Poison ivy spreading?

[Anonymous]

Anyone had this happen? It’s been 2.5 weeks since I’ve touched it. The rash started on my hands and arm, but I’ve been getting random itchy rashy spots across my body, under clothes where the plant wouldn’t have touched, over the last week. My derm (who originally diagnosed it) doesn’t have an opening until next week. Urgent care gave me oral steroids because I was in such bad shape.

The internet is saying you can have a systemic reaction but the original rash was super localized and not terrible, so I’m pretty confused. This happen to anyone else? How long did it take to clear up?

[Anonymous]

I've had a systemic rash, not from poison ivy though. Though it started with hives on the back of my head, it moved across my face, down my neck, went to my arms and torso, then down my legs. The arms and legs had a splotchy rash, torso had a thousand red dots, and when it moved from the back of my head to my face, I had large welts and swollen eyes. It took about 10 days to clear.

DH had to get steroids to clear up his poison ivy rash/boils when antibiotics didn't work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone had this happen? It’s been 2.5 weeks since I’ve touched it. The rash started on my hands and arm, but I’ve been getting random itchy rashy spots across my body, under clothes where the plant wouldn’t have touched, over the last week. My derm (who originally diagnosed it) doesn’t have an opening until next week. Urgent care gave me oral steroids because I was in such bad shape.

The internet is saying you can have a systemic reaction but the original rash was super localized and not terrible, so I’m pretty confused. This happen to anyone else? How long did it take to clear up?

Did you wash your clothes, do you have a dog? Poison ivy reaction is to the oil on the plant. Wearing the same work clothing can spread it. A dog getting it on his/her fur can do the same. Also scratching poison ivy reaction can spread it as it gets in you nails.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, I think if you touch the lesion and then don't wash your hands, you can spread it to other parts of your body.

[Anonymous]

It could also be shingles.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think if you touch the lesion and then don't wash your hands, you can spread it to other parts of your body.

I don't think this is true. It's caused by the oil from the plant, if there is a rash than the oil is already absorbed by the skin.

More likely the oil got on OP's hair, clothing, pet or hands and was spread after contacting the plant. It could either be later contact or just took longer to show up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Anyone had this happen? It’s been 2.5 weeks since I’ve touched it. The rash started on my hands and arm, but I’ve been getting random itchy rashy spots across my body, under clothes where the plant wouldn’t have touched, over the last week. My derm (who originally diagnosed it) doesn’t have an opening until next week. Urgent care gave me oral steroids because I was in such bad shape.

The internet is saying you can have a systemic reaction but the original rash was super localized and not terrible, so I’m pretty confused. This happen to anyone else? How long did it take to clear up?

Did you wash your clothes, do you have a dog? Poison ivy reaction is to the oil on the plant. Wearing the same work clothing can spread it. A dog getting it on his/her fur can do the same. Also scratching poison ivy reaction can spread it as it gets in you nails.

Yes washed everything--clothes, bedding, towels, and the dog, after I got home from the dermatologist and found the plant in my yard (I didn't originally know I touched it) but that was over a week afterwards. I guess I could have spread it around during that week, but I'm surprised that I'd still be getting rashes at the two week mark.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think if you touch the lesion and then don't wash your hands, you can spread it to other parts of your body.

This is correct.

[Anonymous]

You can also have an allergic reaction to poison Ivy. Maybe try taking or applying an anti histamine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone had this happen? It’s been 2.5 weeks since I’ve touched it. The rash started on my hands and arm, but I’ve been getting random itchy rashy spots across my body, under clothes where the plant wouldn’t have touched, over the last week. My derm (who originally diagnosed it) doesn’t have an opening until next week. Urgent care gave me oral steroids because I was in such bad shape.

The internet is saying you can have a systemic reaction but the original rash was super localized and not terrible, so I’m pretty confused. This happen to anyone else? How long did it take to clear up?

No.
It's urushiol oil that causes the reaction. It's like sap, clear but turns black when oxidized by the air.

The amount that would fit on the head of a push pin is enough to cause a rash in many people.

You are simply "re-exposing" yourself to the oils that got on your clothing or other objects. Clean everything with DETERGENT or ALCHOL as you must use those to get that sap off things.

Wash yourself in the shower after you clean/launder anything you might have exposed to the ivy or touched since then, and when washing in the shower use some laundry detergent to wash your skin with to remove any residual oils you re-contaminated yourself with during the cleaning.

PRO-TIP, in the future, learn to identify the plant (there is both ivy vines and a shrub/tree version) and when you are exposed to it, wash IMMEDIATELY with DETERGENT and you won't get a reaction. It takes a few hours for the stuff to stay on your skin to get a reaction. The larger the amount, the quicker the reaction and worse it is.

And NO, it DOES NOT get in the "system" and spread via the blood or anything. That's an old wives tale. Some doctors still repeat that nonsense. Doctors are mostly very ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Get thee to your dermatologist

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think if you touch the lesion and then don't wash your hands, you can spread it to other parts of your body.

That's a common repeated MYTH also that continues.

Once the oil is washed off, you can scratch away all you want. Might cause bacterial/fungal infection and scarring, but it won't spread.

The BEST method to relieve itching is to hold the affected area under the HOTTEST water you can stand, and rub it with your palm vigorously for about a minute. This will itch like crazy, but it deadens the nerves for several hours and you won't itch for about half a day doing that. Hot water also helps wash away any residual oil left there.

Benadryl does nothing.

Cortico-steroids such as Prednisone DO work, but are very harmful to your body.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Get thee to your dermatologist

Waste of money in this case.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah, I think if you touch the lesion and then don't wash your hands, you can spread it to other parts of your body.

This is correct.

LMAO. No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Get thee to your dermatologist

Waste of money in this case.

Not if you want the rx-strength steroid cream that will knock it out in a day.