First poison ivy of the year?

[robbyr]

I will second the technu, it seems to work pretty for me when nothing else did. Calamine was a waste of time. Even though I'm in Texas, I will probably get it since u mentioned it. I've even applied bengay to mask the itch and it helps. good luck

 

[tractchores]

One trick i've found is hot water. Get it as hot as you can stand without burning and spray or put it on tbe pi. It will itch VERY intensly and then stop. Basically your making your cells release all their histamine (what causes you to feel itchy) and it takes 8 - 12 hours for them to recharge. During that time you're itch free. It works wonders and you can read about it by searching. I've used that technique since i was a kid. It won't help the swelling etc, but at least you won't scratch.

 

[RobertBrown]

One trick i've found is hot water. Get it as hot as you can stand without burning and spray or put it on tbe pi. It will itch VERY intensly and then stop. Basically your making your cells release all their histamine (what causes you to feel itchy) and it takes 8 - 12 hours for them to recharge. During that time you're itch free. It works wonders and you can read about it by searching. I've used that technique since i was a kid. It won't help the swelling etc, but at least you won't scratch.

That's what I always do. I didn't know why it worked, but it does. Especially at night when your trying to sleep.
I hate urushiol. I'm very allergic and it looks like I've been burned when it gets bad. I try not to touch it and make sure I wash everything as soon as I can, even the boots.

 

[newbury]

Having a long and continuing relationship with poison ivy, and having been a field biologist for part of that time I know of 2 things that worked for me.

1. Places, like forestry supply, used to sell a vial of extract, which if taken well before exposure minimized reaction.
2. Poison Ivy - I now try and take the first young leaves I see each spring and rub them on the side of 1 arm for a little patch. That area will blister up and itch. I'm then REAL careful to not get more on me until that has started itching. After that I'm relatively immune for the rest of the season.

I've only found 1 sure cure for the rash, take a two week vacation to a saltwater beach, it'll be gone when I get back.

 

[tractchores]

Having a long and continuing relationship with poison ivy, and having been a field biologist for part of that time I know of 2 things that worked for me.

1. Places, like forestry supply, used to sell a vial of extract, which if taken well before exposure minimized reaction.
2. Poison Ivy - I now try and take the first young leaves I see each spring and rub them on the side of 1 arm for a little patch. That area will blister up and itch. I'm then REAL careful to not get more on me until that has started itching. After that I'm relatively immune for the rest of the season.

I've only found 1 sure cure for the rash, take a two week vacation to a saltwater beach, it'll be gone when I get back.

I've seen #1, but haven't dared try it given how allergic I am, but interesting to hear it actually works. I think if I did #2 I'd end up with a giant scar, if I even come close to a plant it seems like I'm at risk of getting it. I used to get it EVERY spring on my face bad enough to need medical treatment. I couldn't figure out how I would get it because I was so careful. It took me years to figure out that it was our outside cat walking through it and then sleeping on my pillow! Now the cat stays inside.

 

[dodge man]

I would estimate I've had poison ivy over a 100 times. Most of these have been very minor, but I've had a few bad ones. I've done a lot of reading on the subject.

My understanding is the extract doesn't work, but who knows?

My understanding is that the more you are exposed to it, the more likely you are to get it. Getting exposed to it a lot doesn't help. If you stay away from it for years, you can gain some imunity back. Here is a link, look towards the bottom of the page for the myths.

Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac - Fast Facts - (www.poisonivy.us)

 

[tractchores]

I would estimate I've had poison ivy over a 100 times. Most of these have been very minor, but I've had a few bad ones. I've done a lot of reading on the subject.

My understanding is the extract doesn't work, but who knows?

My understanding is that the more you are exposed to it, the more likely you are to get it. Getting exposed to it a lot doesn't help. If you stay away from it for years, you can gain some imunity back. Here is a link, look towards the bottom of the page for the myths.

Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac - Fast Facts - (www.poisonivy.us)

Thanks. I always thought that as well. Some allergies have therapies where exposure helps reduce the reaction, but according to my allergist poison ivy didn't have a treatment from him like that. I have heard there are cycles, so even though someone thinks they are not allergic they may actually be after a few exposures or after a couple of years. Apparently some minute percentage of the population (like .01% or something) is actually truly not allergic. I wish i was one of them

 

[dodge man]

Thanks. I always thought that as well. Some allergies have therapies where exposure helps reduce the reaction, but according to my allergist poison ivy didn't have a treatment from him like that. I have heard there are cycles, so even though someone thinks they are not allergic they may actually be after a few exposures or after a couple of years. Apparently some minute percentage of the population (like .01% or something) is actually truly not allergic. I wish i was one of them

I think there is a fairly large precentage of people that don't get it. I've seen data that say close to half, although the link I posted said something like 10%.

Kind of a side story, but a co-worker said he didn't get it. We were working one day and he grabbed a leaf and rubbed it on his face. I completely freaked out, not for him but because I didn't want to get it. You guessed it, he got it. Not a bad case but bad enough.

 

[newbury]

<snip>
Kind of a side story, but a co-worker said he didn't get it. We were working one day and he grabbed a leaf and rubbed it on his face. I completely freaked out, not for him but because I didn't want to get it. You guessed it, he got it. Not a bad case but bad enough.

Which brings up my story about poison sumac.

Two of us field biologists were doing research in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

We came across a poison sumac bush in flower. I identified it, he said it couldn't be. Had to be "leaflet three, let it be" like poison oak. He rubbed his nose and face in it. He went to the hospital.

 

[ultrarunner]

Most will get it if exposed enough...

Often the first exposure may not trigger a reaction.

Poison Oak is my personal sworn enemy... I have gone on search and destroy missions on the my parents 17 acres for years... proud to say it is just about gone...

My property was packed full and it took 5 years to win the war...

I would get it just from the dust when running the tractor.

Zanfel has helped me a lot...

Of course steroids will knock it right down... but steroids can have side effects.

Mom would get it real bad... she was on prednisone for something else and hasn't had a breakout...

Real nasty stuff the entire poison family...