Poison ivy spreading?

[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.

I am sorry OP, it is the worst. My DH is really allergic to it. I swear if he even walks by it the rash starts. His starts very quietly, almost looks like bug bites then over the course of a few weeks it is ridiculously bad. Has even gotten into his eyes days after original exposure. He has to do all sorts of steroids to knock it out.

Oddly enough, I am not allergic.

[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.

This happened to my husband. We were half convinced it was butt bugs, but I wasn’t reacting to anything at all. No reexposue. He went to the doctor and had to get steroids. He’s now the most paranoid/cautious person about poison ivy that I know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Wash your shoes, door knobs, yard utensils, your l

[Anonymous]

Oh no. Pp here. Not butt bugs, bed bugs!!

[Anonymous]

User error. Pp from above. Wash your laundry basket too. There’s oil left somewhere. When I shower I use cool not hot water and Tecnu cleanser to really get the oils off

[Anonymous]

Two ointments that work well are Zanfel and Tecnu. I've had good results with them, and they're worth every penny of their expensive price. Follow the instructions carefully.

To catch it early before it spreads, when you first get exposed to it, come home and wash your skin in very hot water with kitchen detergent to remove the oils from your skin. Often that's all you need to do if you catch it quickly.

Wash your clothes in very hot water.

If it spreads, wash your bed linens and clothing daily otherwise the oils will remain on the fabrics.

My DC has had to get steroid shots when it wasn't caught early. This hasn't happened since we discovered the above medications, which are really good.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op - last time I got it, I was on both oral and topical prescription cream and I was miserable. I finally got desperate and bought this ridiculously expensive stuff called zanfel. It is actually a scrub. I was so doubtful it would work. But after I used it I was significantly better. I could sleep for the first time. I had to use it twice a day for a few days, but it truly worked for me.

It’s almost $50 a tube. But I was so miserable it was worth it.

My DH has horrible reactions to poison ivy and he swears by this stuff. It doesn't stop him from reacting, but it helps. He usually needs a course of oral steroids when exposed and if the steroid course is not long enough he'll flare up again even worse. His whole body will erupt in a horrible, oozing rash. It can take him a couple of months to recover fully from an exposure.

I resisted the zanfel becuase it is both insanely expensive, but also has labeling that makes it look like it would be marketed on late night tv - but it does work

[Anonymous]

Another thing that seems effective is baby wipes, which I carry in the car for multiple uses. One use is when the dog brushes against poison ivy when we're out on a hike. Use the baby wipes over the fur where the dog brushed against the poison ivy before you get back in the car or in the house. So far I haven't gotten poison ivy from the dog so baby wipes seem to work to remove the oil from fur.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Another thing that seems effective is baby wipes, which I carry in the car for multiple uses. One use is when the dog brushes against poison ivy when we're out on a hike. Use the baby wipes over the fur where the dog brushed against the poison ivy before you get back in the car or in the house. So far I haven't gotten poison ivy from the dog so baby wipes seem to work to remove the oil from fur.

Yes this does work!

[Anonymous]

The oil reacts differently based on how much you touch and how thick your skin is. It can definitely take 10 days to break out in some areas. Last time I had it I noticed weird lines on my thighs a few days later and was so confused because I was wearing pants. Later realized it was the exact spot I rested my hands when I was using the bathroom... obviously went pee before I realized oil was on my wrist. That oil is hella tricky.

[Anonymous]

It truly is awful! NP here but my DH had to go in today to get a shot - it can be so bad. I wish there was a something you could do ahead of time to prevent it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It truly is awful! NP here but my DH had to go in today to get a shot - it can be so bad. I wish there was a something you could do ahead of time to prevent it!

Wash properly after exposure. It takes several hours, to a day or more in some people or with low exposure amounts, before it causes a reaction.

Wash it off soon enough and no rash.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It truly is awful! NP here but my DH had to go in today to get a shot - it can be so bad. I wish there was a something you could do ahead of time to prevent it!

Wash properly after exposure. It takes several hours, to a day or more in some people or with low exposure amounts, before it causes a reaction.

Wash it off soon enough and no rash.

I agree with this. We keep baby wipes in the car and the downstairs bathroom to do a quick wipe any time you might have come in contact.

[Anonymous]

This is currently my situation - dermatologist said parts are original poison ivy (weeped and then scabbed over) but the rash that's contenting to spread/flare up could be treated by an antiviral?

[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?

Yes I had a secondary allergic reaction. Took a month to clear but only bc I put off going to a doctor. Go back to urgent care