Poison ivy spreading?

[Anonymous]

Two things are true:

1. If the oil is anywhere you touched at original exposure (on your steering wheel, your car seat, etc if you came home with that- on things you touched at home) - you can and will expose new skin to the urushiol and WILL spread it.

2. Some people - like me - just don't get better. My poison oak spread and spread and just kept getting worse - a hyper response. After four full weeks and every other usual intervention, my doc told me it was time for prednisone. It worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

True, but unhealthy. The health effects of cortico-steroids are worse than the rash that lasts a few days. OP needs to clean up and stop re-exposing herself to the toxin.

The oral stuff really messes up your brain, I don't think topicals are a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

Are you sure that's poison ivy and not some other irritant?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, for future reference, after you do any yard work shower using a washcloth and really scrub. The friction is important to get the oil off your skin. I also don't wear a watch or rings anymore when I do yard work, because oil would get trapped under there and then I would have new spots appearing. My guess is you still have some on a shoe or some other household item you are still making contact with. And, I am sorry, I find it miserable, and the steroids are also miserable for me.

It's oil so you need strong degreasing soap/detergent. Just scrubbing will spread it, not remove it.

[Anonymous]

Happens to me every single time I get poison ivy. It takes weeks to clear up even with oral steroids. Sorry.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

OP here. This is exactly what is happening to me, except some of the patches are quite large (although it is possible those were original areas of exposure via clothes or my towel). They do seem to improve over time but then new ones pop up elsewhere. However it's so bizarre that I have started to wonder whether it's not PI anymore--I've checked thoroughly for bedbugs and am going to ask the doctor to check for scabies. Otherwise I cannot think of any new allergens I've been exposed to lately. But good to know that this seems to happen to other people. I'm going to be hypervigilant about PI in the future.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

OP here. This is exactly what is happening to me, except some of the patches are quite large (although it is possible those were original areas of exposure via clothes or my towel). They do seem to improve over time but then new ones pop up elsewhere. However it's so bizarre that I have started to wonder whether it's not PI anymore--I've checked thoroughly for bedbugs and am going to ask the doctor to check for scabies. Otherwise I cannot think of any new allergens I've been exposed to lately. But good to know that this seems to happen to other people. I'm going to be hypervigilant about PI in the future.

I wrote the PP. When this happens to me, it's definitely new incidences of the PI rash. I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it any more than deciding it's strange but also how my body works. If you figure it out, OP, report back!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

True, but unhealthy. The health effects of cortico-steroids are worse than the rash that lasts a few days. OP needs to clean up and stop re-exposing herself to the toxin.

The oral stuff really messes up your brain, I don't think topicals are a big deal.

The absorbed dosages are much lower with topical yes. Definitely better going that route if one must use them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

OP here. This is exactly what is happening to me, except some of the patches are quite large (although it is possible those were original areas of exposure via clothes or my towel). They do seem to improve over time but then new ones pop up elsewhere. However it's so bizarre that I have started to wonder whether it's not PI anymore--I've checked thoroughly for bedbugs and am going to ask the doctor to check for scabies. Otherwise I cannot think of any new allergens I've been exposed to lately. But good to know that this seems to happen to other people. I'm going to be hypervigilant about PI in the future.

I wrote the PP. When this happens to me, it's definitely new incidences of the PI rash. I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it any more than deciding it's strange but also how my body works. If you figure it out, OP, report back!

You are re-exposing yourself to the oils. It's that simple.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Try poison ivy soap. It works. Ace hardware sells it or online.

Gimmick. Just use laundry detergent, as it works much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

OP here. This is exactly what is happening to me, except some of the patches are quite large (although it is possible those were original areas of exposure via clothes or my towel). They do seem to improve over time but then new ones pop up elsewhere. However it's so bizarre that I have started to wonder whether it's not PI anymore--I've checked thoroughly for bedbugs and am going to ask the doctor to check for scabies. Otherwise I cannot think of any new allergens I've been exposed to lately. But good to know that this seems to happen to other people. I'm going to be hypervigilant about PI in the future.

I wrote the PP. When this happens to me, it's definitely new incidences of the PI rash. I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it any more than deciding it's strange but also how my body works. If you figure it out, OP, report back!

OP here. My doctor is still confident that it is PI. It probably spread from continued contact with the oil, and apparently the skin responds differently on different parts of the body so it can take several weeks for some areas to react. What an awful plant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, I get a small exposure to poison ivy once or twice a year, it this exact type of spreading regularly happens for me. It's not the clothes or shoes - my work clothes are isolated and I'm not in contact with them regularly.

What happens for me is it will start with a small patch of rash (usually on my wrist, the spot between protection from gloves and a shirt). Over the next two weeks, new small patches pop up - on my thigh, on a different part of my arm, etc. They never turn into a full systemic reaction - just small itchy areas.

I've accepted that this is how my body "does" poison ivy even though it doesn't make a lot of sense given the science, etc.

OP here. This is exactly what is happening to me, except some of the patches are quite large (although it is possible those were original areas of exposure via clothes or my towel). They do seem to improve over time but then new ones pop up elsewhere. However it's so bizarre that I have started to wonder whether it's not PI anymore--I've checked thoroughly for bedbugs and am going to ask the doctor to check for scabies. Otherwise I cannot think of any new allergens I've been exposed to lately. But good to know that this seems to happen to other people. I'm going to be hypervigilant about PI in the future.

I wrote the PP. When this happens to me, it's definitely new incidences of the PI rash. I haven't been able to get to the bottom of it any more than deciding it's strange but also how my body works. If you figure it out, OP, report back!

OP here. My doctor is still confident that it is PI. It probably spread from continued contact with the oil, and apparently the skin responds differently on different parts of the body so it can take several weeks for some areas to react. What an awful plant.

Yeah thinner skin areas tend to react sooner or with a lower exposure dose.

It's a crazy adaptation for a plant to have, as it doesn't stop a creature from damaging or eating the plant even if they are adverse to its toxins, but has a delayed "revenge" sorta toxin.

Most herbivore animals love eating poison ivy leaves though, as they are quite tender, and birds love the berries. Many humans can even eat them, and not have a reaction, but that doesn't guarantee they won't react to the toxin at some point. It's an interesting chemical.

[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?

Sounds like scabies.

[Anonymous]

Be careful bc the oil can stay on clothing even after you wash it. I think that's what happened to me, even though it was months after the clothing that touches the oil had been worn. I think you're supposed to wash in hot water -- don't know if that would help or not. Also, you really have to scrub it off of your hands, so if you didn't do that, it could have spread that way.

As for remedies, I got the shot and some anti-itch Rx, but nothing really seemed to help much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try poison ivy soap. It works. Ace hardware sells it or online.

Gimmick. Just use laundry detergent, as it works much better.

Yes! Highly recommend Fels Naptha bar soap.