Poison Ivy Relief
- Thread starter jdeerestl
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boustany
Platinum Member
That's one approach.
I get benadryl lotion, benadryl pills (they tell yah never, ever, to do both, but its works pretty good) and topical cortesone for good measure.
I've had real bad experience with poison ivy when I was a kid ... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
I get benadryl lotion, benadryl pills (they tell yah never, ever, to do both, but its works pretty good) and topical cortesone for good measure.
I've had real bad experience with poison ivy when I was a kid ... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
Junkman
Super Member
I learned from lineman that they just wash down the area with either chlorine bleach or ammonia. This causes a chemical burn that kills the poison ivy and the chemical burn will heal faster than the poison ivy. If you can stand the sting, it works well. I have done it on small areas in the past. Hope never to get a lot of poison ivy, because it can really hurt bad. The other alternative is to go to the doctor and he can give you a prescription for Prednisone which will also knock it out quickly. I don't know the hazards of the medicine, so I won't go into any more discussion about this.... Junk......
DocHeb
Veteran Member
You might get transient symptom relief, but will lose in the long run. Continued exposure to very hot water will only injure the already inflammed and sensitive tissue that is trying to heal. The same goes for scrubbing the area in the shower with a washcloth - feels good for a while, but you'll pay.
You would be better off being very gentle with the skin and use a topical steroid cream. The over the counter steroids (low concentration hydrocortisone 1% and triamcinolone 0.5%) will be OK for mild attacks, but more severe cases will need a higher class steroid like prescription clobetasol 0.05%. I favor the clobetasol over the other fluorinated steroids because it comes in a generic form (less $$$). The topical meds have an advantage as they give little systemic side effects. Really bad reactions will respond to a brief treatment (~ 7-10 days) of an oral steroid such as Prednisone. The often prescibed Medrol dosepak (a tapering dose over six days) does not give a high enough steroid dose over a long enough period to provide significant relief, and poison ivy will often "come back" with the dosepak.
Once your skin has been cleaned with soap and water, it will not spread by touching the affected areas or the weeping fluid from the rash. Rashes will come up on other areas at different times, based on the exposure amount and thickness of the skin. The oil can remain on work gloves, clothes, boots, and pet hair, and then be spread to other areas by repeated contact.
Try to avoid topical anti-itch medicines (such as those that contain benzocaine) as they can be very sensitizing to open skin (i.e., can cause allergic reactions and increased itching). It is interesting that oral Benadryl (diphenhydramine) works to prevent itching and allergic reactions, but as a topical agent it can be sensitizing. I'd avoid this medicine topically. Calamine can help dry out the lesions and decrease itching.
There are some other agents such as Zanfel that are highly advertised and highly priced. IMHO I'm not sure there is any advantage of these products, since most poison ivy gets well on its own
Free advice from a professional stunt doctor on a closed course - your mileage may vary.
You would be better off being very gentle with the skin and use a topical steroid cream. The over the counter steroids (low concentration hydrocortisone 1% and triamcinolone 0.5%) will be OK for mild attacks, but more severe cases will need a higher class steroid like prescription clobetasol 0.05%. I favor the clobetasol over the other fluorinated steroids because it comes in a generic form (less $$$). The topical meds have an advantage as they give little systemic side effects. Really bad reactions will respond to a brief treatment (~ 7-10 days) of an oral steroid such as Prednisone. The often prescibed Medrol dosepak (a tapering dose over six days) does not give a high enough steroid dose over a long enough period to provide significant relief, and poison ivy will often "come back" with the dosepak.
Once your skin has been cleaned with soap and water, it will not spread by touching the affected areas or the weeping fluid from the rash. Rashes will come up on other areas at different times, based on the exposure amount and thickness of the skin. The oil can remain on work gloves, clothes, boots, and pet hair, and then be spread to other areas by repeated contact.
Try to avoid topical anti-itch medicines (such as those that contain benzocaine) as they can be very sensitizing to open skin (i.e., can cause allergic reactions and increased itching). It is interesting that oral Benadryl (diphenhydramine) works to prevent itching and allergic reactions, but as a topical agent it can be sensitizing. I'd avoid this medicine topically. Calamine can help dry out the lesions and decrease itching.
There are some other agents such as Zanfel that are highly advertised and highly priced. IMHO I'm not sure there is any advantage of these products, since most poison ivy gets well on its own
Free advice from a professional stunt doctor on a closed course - your mileage may vary.
MLinOleMiss
Silver Member
Calamine lotion!!!!!!!!!!
PineRidge
Super Member
When we get that crud we end up taking Prednisone tablets to get rid of it. The Prednisone gives you the munchies so I always have an excuse to eat more too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
RobertN
Super Member
Best I have found is Technu. Wash with it after exposure. Wash with it as the poison ivy/oak rash heals.
Also, Technu and Avon both make pre-exposure creams that seem to work.
The only other thing that I have found helps, is washing with a good old fashioned lye/lard soap. My Grandma used to make it. It was the BEST things ever for poison oak, which likes to really get me /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Also, Technu and Avon both make pre-exposure creams that seem to work.
The only other thing that I have found helps, is washing with a good old fashioned lye/lard soap. My Grandma used to make it. It was the BEST things ever for poison oak, which likes to really get me /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
_RaT_
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Chris, my wife thinks Zanfel is the best. She is a trail runner. We have no poison ivy out here, but we do have poison oak. Zanfel is not cheap at about $30 for a small tube. I have had very small amounts of poison oak after being heavily exposed. I still don't jump in the stuff, but unlike so many people who get near it and it jumps out and gets them, I seem somewhat immune. So in a nustshell, Zanfel works for my wife where products like Technu Oak & Ivy does not.
Interesting... I've been using that trick for years on flea bites. I REALLY itch from flea bites, and also get some pretty welts from them. Hot water doesn't just make it feel good for a while, it flat kills whatever it is that is bothering me. The itch and the welts drop 90% or more immediately.
Odd - fleas LOVE me the way squirrels love nuts, and they really make me suffer. OTOH, mosquitos don't bite me much, and when they do it doesn't bother me much.
Odd - fleas LOVE me the way squirrels love nuts, and they really make me suffer. OTOH, mosquitos don't bite me much, and when they do it doesn't bother me much.
Bayoucritter
New member
You need a prescription but triamcinolone works really good for me. It clears it up in a day or so.
