Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

So i got poison oak on my arms neck and leg how can i get rid of it, i diddnt really know where to post this so Its tearing me p i dont know what to do i need some serious help here.
Ryan

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Here's some advice from someone who could get poison ivy by looking at it.

Go to your drugstore and buy a tube of Zanfel, about $30 a tube, but well worth it. The stuff is a gritty paste. you need to follow the instructions exactly but here's what you do. Wet the area and push out 1 1/2 inches of the paste (it has a measuring device on the package if you need it). Mix the paste with a small amout of water to thin it somewhat. Apply the paste and rub it on the infected area until the itching stops. You can then leave the paste on for a short time or rinse it immediately. You may have to do a second or third treatment. The results are incredible. I used it for the first time this year and it works great! No itching and only the rash is left. It will eventually go away, but you can sleep without the itching. The paste pulls out the urishiol out of the skin. Apply it as soon as you can, you won't regret it!

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I 2nd the Zanfal, I keep a tube on hand at all times as I tend to pickup poison oak/ivey by just thinking about it. This stuff really works, and believe me I have tried everything!

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

What a bunch of pansies! Wimps!!

Just smear calamine lotion on the itchy spots and suffer. Take it like a man!

(Naturally that's after you've done the Zanfel and gotten your doctor to give you a cortisone shot in the butt. You've got a chance to get off the honey-do list for awhile. Don't blow it! [8D])

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

A manly man with his priorities straight!!!:D:D:D

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I have heard great and wonderful things about Zanfel and I am going to try it this year (it is a given I will get the stuff every year -- several times). My doctor told me when I knew I had come in contact with it, start taking an antihistamine. After all, it is an allergic reaction to the oils on the stuff. This has helped reduce the itching and breakouts for me. Also, take a cool bath or shower instead of warm or hot. If the itching is bothering you really bad, an ice cube (use only when you don't have something slathered on it) will help out in a pinch.

Good luck.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I used a product called calagel. It is a two part product. One removes the oils from your skin and the second soothes the itching (although AuthurP has a good idea... :-) ). Be careful though about using it after the expiration. I used some that was out of date and ended up with second degree chemical burns. OUCH. Luckily it was only on my fingers.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Can't help you with this one.... I'm one of the lucky ones who isn't allergic to the stuff. Also, mosquito bites don't bother me either, and that's strange. Chiggers, on the other hand.... that's a different story.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I get it so bad that i get shots. They dry it out really quick and since I have been getting the shots I don't really get it very much. Also ivyrest is a pretty good product.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Can't help much with after you get it ( I usually use Aveeno anti-itch stuff), but I usually use Dawn dish detergent to wash. It's great at breaking down the oil.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

What does poison oak and ivy kook like. my wife got some thing on her arm that has a bunch of bumps on it and it itheces. Sorry for the spelling

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

This is the best stuff I have found for the bumper crop of Poison Oak found in Oregon

http://www.allergies-asthma-sinus-relief.org/products/poison-oak-soap.php

My son breaks out in the stuff if he just looks at it. The doctor reccomended it last time he got into some and it worked very well. Everytime we are in an area where the Poison Oak is found we make him use the soap to limit his reactions.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Vinegar is a good home remedy that works well. I might have to try the $30 wonder-cream next time I get the itch.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Man, I'll have to try the Zanfel next time I get it.

My home remedy was to scratch open the blisters and mix Clorox with some water and apply it to the open rash. Burns like heck, but it kills the stuff fast.

(Even though I am completely serious, I do not recommend this to anyone)

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Try the cream as the others have suggested but keep a close eye on the stuff and how far it is spreading. If you are really allergic to the stuff it can spread to your eyes, into your mouth and down your throat. If it is spreading badly you would be best off going to the Dr. and getting either a cortisone shot or pills.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Here's some info, RWK

http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/pictures.html

As for what the rash looks like, it depends on how allergic the person is and and how bad he or she's got it. This group of photo's pretty much covers it all. Some of these folks have got it to the 'just shoot me and get it over with' level. [:-]

http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/index.htm

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I go to the doctor and get a shot, take about 2 days and it's gone.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

As a side note, for anyone who isn't already aware of this, don't ever burn poison ivy or poison oak and acidentally breathe the smoke. This almost killed a lady that I work with.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

i scrath it all open and but rubbing alcohol on it. it burns for about 20 secs. and it dries up. you cant do this if you have it on your :(never mind

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Prescription topical steroids from your doctor will take care of it...best used asap. Here is a trick to help you get to sleep. Put a rag saturated with hot water (as hot as you can stand) on the itchy spots. It will soothe them and relieve itching for about 20 minutes to help you get to sleep.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Scratching it open and putting alcohol or bleach to burn is fine if you don't work and therefore do not have to show you face to anyone. Modern medicine is a wonderful thing, try it. Remember, they used to bleed people when they were sick.

Hydro-cortisone cream or ointment works just fine if applied all day long for a few days. Some of the products mentioned above are great. Obviously, wash the oils off the first chance you get (with a product made for the task) if you suspect exposure. If you think you have it, knock it back with the cortisone right away. For extreme cases, like in the eyes, go get pills or a shot; however taking cortisone internally is not the healthiest practice.

Hunting out here in California forces exposure to poison oak every time out.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

call your doctor and get a medrol dose pack. gone in 5 days

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

My wife has these "Loofah" gloves she keeps in the shower. Soap them up real good and scratch away!!!! Once you start, you won't be able to stop. It feels SOOOOO GOOOOOD!

New man rule: Loofah is okay only when you have poison ivy or poison oak! [8D]

You'll eventually scratch the blisters open, and you'll be an oozing disgusting mess for a couple of days. But then you'll heal up real nice. I had poison ivy on my belly this summer and that's how I took care of it.

Good luck....

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Since someone else already admitted to the Loofa glove, I'll admit I do the same thing. I scratch the heck out of it and than when I get out of the shower I take rubbing alcohol to it. It does burn - but the itch goes away and it heals up in 2-3 days.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

If you open the blisters, it becomes contagious, that is if itis not dried out.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Actually, it is not contaigous. It's a chemical and once it's washed away it's gone. It's really more of a chemical burn than an allergic reaction. I get it everytime I use the weedeater around the house, which is a couple times a month. I got tired of paying for Zanfel, but it does work. Now I shower in the hottest water a can stand and scratch open the blisters with a stiff brush. After drying off, I use rubbing alcohol too. It really does work pretty good. I've also had the steroid shot from the Dr. and I haven't had a really bad case since. Now I just get a few small areas here & there.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

Guess I am lucky. I used to get it bad as a kid. I don't remember what Mom and the doctors used 40 years ago but I have been immune to poison ivy and poison oak since I was about 15 years old!:D:) Hopefully you can take care of it. Seriously if you get it bad enough and enough times the body will sometimes become immune to it like mine did.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

So does the shot help prevent you from getting it in the first place?

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

I have had very good experience with a product called Tecnu.Fortunately I don't get it often but when I do that is the stuff I am using.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

If you really want to get rid of it, go get a shot of cortizone from family doctor. It will rdy it up in a couple days.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

The shot is not a prevention method but it will help prevent it for around 6 months, and it is contagious if it is pulsing. That is the only way it is contagious.

RE: Poison Oak NEED HELP!!!!
 

As long as your skin is not broken,put straight bleach on it with a Q-tip.Thats what I use...Bob