Poison ivy question:

[Padraig18]

I have a small touch of poison ivy (3 blisters in a $.25-sized area), and the blisters have ruptured after 3 days. is the clear, serous fluid leaking from them capable of spreading the rash, or is it harmless? Cover them up, or expose them to air? Benadryl lotion, cortisone creme, or what? I know to keep any open sore clean, so I just washed them with Dial soap, but what should I do now? I've never had poison ivy before, so I honestly don't know.

Thanks!

:hi:

[jeff30997]

1. Sorry, i never had this problem so i can't help you.

Maybe you should ask a pharmacist ?

[Padraig18]

5. I may, when the pharmacy opens.

I was reading the directions on the Benadryl and cortisone creme tubes, and both said they are good for poison ivy, so i put some of each on the spots, and covered them with Band Aids. I'll ask the pharmacist if that seem about right, or not.

:)

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. They will spread the rash

Dry the area with a paper towel thoroughly. You need to clean up any oils and sweat which will spread the rash.
Then rinse the area with as hot a water as you can stand and use plenty of soap.

This is what I do and I have had plenty of it.

[Padraig18]

4. Did that.

Thanks for the advice!

:)

[Beer Snob-50]

3. i had to get a perscription from my doctor

to clean it up when i had it. you should also make sure you wash your hands immediatly after cleaning the sores or you risk spreading it.

[Padraig18]

6. Did that.

Thanks!

:)

[RamblingRose]

7. CalaGel & Sarna worked for me. Sarna is good at relieving the itching.

[ProfessorGAC]

8. I Am Among Those Insensitive To The Active Chemical

Honest, i think i might be able to eat the stuff. The closest i ever came to a problem was when i grabbed a vine to keep from falling in the woods.

The area under my wedding ring started itching about 2 hours later. An area where a ring has been for over 20 years is probably sensitive to table salt.

I washed with soap and water and problem gone.

You do need to keep the area well irrigated. There is an active skin irritant/sensitizer in poison ivy. People with a fairly high oil and collagen content in the outer layer of skin are more susceptible, since the chemical is oil soluble, not very water soluble. Keep the area clean, constantly irrigate with running water (lots of it). You dont' want the chemical to diffuse to the surface and spread. Remember that soap forms micelles which increase the ability of an oil soluble chemical to suspend in water. So, wash with soap regularly. I'd recommend a syndet bar (like Lever 2000 or something), because they suspend oils better than soap. (Soaps & detergents are not the same thing, chemically.)

The chemical is a haloorganic, so there's no neutralizing it. (No ionic character to react.) You just need to continue to keep it flushed. Also, the rash spreads because if you particularly sensitive, and it sounds like you are, diffusion causes the area to spread within the dermis. Since you are likely sensitive to very low concentrations, the rash self-spreads.

Rubbing the area will increase the spread by improving mass transfer within the skin oils. So, do something NOW about ameliorating the itch, so you won't be tempted to push the chemical around.

There at least 4 products OTC that are specifically targeted toward PI and PO. My friend is particularly sensitive and he says they work. Hit the pharamacy as soon as it opens, if you can. Ask the pharmacist. They should sure know which ones work well.
The Professor

[Padraig18]

9. Wow! That's VERY useful knowledge.

I actually understood all of that, since I did well in chemistry and also used to work for a cleaning company and know about oils, saponification, etc. I appreciate the information, and found it useful in understanding what's going on and how to go about treating it/keeping it from spreading.

Thanks!

:hi:

[ProfessorGAC]

10. WOW!

You are probably the first person in DU history (including myself) to use the word "saponification"! Very good, indeed!

The Professor gives Padraig an "A" for today's chemistry session. And, extra credit for having a DU FIRST!
The Professor

[Padraig18]

11. Awww, shucks!

Thanks again, Professor!

:)

[stellanoir]

12. I had a bad case of it for the first time in years

about two weeks ago. Tried Dermarest for the first time ever and it only provided about 10 minutes of relief.

Then I got some Ivarest and it dried it up after about two applications.

Don't mean to sound like a commercial here but I was truly impressed.

[sbj405]

13. Burt's Bees Poison Ivy Soap

Works pretty well for drying it up. Should be able to find it at a natural foods store.

http://www1.burtsbees.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10001&storeId=10001&productId=10156&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=10001