Help I have poison ivy!

[Debbi801]

Any tried but true remedies?

Thanks!

[notadmblnd]

1. get yourself some Benedryl ( antihistamine)

and some Corticool(topical) and some Aveno Oatmeal Bath and try not to scratch.

[Debbi801]

6. Cool. Thanks. I'll pick some up at lunch.

:hi:

[sui generis]

2. How bad, where?

If it's just a small patch, lather with dish soap and use a tongue depressor or something similar to "scrape" the lather off, then rinse thoroughly, dry, and apply caladryl lotion.

If it's spreading or on your wrists (where it can get on your hands or into your eyes) you may need to see a doctor for a shot of cortisone.

[Debbi801]

5. Right now, it is just small patches...

none near my hands luckily. I have about 5-6 small areas. I'll have to try the dish soap tonight when I get home from work.

Thanks!

[stellanoir]

3. the sap from Jewel weed

Jewel weed and poison ivy are companion plants and often grow in close proximity to one another. . .one of nature's kinder tricks.

It really works well.

[Debbi801]

8. Thanks. I'll need to google it to see what it looks like.

:hi:

[arwalden]

4. Rhuli Gel Helped Me... It's Now Sold As Band-Aid Anti-Itch Gel

Also... depending on WHAT PART of your body came in contact with the poison ivy resin, this unlikely "remedy" was soothing and brought relief for a few hours (long enough to get to sleep).

My arms were COVERED with a poison ivy rash/reaction but I found that when I took HOT showers, the itching and tingling would increase... but immediately afterwards, the itching would subside for an hour or more.

So... I increased the temperature of the shower water until it was as hot as I could stand it (but NOT scalding hot)... and I'd turn on the shower massage so I could have the pulsing water "scratch" my arms and work its magic.

At times it was really difficult to keep my arms under the water. Sometimes, I'd have to make involuntary gasping and grrr-ing and argh-ing noises just to help make it through the process. It's not very pleasant at all.

But... a 10 minute shower that's uncomfortable DID (for me) bring hours of relief. Not perfect relief... but the INTENSE itching would go away.

That's my anecdote... it's unproven... there could even be some placebo-effect at work. Who knows. --- Be careful with hot water, don't burn yourself.

Good luck.

-- Allen

PS: Do you know what poison ivy looks like now? After my last exposure, I went online and studied as many images of poison ivy and poison oak that I could locate... then I went out into the wooded areas of our property and was able to easily spot the ivy.

[Debbi801]

7. That's part of my problem, I have no clue what it looks like...

and We live in the middle of the woods. I think I need to google it and burn it onto my brain. :-)

[intheflow]

11. I just avoid

ANYTHING with waxy leaves now.

[mcscajun]

12. Don't just google poison ivy -- include also poison sumac, poison oak

etc.

Doesn't matter which plant it is, the reaction is the same.

Know your enemy. :)

[Debbi801]

18. I just googled...

We have poison ivy and poison sumac all over the place.

Yuck.

[arwalden]

21. Get One Of These...

and some of this



mix according to instructions... and SPRAY AWAY!!

It works for us!!

[intheflow]

10. I second the hot water as itch relief idea.

I get P.I. every year (inhaled some when burning brush one year & now it just pops out by itself every spring--ick). I get it bad so I hve to get antibiotics to deal with it. But beforeit goes away, I spend about 1/3 of my waking life with the P.I. under running hot water.

Aaah! Sweet relief!

[TNDemo]

15. A blow dryer is good too.

Gives a nice scratch without touching it.

[Atlas Mugged]

9. You're gonna' need an ocean

Of Calamine lotion

Late at night when you're sleepin'
Poison Ivy comes a creepin'
All around

[Shell Beau]

13. Benadryl and Calamine. They have a clear spray

Calamine now so you don't have to be pink. My husband is highly allergic and is a landscaper so he gets it yearly. He usually has to go to the doc since it spreads to all kind of places. But try the others first.

[Deep13]

14. salt water

Bathe in it. If you are near the sea, take a swim.

[enlightenment]

16. Also try soaking afflicted part in a baking soda bath.

My mom put me in a bath with baking soda every night when I was 5-6 years old -- I was always getting into something itchy. Seems to me it was average temperature, not particularly hot.

Given all that early "sensitivity training," I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that now I break-out in hives for no reason at all, all the time. sigh.

Good luck; hope something works for you.

[pansypoo53219]

17. my grandpa once said

i was standing in the middle of some. i got nothing. so i may be immune.
mosquitos don't like me either

[kick-ass-bob]

19. So PUT IT DOWN!

sheesh.

:eyes:

[JanMichael]

20. Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap

http://www2.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=10156&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10001

[RayOfHope]

22. Aveeno makes a good oatmeal bath

also, don't forget to wash the clothes you were wearing when you came into contact with the plant. The oils could still be on them and you don't want to touch it again.

Also--after you have washed the plant oil off yourself, it won't spread. Scratching the rash doesn't spread PI, it's the oil that causes the rash.

Hope it clears up soon!

[jbane]

23. It sounds nuts but Clorox works...I've tried it several times.

It's an old country remedy from Appalachia but don't hold that against it. Try rubbing Clorox bleach on the blisters. Re-apply until the blisters start to dry up.