Help! I had an allergic reaction to poison ivy

Good morning everyone!
Have you ever had poison ivy, poison sumac, poison oak, or something related? I went disc-golfing this weekend and accidentally reached into a patch of poison ivy when I was looking for a disc. Now I have a very itchy patch of skin on my arm. I've heard this **** spreads like wildfire so I put a bandage on the spots. Does anyone know how to fight this BS? I don't want it to get worse.

 

Calimine Lotion.

 

Poison oak will neutralize the Poison ivy. Rub some on the same spot.

 

quit *****in about it and deal, it goes away in a few days

 

That's easy enough. I've never had it before. I want to be careful. I know people who've had it spread all over and had to go to the hospital. I can't afford that right now.

 

Bleach. Or better yet, high % alcohol. Or even gasoline.

Anything that will cause it to dry out faster, as it's the oil that causes the rash.

And don't scratch it before applying any of these unless unconsciousness is your desired effect.

 

That makes sense. The newest spots are oily and the older ones are drier. I'm definitely willing to try bleach or alcohol. I'm a little wary about putting gas on my skin though. Do you know if it's good to keep the spots covered?

 

Ouch. I hear your pain. Best is to do what the one person above me said with the alcohol and stuff. I got in all over my two legs from my knees down once, and it was on the day I went to Ceder Point in Ohio and Cleveland. We walked over like 10 miles in the two and a half days, and I was ready to just cut my legs off. It was a pain in the ***. The other time was six months later, not as bad cause I caught it early (the first time with Ceder Point I didnt) but it still killed cause it was during baseball season. Good luck with it man, and as long as it oozes, try not to touch it. Once it stops that your pretty much in the clear.


edit: Yes, I would keep the spots covered in some kind of bandage

 

Thanks guys! I know the JCC isn't the best place for medical advice, but I figure this is a common enough problem I could get some basic help. Again, this sucks, and I'm grateful for the pointers!

 

No, a bandage will lengthen the recovery time.

No, don't put bleach, and especially not gasoline on your skin. How could you people even think that was a cure?

Poison Ivy can't spread externally (unless you itched the moment you touched the plant), however it can spread to some extent internally (although you won't see it on your skin).

There is no decent 'cure' - some people say to run the effected skin under hot water (for as long and as hot as possible), other suggest taking anti-histamines to help the itch. If you can get to the Doctors within 24 hours of getting infected a cortisone shot will help.

Otherwise, just leave it, and it'll be clear within 2 weeks

 

I used to get it really bad as a kid. Calamine lotion is the best thing for the itching. You could also try a non-drowsy antihistamine dose - that might also help. If you have a pharmacy near you try asking their advice as well.

 

Al Gore invented poison ivy.

 

KyleKatarn96 what kind of amusement park has poison ivy around where people walk???

 

malkieD2 posted on 8/22/05 7:11am

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No, don't put bleach, and especially not gasoline on your skin. How could you people even think that was a cure? [hr][/blockquote]

Simple. I've had poison ivy more times than I can count. And yes, I've done them. It does dry out the 'sores' on the skin, thus reducing the itch. Alcohol is best, then coated with Calamine.

How do you think I know about the whole unconsciousness thing? [face_tongue]

I did that once, didn't pass out, but nearly did. Scratched my arms in my sleep, awoke to the horrendous itch, and poured on alcohol (90%) before applying the Calamine.

"Ooooo, pretty colors" was about all I could manage for a couple minutes. [face_laugh]

 

Wow, man that's pretty intense. How old were you when that happened?

 

Ummmmmmmm... like 24.

 

They can, as gas has very high evaporative and drying properties, and bleach... well, bleach just kills things.

I wouldn't use them as first choice, though. Maybe I should have said that.

More as a last choice.

And I agree, NEVER cover it. It contains the oil and gunk. It needs the air to evaporate.

 

This has been very helpful, friends. Thanks for not completely jumping into the JCC sarcasm mode on me here. Have a good day!

 

I know the misery that is Poison Ivy all too well to be sarcastic.

Hope it helps, JakkUtt!

 

Gas is also highly flammable and poisonous - not recommended.

Bleach does kill things (chlorine kills all bugs, bacteria, and anything with mitochondria), however how would that possibly be of benefit to you? Poison Ivy evokes an immune reaction, not a bacterial one, so bleach would be totally ineffective, and actually dangerous. Furthermore, you have a far larger chance of actually making things worse with bleach than better.

 

But malkie, without the mitochondria, life could not exist, and we would have no knowledge of the Force!

 

malkieD2 posted on 8/22/05 8:44am

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Gas is also highly flammable and poisonous - not recommended.

Bleach does kill things (chlorine kills all bugs, bacteria, and anything with mitochondria), however how would that possibly be of benefit to you? Poison Ivy evokes an immune reaction, not a bacterial one, so bleach would be totally ineffective, and actually dangerous. Furthermore, you have a far larger chance of actually making things worse with bleach than better.
[hr][/blockquote]

[b]Go with the alcohol and Calamine and you'll be fine![/b]

Better, Malkie? Sheesh. [face_tongue]

 

Sorry if i was misunderstood. I got it at my friends house, near some woods at the edge of the yard. And like two days later it was extraordinaryily bad, and that was the day I left for Ceder Point.

And Malkie, thats interesting what you said about the bandages. It makes sense. I didn't keep them covered at night when I slept, as in to give it air. But during the day I had to keep it covered as in for school and baseball and things like that.

 

Do your best not to itch it or you could irritate the area and make it hurt instead of itch, and maybe cause an infection if you break the skin. I've had that happen when I was younger. Just keep it clean and put calamine lotion on it and it'll go away.

One thing people should neve do is burn the plants. I knew someone who got very sick because their father inadvertantly burt some of the plants. They got the irritation in their lungs and had to go to the hospital.