Poison Ivy on my face. What to do?!

I think my dog went and got into some poison ivy and then laid on my pillow. I now have poison ivy on my face and my eye is swelling! I went to the dr. for the PI on my body and then this broke out. I am miserable. I have cream and some prednisone, but how long until they kick in? Any home remedies that I can put on my face?

I look like I've been crying for days!

Thanks!
Tonya

[Ravenlost]

Go back to the doctor and get a shot. Works a lot faster than creams or Prednisone.

[kitaye]

Try witchhazel compresses. Soak a rag with witchhazel and lay it across your face. Leave it there until the rag where it touches the skin no longer feels cool. At that point the medicinal properties have been used up or evaporated.

It won't do much for the itching, though the coolness may feel good at the time, but it will help alleviate some of the swelling. Witchhazel as found in the drugstore is in an alcohol base so use it carefully around the mucous glands.

[booklover]

I had this last year. It was miserable, especially around the eyes.

I bought this over the counter remedy made by Cortaid. It's a two step process of cleaning, then putting on cream. It's pretty expensive (I paid $40 for the kit last year!) at around $25 at Wal-Mart, but I found relief in ONE DAY. By day 3 the poison ivy rash was almost gone. I HIGHLY recommend this stuff. Fortunately we have some left over for this year, as I'm extremely allergic to it.

[trixiwick]

I use Ivy-Dry, which is basically medicated rubbing alcohol. It reeks, and it dries out your skin something awful, but it should clear up your face in about two days.

You have my sincere sympathy. P.I. is straight from Hades.

[magnolia2017]

I usually go to Dr. and get a shot and a prednisone presription when it gets on my face but it's still a pretty miserable few days. In the last few years I've been using lye soap when I first notice the rash and it seems to dry it up in a few days. I haven't had it on my face in a few years, so don't know how it would work there. I do feel for you as I know how miserable you must be.

Maggie