ever have poison ivy?

[Sniper82]

First time here. Itching really aint bad yet(knock on wood). Anyway has anyone here had it much? Whats a good method to do if itching starts. I don't want to scratch it no matter how bad it gets. Also any ideas on best way to treat it so it heals quickest. I know healing depends on the person. Could take a couple weeks could take a couple months.

How long did it last when you had it and what methods did you use on it to help clear it up and get rid of itching? I'd like to know how I got it. I havent been in any weeds.

 

[TuxDave]

I had it 2-3 times. Pisses me off to no end. Anyways, the quickest way to clear it up is to use calimine lotion. Otherwise it's gonna be hell.

 

[LordJezo]

Who hasn't had it?

Just go to the store and buy some cammimle (cant spell it) lotion. That pink stuff. Swab it on every once in a while and try to ignore it.

 

[Linflas]

I have never had it and I was even stupid enough as a kid to rub some on my arm in a lame attempt to get a few days off school.

 

I am so alergic to poison ivy oil that I usually end up in the hospital from it, for me, hormonal treatment is the only answer.
My brother on the other hand can roll around in it all day long and have no ill effects.

Technu works well if you will be in the presence of poisen ivy plants.

 

[Fausto]

I've had it several times since we bought our house (yard was full of the goddamn stuff). Last time was bad enough I had to go see a doc to get some anti-inflammatory meds as my left arm and hand were swelling up.

Whats a good method to do if itching starts.

The usual stuff, Caladryl, Ivy-Dry, etc....all stuff you can get at the local drugstore. An OTC antihistamine might help too.

I don't want to scratch it no matter how bad it gets.

Scratch away, just keep it clean. Contrary to popular belief, you cannot further spread the stuff once you've got it. The reason for this is the same reason it bothers your skin: it's permanently attached. The only way for your body to get rid of it is to slough off the skin. Docs usually tell you not to scratch as you might be introducing bacteria to raw skin.



Two other things:

1) Learn to identify the stuff so you don't get it again. Check your yard, especially if you have pets. The oil can get on them, and then get on you (it remains viable for quite a while). If you find it, nuke it with a weedkiller.

2) Once you've had it, you get more sensitive to it. See #1.

 

[VictorLazlo]

As far as I know, I'm immune to poison ivy.
When I was a kid, I would rub it on my arms and legs to impress my friends.

 

[KK]

I've had poison something, oak, ivy or sumac. I'd get it where it would be between my fingers and up and down my arms. I could just press my finger on it and the blisters would pop and ooze. I'd put clorox and rubbing alcohol on it to dry it out. Also running it under scolding water is like having an orgasm. Worst was getting it on the boys. :shocked:

KK

 

[Sniper82]

How long does it usually last on you all? I heard taking a Hair Dryer to your rash helps keep it dry and relieves the itch for hours? Is this safe to try?

 

[Sundog]

Screw poison ivy (not literally)...is SUCKS. I am not as allergic as Roger, but I hate that stuff.

Nothing over the counter worked for me. Had the school nurse pouring rubbing alcohol on my shins in between classes for almost a flipp'in month. The the damn stuff started progressing up my legs...grrr...

Finally the doctor prescribed some kind of steroid derivative cream....it started healing immediately and was gone in 5 days.


Last time I got it...I went straight to the doc and said give me the good cream.

 

[Silverbullet28]

Get a bowl full of warm water and put a decent amount of bleach into the water. Take a washcloth and dunk it in the bleach solution, then scrub the areas where the poison ivy is at really hard and irritate it. Keep soaking the washcloth and repeating. You will smell like bleach and it will burn a little, but that will dry out the poison ivy quicker than anyway I have ever seen.

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: ^Sniper^
How long does it usually last on you all? I heard taking a Hair Dryer to your rash helps keep it dry and relieves the itch for hours? Is this safe to try?

Yeah, hair dryers make it feel good too.

