PING: People who know about Poison Ivy

[oliegirl]

My son was exposed to Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac at some point over the past few weeks...we aren't sure exactly when, but he started breaking out with the rash on Thursday 1/3, so it's been almost 2 weeks. He's still breaking out, we'll get one patch under control and gone, and then 2 or 3 more will pop up. I took him to the doctor last Thursday, they said it was just a "bad case" and there wasn't anything else they could do.

It started on his back/chest and then spread up to his face/ears/neck. Now it's going back to his chest and back. He's missed 3 days of school because they won't let a child with an "active and spreading rash" attend, even though I have a note from the dr. saying that it's not contagious.

Does anyone know of any "non-traditional" ways to treat poison ivy? I'm at my wits end with trying to get it under control...we are using Aveeno anti-itch cream and Atarax medication orally, it's helping the symptoms and keeping him from scratching so much, but it's still spreading like crazy.

Anyone? Help would be really appreciated...

[Dr. Sak]

I got a real bad case of it last summer and used stuff called Ivy Dry to clear it up. It stops the itch and dries it up fast. Only downside is that the skin becomes so dry that you have to use lotion for a few weeks after to get it back to normal.

[QuikSand]

If it's really serious, a doctor can prescribe a short does of steroid like prednisone, which usually can wipe it out.

[Tiphnie]

I always get poison oak really bad if I'm near it, especially as a kid. Some thing I have used in the past are oatmeal baths http://babyparenting.about.com/cs/healthissues/a/oatmealbath.htm you can buy packets at most drugstores. Calamine lotion works as well.

I'm sure you already know but make sure he isn't itching as that can help spread it, once my daughter had it all over her tummy and legs and I had to put footsie pajamas on her and then take mittens and put them over her hands to she couldn't itch. I felt horrible but it was the only way I could get her to stop the itching (I think she was maybe 3 at the time).

[stevew]

Poison Ivy 2 was better. Alyssa Milano nekkid> Drew Barrymore using a body double.

[Butter]

If it's really serious, a doctor can prescribe a short does of steroid like prednisone, which usually can wipe it out.

I was also wondering if the doctor had done this yet? I got a bad case of something a couple years ago that was spreading across my side, and the steroid shot knocked it out in very short order.

[cartman]

Check out the products from Tecnu.

http://www.teclabsinc.com/

When I got into some poison oak a few years back, this stuff was awesome.

[Swaggs]

If it is making him miserable, you should probably go to his pediatrician and get a steroid shot. It will quickly clear it up.

I might suggest that you wash your dog, as well. A lot of times, a dog can get into a patch of poison ivy and retain the oil on its fur. So, when you or your son pet the dog or come into contact with it, it could be spreading it.

[Toddzilla]

Check out the products from Tecnu.

http://www.teclabsinc.com/

When I got into some poison oak a few years back, this stuff was awesome.+1000
Tecnu rocks

[MikeVic]

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

[larrymcg421]

Poison Ivy 2 was better. Alyssa Milano nekkid> Drew Barrymore using a body double.

I'll upt he ante with Poison Ivy 3.

Jamie Pressley > Alyssa Milano > Drew Barrymore using a body double

[Lorena]

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

Tecnu, apply directly to the penis.

Does your penis itch Mike?

[MikeVic]

Does your penis itch Mike?

Rough time in jail.

[DaddyTorgo]

I'll upt he ante with Poison Ivy 3.

Jamie Pressley > Alyssa Milano > Drew Barrymore using a body double

+1

plus the plot of "3" was significantly more...kinky. and there was much much more nudity

[JPhillips]

I was in similar shape last fall. After trying to solve the problem for a couple of weeks I finally went to the doctor to get the steroids. Within a couple of days the itching stopped and by the end of the pills I was ivy free.

[General Mike]

Check out the products from Tecnu.

http://www.teclabsinc.com/

When I got into some poison oak a few years back, this stuff was awesome.

I'm pretty sure you're not supposed to use Tecnu on people under 12.

[cuervo72]

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff181/PalmTrees450/timm_ivy-harley.jpg

[oliegirl]

Thanks everyone, I'm getting ready to head out and go back to the dr to see if we can get him on a stronger medication.

[Dr. Sak]

Does your penis itch Mike?

He must have rubbed it on his dogs

[General Mike]

dola,

"Do the blisters cause the rash to spread?
No, the blisters are the body’s natural allergic reaction to poison ivy, oak and sumac plants. If the blisters break and ooze, the fluid does not contain the oil that causes spreading. Oil from the original contact with poison oak and poison ivy will continue spreading (unless removed) for the first 1 or two days. If new areas of rash appear after three days, you are most likely getting re-exposed to the plant oil from contaminated clothing, tools or even your cat or dog."

[chesapeake]

I get hit by poison ivy a lot, so I feel your son's pain. The worst times I've had it I have been prescribed prednisone, so you may want to ask your doctor about it. Cold baths and showers seem to help calm the itching for a time, but for a kid it may be that the treatment is worse than the problem.

Very hot water will cause the histhamines in your body to have a massive reaction, and in a few seconds they exhaust themselves and the itching stops. It is a very weird feeling -- sort of like that satisfying sensation you get when you scratch a really bad mosquito bite, but at several times the intensity. But my dermatologist told me that was bad so I stopped. I wouldn't try that until talking with the doctor first.