Poison ivy
 

I think i got poision ivry or oak, BUt not sure.I was in some weeds this weekend, and the next day i had a small pack of oily itchy skin on my face by my ear.Well i wake up this morning and my whoole face had the itchy red skin and bumps, and some on my arm.Im pretty sure its poision ovy.Dose anyone know any good ways to stop it?

RE: Poison ivy
 

I live along the lake and the shore line or ditches along the road are full of it. I got my first batch this weekend on both arms. I rub it down hard with yellow soap like felsnaptha or lava soap and then pour rubbing alcohol on it. The pain makes the itch go away and then the drying starts. If I get it real bad like in my eyes or worse I get a shot and it goes away in a couple of days.

RE: Poison ivy
 

A great sugesstionI have for your arms to get it to stop itching and go away is to get some scalding hot water and let it run and htan when it is really hot put your arm under it and it will hurt for sure but it takes the itch away. for your fae they sell soaps and creams to put on and wash with while in the shower. I have used both alot ,I work outside all summer and get it about 2 times a month.

RE: Poison ivy
 

I get it each year, as well. I take a Reactine allergy pill to control the spread and getting to the healing process much faster. It has to be an allergy pill that says it controls hives on the label. Then I use expensive burn creams where needed. Do not use Calimine lotion, it makes you more sensitive to getting it again in the future.

RE: Poison ivy
 

There is a soap you can buy called falsnapa something like that. Also calamine lotion works. Last but not least go and get a shot in your butt it is weird but it works trust me. It will be numb for a few days. But it is worth it

RE: Poison ivy
 

Hot water works to kill the itch, but so does cold water. Wash with cold, soapy water each morning

Take benadryl as directed during the day and right before bed.

When you get in from work, place dry oatmeal on the rash for 20 mins. This works very, very well b/c the oatmeal absorbs the oil that makes you itch. Then wash with cold, soapy water again.

RE: Poison ivy
 

yeah that stuff is nasty

RE: Poison ivy
 

Calamine lotion is what we use up here for it.

RE: Poison ivy
 

Try a little bleach,just put some onsome cotton and dab the area,that will take the itch away...[:o]

RE: Poison ivy
 

DO NOT RUB

Straight bleach. I’m a RN and this is what I was told to use by an ER Dr and have for years. If it is on your arm or leg just pour on and let sit for a few min. Then blot to dry. DO NOT RUB WITH THE TOWEL TO DRY! For other areas just use a wad of tp soaked with bleach, again don’t rub, blot on and off. The bleach will denature the enzymes and proteins in the oils from the ivy, which causes the reaction.

mello

RE: Poison ivy
 

I agree completely with the bleach when it's fresh on, i just did an ER rotation and that's what my attending recommended.

If you don't know where you got it from, look at your kids, pets and clothes. Wash all of the above. If a dog gets into poison ivy and gets the oils on him, he can kee re-exposing you for over a week after he brushed it.

Once you have poison ivy and have showered, you're no longer contagious and you cannot spread it anywhere on your body by scratching. The rash may spread as your body continues to react to the oils it was exposed to, but scratching and breaking a poison ivy blister will not spread it to another part of your body or to another person.

The best way to deal with it once you've got it is Benadryl as much as the bottle directs as often as directed and any sort of Calamine lotion. Any generic brand of Calamine is as good as any name brand, the only real difference is the price.

If the reaction is anywhere near your eyes, mouth or is over a large area (greater than say your forearm) or if the itching is driving you nuts, go see a doc and he/she will probably give you a short course of steroids which will calm the reaction down.

RE: Poison ivy
 

Ridge Runner, I see you're in WV. Is Jewelweed something that I should be able to find here in Ga? What type of terrain does it like to grow in? This infomight help other folks as well. Thanks

RE: Poison ivy
 

I've had people tell me that if you eat it you will never get it again. I just tell them ill stick with getting it on my skin instead of down my throat.

RE: Poison ivy
 

I get it a lot. Probably had it 50 times over the past 15 to 20 years. Stupid thing is I never got it as a kid??

I have tried everything from the steroid shot, gas, bleach, lye soap, every kind of soap out there homemade or store, calamine........ In my case no matter what I do it runs a course of 8 to 12 days. The one thing that helps is the scrubs they have out now in your pharmacy. I have used cortaid and technu they are all alike. These if used a couple times a day on the affected areas seems to minimize the outbreaks for me.

Keeping your skin dry is key, use the scrub,lots of showers(which actually dries out your skin), and benidril.


Oh and big WARNING here!!! Do not burn wood with poison ivy on it or poison vines. You can mess your $hit up good!! I had a friend do that, putt him right in the ER.

RE: Poison ivy
 

The "bleach crowd" is not full of BS, your buddy is just an idiot!
Bleach will denature any of the oils still on the skin. It WILL NOT treat poison ivy already there!

Scratching the pustules open and pouring bleach or gas into them is one of the dumber ideas I have ever heard of and I can't believe anyone would actually do that.

Putting bleach on exposed skin can prevent or lessen the reaction. Scratching open the pustules to put bleach into them is as intelligent as drinking bleach to get rid of it from the inside.

I've never seen any research on the Jimson weed or seen it work, but I'm not gonna discount it if it works for you.

RE: Poison ivy
 

Not to get off subject, but how can you tell that a plant is poison ivy??? I know they say 3 leaves, but theres a ton of plants that have 3 leaves.

RE: Poison ivy
 

Do a google image search for "poison ivy."

RE: Poison ivy
 

I'm usually good for 1 or 2 exposures per year. Never found a good way to stop it so I just try to minimize the discomfort. Try washing with cold water and soap, dry completely, apply talcom powder to help keep dry and then drink 4 to 6 ice cold buds to take your mind off the itch. It works for me

RE: Poison ivy
 

The best thing I've found was to gently rub the affected area with a dry cloth or paper towels to remove as much of the offending oil as possible, then slather on some 1% hydrocortisone cream like Cortisone 10 ointment. The hydro keeps the itch to a bare minimum and helps to prevent the inflammation. If you're already blistered it drys up the blisters almost overnight.