I have poison ivy from the tops of my feet to my hips!?
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Oh, do you have my sympathy! I've gotten into it 4 times this year! There are a lot of products that work well for me. After the second time of getting into it, I finally did some research on effective products. Chlorine won't necessarily clean it up, but will dry it out. There's a product called Tecnu that is really good. Burt's Bees makes a poison ivy soap. One of the main ingredients is jewelweed, which is an old-time remedy. Jewelweed actually grows near poison ivy (tall-ish plant with green leaves, with orange-yellow trumpet-like flowers). CVS also makes a poison ivy soap, but it did nothing for me.
I've learned the hard way about getting into it - and have found that I absolutely MUST stay away from it. Make sure that you wash everything that has come into contact with it, including gloves and garden tools. Do NOT burn the plant - getting it into your lungs can kill you. And a pharmacist told me years ago that you can even get into it in the winter, as the oils will be in the snow where it grows. You can use chemicals to get rid of it, but we've found the best way is to pull it up, making sure to follow the underground roots. It grows just under the surface, and will sprout up in many locations from one central location.
Taking Benadryl or generic product will help with the itching, although it might make you sleepy. And no, it's not contagious to another person, although people will avoid you once they see the rash. It's the Urishol oils in the poison ivy that cause the rash. Another person cannot get the rash from you, unless still have the fresh oils on your skin, which is highly doubtful.
I don't know about that. Call your dr. but try aveeno oatmeal bath, calamine lotion and take an oral antihistamine like benadryl.
Yes clorine does help
Also may want to put ointment on it to stop from itching because itching makes it worse.
The First Line of Defence in the Treatment for Poison Ivy Rash, Poison Oak Rash
The first thing you should do for the treatment of poison ivy rash, regardless of whether you intend a natural or a medical treatment, is to take the following steps within 10-15 minutes of contact:
Apply rubbing alcohol to the infected area.
Rinse with water (any water).
Wash up with soap and warm water.
Treatment for Poison Ivy Rash, Poison Oak Rash the Medical Way
Different people find different degrees of relief in the treatment of poison ivy rash through over-the-counter remedies, such as hydrocortisones. But some people have such a severe reaction to the plant that they need to visit a physician. It usually takes about 2-3 weeks to get rid of the ivy rash. "Severe reactions can be treated with prescription oral corticosteroids," according to Vincent Iannelli, About's Pediatrics Guide. Oral corticosteroids are prescribed "if the rash is on the face, genitals, or covers more than 30 percent of the body. The drug must be taken for at least 14 days, and preferably over a three-week period." About's First Aid Guide, Rod Brouhard, offers additional resources on the treatment of poison ivy rash.
If the poison ivy is continuing to spread and cause you much discomfort, you need to call your doctor and ask him/her to prescribe you medicine called Medral (? spelling) pack. This medicine is taken each day and you start out with so many the first day, then a little less the second day and so forth. I believe you take it for seven days total. Chlorine does help, but it gets a little dangerous when it spreads towards your bottom areas. Oatmeal baths also help to relieve the irritation of itching. Take care of yourself @ Good Luck!
If i wuz u i wouldn't get in a pool because you would give poison ivy to any one who got in there after you!! When i got poison ivy we when to the doctor and he gave me a shot that killed it but there is a cream that you can get at pharmacys that kills it 2! I cant remimber the name but if you ask the pharmacist she should be able 2 tell you!!
good luck and dont scratch!
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