KK

 

Sundog, your physician gave you corticosteroids

 

[Sundog]

Originally posted by: Roger
Sundog, your physician gave you corticosteroids

That may very well be , all I know is it was good sh$t. I have half a tube left and I make sure to have it whenever we are going on a trip more than half a days drive from home.

 

[Sniper82]

Just thinking about it makes me itch everywhere but where the rash is. I think its just where I keep thinking about it. I got some small blisters(size of a ink pen tip) between 2 of my fingers and on my pinky and a patch on my wrist. I can deal with it I like this just hope it doesnt get spread all over.

 

I have had several camping trips ruined by that damned plant !

There is absolutely nothing worse than having poisen ivy between your toes, in your eyes and in your crotch area.
I think I would prefer having my fingers cut off and sewn back on again than to deal with that crap.

 

[NuclearNed]

I can look at poison ivy and break out in a rash. If you have the cajones, here are a couple home remedies:

1. Soak a little bleach into a cotton ball, and rub into the affected area several times a day. I have done this and it seems to work pretty well (i.e. the rash dries up usually within a day), but there are two problems: first, it burns like hell. Actually, it burns like ninjas guzzling habanero sauce while chasing a herd of flaming cattle through the lowest level of molten hell. Second, someone told me this was possibly a good way to poison yourself. I've done it several times with no ill aftereffects, but do this only at your own risk. If you do try this and get sick or die, you can't blame me because I am telling you not to do it.

2. An old wive's tale says that if you eat raw poison ivy leaves, you will be immune to the effects of the plant for life. I haven't ever mustered up enough manhood and/or stupidity to try this one. Just call me skeptical. Again, if you do this and get sick or die, you only have yourself to blame because I'm telling you to not do it.

 

Oh, another tip, do not burn poisen ivy plants, the oil will vaporise and become airborne, you will then inhale it and your lungs will suffer horribly.

 

[Sniper82]

I'd rather stay away from bleach. Don't want to risk of having a reaction to it to it or something.

 

[Fausto]

Originally posted by: Roger
Oh, another tip, do not burn poisen ivy plants, the oil will vaporise and become airborne, you will then inhale it and your lungs will suffer horribly.

Yep. Just hose the stuff down with Roundup or similar. I patroll the yard at least once a week to keep the horrible crap from getting established. :|

 

[PanzerIV]

I've got that sh!t right now. I've had to get shots as a kid because I would get it so bad but it seems to have lessened in severity these days. I am paranoid as hell whenever I go in the woods because I am the outdoorsy type and I am always scared I will run up on some. It seems as if I can look at it and have it magically appear. I don't even know how I got it this time on my right wrist and left forearm. It's not bad but very itchy.
Wish I could tell you what I'm using for it but it was something my wife had around and I don't remember what it's called. Something like Ivy Block. Usually lasts at least a week or two for me.

 

[Turkey22]

I never ended up getting it, one time my step-father was having me help out with some yard work at some proprty my parents owned and after we're done he's like "dont rub your faces there was a bunch of poison ivy in there". I'm like wtf. So then we go home and he hands me some bleach and says go take a shower you should be fine. Luckily I was, but that kinda upset me for a while.

From what I heard bleach helps most before it sets in your skin, after that...

 

[notfred]

I've had poison oak about a million times and I hate it. If poison oak went extinct I'd throw a party.

 

[Ogg]

Technu does work and it works great......Im sorry to say I have recent experience

and you can go to your doctor and get a steriod shot if its get bad enough that you cant stand it.....

:beer:

 

[slag]

I'm also pretty allergic to it, but not to the point that I have to go to the hospital. I do go to my physician when I get it though and she prescribes me an anti-histamine and a an oral steroid to get rid of it.

I'm so allergic that I can get poison ivy off the handle of my lawn mower that was stored over the winter in my shed.

I mowed my lawn late last year, stored my mower, got it out this year, and promptly got poison ivy from the residual oil on the handle..

My dogs also roll around in it and I can get it from that. I've resorted to spraying it with weed killer everytime I see it now.