Poison Ivy...........?

I finally, after 33 years, got poison ivy. I feel like I have a million misquito bites on my legs. I heard that after you get it once it comes back each time worse and worse. I think I may have it inside my ear. (Great, HUH?)

I bought some Caladry lotion..Is there anything better to use, or do to prevent it from spreading worse? I would appreciate any help or any kind of advise any one has to offer. Thank you very much in advance...

Poison Ivy...........?
First, it is the oil from the plant that spreads to different areas when you touch the skin then another place. Wash all clothing, and anything you have touched in hot water. Bedding, pillows, etc.



The best thing you can do is to take benedryl orally, and use a lotion that has an antihistamine in it. Calamine is an old stand by, by it is not very helpful for the itching. There are a number of products in the drug store for poison ivy, look for the ones that have antihistamine to reduce the itching. There used to be one called Rhuligel and Rhulihist, they may still be available, and they were good.



Here are some pics of poison ivy so you can recognize it.

http://images.google.com/images?q=pictur...



If you don't have benedryl or an antihistamine creme, and can't get any, the way to relieve itching is to put a wash cloth in hot (as hot as you can stand) water. Wring it out, and place it over the rash. It causes the skin to release histamines, and the itch will stop temporarily.



It will not spread if you have washed your entire body with a good soap and washed your clothes and bedding. No, you are not more allergic to it in the future. You just happened to get a good 'dose' of it, you must have come into direct contact with it.



Good luck!
Reply:I would go to a doctor, there is great medication for that. Be careful about taking a shower, which can spread it all over your body. Wrap plastic bags around infected area to take a shower safefly. Be careful, it spreads easy.
Reply:Buy some Tech-Nu.

This stuff works. I have used it and depending on how severe the rash was it might take a few days to heal but it stops the itch. There is an alternative product "Zanfel" that cost more but did not work as well for me.



http://www.tecnuextreme.com/

Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub is different from other products on the market in two ways.



First, it gets to the root of the problem by removing an ultra-potent and toxic substance called “urushiol” (ooh-roo-she-all) from the skin. Urushiol comes from the poison oak, poison ivy and sumac plants and attaches to the skin. It is the source of the poison ivy rash, irritation and spreading.



In addition, Tecnu Extreme contains an active ingredient to relieve itching fast!
Reply:i had it all over my leg once...i went to the doctor thought and they gave me some medication and cream that help it stop itching and spreading....stay away from water it speards it more. 420