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

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 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 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.

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!

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 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!

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 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

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.