UPDATED:  After two weeks and Erik talking to a colleague who routinely visits Soldiers Delight as well as other locations, my attack was finally correctly identified as chigger bites.  After two weeks some are still red, swollen and itch.  The enzyme pushed into a victim’s bloodstream frequently makes them even a little ill.  My older sister living in Michigan reported a couple days ago that an infestation along the lake edge where they live caused cutting back of some of the growth that these animals live in and the larvae (which are the ones that bite), were dumped into the lake water where swimmers were literally covered and required doctor’s care.  These are NOT a pretty sight and take at minimum of two weeks of endurance or longer. 

Last weekend Erik and I hiked for two days in an area here that is being restored to its natural habitat.  While it is a park reserve, very view visitors actually visit.  I was picking up specimens so was doing a LOT of shallow digging after sitting down, pushing things aside, lifting logs etc.  Erik was very careful and just searched under rocks at the trail edge while I went a bit further in.

I noticed a funny kind of rash on my arm the first day, took two benadryl immediately and continued on that day and the next. 

On Monday I had a couple places I thought were insect bites.  Then a few more blossomed.  But they looked odd, more like chickenpox pustules but I still thought they were just bites that my body wasn’t tolerating well.  By Wednesday though I was getting alarmed because they just kept popping out everywhere…not in actual clusters but everywhere from my ankles, legs, knees, back, stomach etc.  So I thought maybe I really DID have chickenpox again since I knew they couldn’t be bites. 

Finally, yesterday I googled better descriptions and found sites announcing poison ivy, oak and all the like kinds.  Since I’ve never had this before (and always dig and hike wooded areas) I was dumbfounded. 

We picked up a BUNCH of stuff at the pharmacy such as washes, creams, sprays and even blocks for the next time. 

I’d like to know if anyone else here is more familiar with this (at my age you’d think I was), and what I can expect, remedies that you’ve noticed work better than others, how long this will go on until eruptions stop happening….

ANYTHING PLEASE!!!

I use a product called ivy dry and it is acceptable relief from the itching and dries it out pretty quick.

Treatment of Poison Ivy
The most common sites on the body for poison ivy are exposed areas on the arms, legs, and face. The intensity of the rash varies depending on the sensitivity of the person, and the amount and extent of exposure.

*Washing the skin with soap and water inactivates and removes the resin. Washing is most effective if it is done within 15 minutes of exposure.
*Cold, wet compresses are effective in the blistering stage. They should be used for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day for the first 3 days.

*Steroid creams or ointments are helpful to reduce redness and itching. Hydrocortisone can be used on the face, but is usually not strong enough for more than mild cases on the arms or legs. Typically, a prescription strength steroid is needed for these areas.

*Oral steroids are used for severe cases of poison ivy but must be used for at least a week.

*Short, cool tub baths with colloidal oatmeal (Aveeno) can be soothing and help control inflammation.

*Calamine lotion helps control itching but used too long can cause excessive drying of the skin and more inflammation.

*Antihistamines help reduce itching and the older types such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) help encourage sleep.

*Any exposure to the eyes or eyelids or the development of a honey-colored crust should be evaluated by a health care provider.
source

I occasionally have it so bad I have to go to my Dr. for some high quality cream to knock it out since I am highly allergic to it. last time he gave me some Desoximetasone cream USP, 0.25% to clear it up.

I’ve heard people rave about a product called Tecnu.  I have no personal experience with it though.

Nothing I have ever tired worked.  I have heard that Zanfel works miracles for the stuff, but it is way to expensive for me.  Like $30 something for 1 ounce, but if it works it might be worth it.

Off course the best thing is to stay away from poison oak/ivy.  But we use iverest around here.  Luckily we haven’t used it much lately because my son has finally learned what ivy/oak looks like to stay away from.  That and it’s a pain in the but to get him away from the video games long enough for him to go outside.  Which is a another thread altogether

Amazingly, I’ve never been affected by urushiol oils before and I’ve picked up all kinds of wood pieces in the woods for carving, and have picked up by digging specimens and roots all my life.  So, l didn’t pay even one whit of attention to what I sat in last weekend.  I can tell you I brought a lot of oak and pine bark and pieces home for te comfort of particular critters and whether or not these might carry urushiol I have no idea since they are too badly degraded to even identify (I’m leaning towards soft pine though).

I did get the Ivarest but haven’t used it yet.  I’ve been using Walgreens dual action formula poison ivy wash and I’m finding it VERY effective, along with Zytrel Ivy-Dry Super (a spray you shake up first). 

I also bought Ivy-Dry Defense protection (allergy guard) for next weekend because I’m going out again. 

I do confess that I spent a few days miserable because I had no idea what I had, and in reality, most other folks would look and say I barely have anything at all even though it’s spaced all over.  I consider myself VERY fortunate but I don’t want to tempt fate again. 

Thanks to ALL of you for these suggestions!  I’m going to open the Ivarest now!

I do have to wonder what Nancy’s homeopathic remedy for this would be..

.. oh, wait, that’s right.. water that’s been shown a picture of poison ivy and been told it’s a nasty plant.

Robin Bobcat - 26 July 2008 01:51 AM

I do have to wonder what Nancy’s homeopathic remedy for this would be..

.. oh, wait, that’s right.. water that’s been shown a picture of poison ivy and been told it’s a nasty plant.

A friend got an extremely nasty case last year and the doctor prescribed prednisode, and it worked immediately.  I don’t reccomend this drug for long term use, but it works by suppressing the immune system (well, duh that’s why you don’t take it too much) so that your body doesn’t go attacking the offender (the ivy or oak outbreak) and therefore your symptoms disappear quickly.

I’m immune to poison ivy myself, so I don’t really have any personal experience on what works and what doesn’t.  Sometimes repeated or heavy exposure can sensitize a person to it, though, even if they were immune to it at first.  That could be what happened to you.

I would not recommend the old traditional treatment of making the patient eat lots of poison ivy, as that sometimes tends to have the unfortunate side effect of killing the patient.  There are all sorts of creams and ointments that you can find with just a little looking around that should do some good; just how much good, I’ll leave for other people with experience to tell you.

Remember that it’s an oil that these plants make that causes the reaction, and that you can get the oil secondhand (so to speak, since I have never seen a poison ivy vine with hands).  Any clothing you wore could be covered in the oil and still cause you lots of itchiness later on if you don’t wash it all thoroughly.

I normally just scratch myself red until I think I’ve gone too far, then just put ordinary hand lotion on it and attempt to use will power not to scratch again.

Not the best method… or wise, or effective…. but why mess with tradition.

So far the first areas have or are drying up.  It’s been a week now and I figured I was near the end of it.  Then yesterday a new patch cropped up.  It’s beginning to make me feel a bit ill.  It’s still not as bad as what I’ve seen on other people though who would scoff at my whimpiness. 

Acci, you are right though, to date I’ve been very lucky to have NOT had a problem before now.  I guess if you play with fire long enough you’re bound to get burned.

I’ve always been a big fan of hydrocortisone cream. It brings down the swelling and kills the itch almost immediately.