DS.

My kid is just getting over a 3 week bout with Poison Ivy. It's been a rough year, lots of people have it. I'll second Ivarest. We have gone into the stores over these 3 weeks and have tried pretty much one of everything (I'm broke!) He liked Ivarest and Ivy Dry the best. But I sure wish I'd found this thread earlier because I would have definitely tried the vinegar and/or banana peels.

Oh and we were in a pinch one time...were out and didn't have the Ivarest with us. Used that Purell hand sanitizer and it helped the itch for a while (going back to that burning vs. itching theory)

Hang in there

 

[englishteacha]

Try a baking soda paste. Or a bath with lots of baking soda in it. Or both. It really helps with itching. Hydrocortisone cream may help as well.

 

[MsAmerica]

I recommend the hot showers on the spots, as close as possible as hot as you can stand, for about 10 minutes. It is one of the only things, besides cortisone shots, that help me.

I am highly allergic and I go to the dermatologist ASAP after I start to break out because I get really bad. I don't find many creams work, I need the shot.

Good Luck, I feel your pain...

MsA

 

[FormrCastMbr]

Tecnu is a poison ivy wash that worked wonders for me. My sister works for the electric co here and they give this stuff to all the line men to use.

Other than that Ivy Dry works great or go to the dr and get a shot. Good luck!

 

[FormrCastMbr]

I recommend the hot showers on the spots, as close as possible as hot as you can stand, for about 10 minutes. It is one of the only things, besides cortisone shots, that help me.
MsA

I totally agree with this as well! The hotter the better!

 

[goofy4tink]

The hot water brings all the histimines to the surface so the itching stops, at least for awhile.
This is what I do, but it isn't for the faint of heart....I scrub the affected area, until the blisters break open. Then, I take salt and rub it on...hurts like a 'you know what' but it sure does dry it up.
The ocean has the same effect. I head to the Cape if the poison ivy gets too bad, but lucky me hasn't gotten it for awhile now.

The other thing that might work is a Dombro (Domboro..not sure of the spelling) solution. I use it on my dog for his hot spots..it dries them up quite quickly. I believe the packet says it's good for poison ivy also.

 

[manning]

ZANFEL

Believe me it works. My wife tangled with poison ivy. When she put Zanfel on she got immediate relief. It isn't cheap, but you don't want to be cheap in this case.

From the site and my wife can attest to it!!:

" Zanfel™ Poison Ivy Wash is a safe and effective topical solution for poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. It is the only product known to remove urushiol, the toxin responsible for the reaction, from the skin after bonding, enabling the affected area to immediately begin healing. After using Zanfel, the itching and pain are the first things to be relieved, usually within 30 seconds."




http://www.zanfel.com/help/