favorite poison ivy remedies?

[ajaxlucy]

I did it again. Knowing full well what poison ivy looks like and how allergic I am, I managed to get into it. Now it's all over both arms, hands, and more - swelling, pain, giant blisters. I have rubbing alcohol and Tecnu, but guess didn't use them in time. Anyone have suggestions for making this misery end sooner? (I'm still waiting for the triage nurse to call me back so I can get steroids).

[CraftyDiva]

I've heard that the Boy Scouts use Fels Naptha soap and it works. I suppose anything that would dry out the skin would as well. Also heard baking soda baths work, I'd go with the Scouts.

[longshadowfarms]

PLEASE don't let anyone tell you to use bleach! That can be rather dangerous if it gets into the open sores. Ask the nurse if they can also get you something topical for the itching. I've used something called betamethasone dipropionate. It works TONS better than anything you can get over the counter. It is a gel-like substance. Nothing over the counter works very well other than hydrocortisone and even that doesn't work that great.

[Alice In TX/MO]

Absolutely get some homemade soap, the old fashioned kind. Wash several times, gently, but using lots of soap suds. It's the only thing I know that will cut the sap and get it off.

[desnri]

I get poison ivy almost every year. Up until this year, I haven't found too much that helped enough. But, I started using apple cider vinegar and it really works. It went away in about half the time. Use half apple cider vinegar with half water and spray on or douse your skin. Use the natural organic apple cider vinegar, it has natural enzymes.

[saraohio]

Soap only works if you wash witin an hour of exposure.

Once you have it, temproary releif can be had by pouring very hot water over the rash. It will itch like mad for a few seconds, but the itching will go away for about a n hour.

[The Paw]

Although many people swear by solutions that dry out the blisters (bleach, gas, kerosene, whatever) the science doesn't support them. I got it real bad last year and spent hours researching it on the web.

Basically, if you have washed thoroughly enough to remove all the oil/sap, it just has to run its course. The steroids may shorten the healing time a little, but personally I would save that for a drastic situation (eyes swelled shut, sore on inside of mouth, etc.).

For relief of itching, very hot baths or showers will dissipate the histamines and give 4 or more hours of relief. Water won't spread it if you have washed thoroughly already.

[Honey Berry]

Benedryl provides great itch relief for me. My grandma told me to put a salt solution on it, but I didn't find it to work that well.

[gypsymama]

Sorry you have to go this...again! I know what it's like...not fun.

For future reference, use the Technu before going outside and wash off after coming inside. I make sure that I wash off at least every 2 hours and reapply the Technu before going out again if you know you will be out for a long time. One it gets into your system, there isn't much you can go.

For the itches I found tea tree oil works really well. You can also take oatmeal baths that are very soothing.

[foxtrapper]

Jewel weed. And what it does for stinging nettles, ah, bliss!

[Ravenlost]

I second the Jewelweed. And if that's not available, liquid white shoe polish helps. Of course, you end up looking pretty strange!

[blue gecko]

Burt's Bees has a Poison Ivy soap that contains Jewelweed. It works very well. B

[triana1326]

I also vote for Jewelweed and oatmeal baths. Crushed plantain leaves also work to take the itch out. Baking soda pastes are supposed to work, not much luck with them on my part, but YMMV...try not to get the steroids unless it's REALLY bad.

[Peacock]

My DH has been very pleased with the Burt's Bees soap. He says it also cleared up some dry flaky patches on his scalp (psoriasis? eczema? don't know.) Burt's Bees PI soap has jewelweed and pine tar in it. I don't know which does the job, but I got him some pine tar soap today, which is a little cheaper. We'll give it a shot.

I've been telling him about jewelweed for years -- he never believed me. Now that we're at a property that has TONS of PI, he's realized what a big mistake he made ripping it all out when he was clearing the overgrown brush. Now he's just praying to find a little plant somewhere he can nurture.

[Paula]

Google Zanfel. It's a sort of gritty wash that has something in that binds with the PI oils. They use it in alot of ER's.
I found out about it last year when I got PI on one side of my face. I had to go to work the next day and was desperate to find something to get rid of it. I found out about Zanfel, found a pharmacy that carried it (I think most carry it now) and sent dh to get some. It absolutely works. The PI on my face never even became visable. The little blisters that were starting to form went away in a couple of days.
It's expensive - thirty something dollars for a little tube - but it's worth it.
It also takes the itch away immediately. When you start itching again you wash the area with it again. It takes a few washings to totally get rid of all the PI oils.
You don't have to use as much as they tell you to on the tube. Just enough to stop the itch. It's much cheaper that way.

[Natalie11]

For what this info is worth to you, and any who read it.

From most homeopathic stores you can find this product:

Company: Natra-Bio
Product: Poison Ivy/Poison Oak Relief


It contains a mild amount of Poison Ivy in the solution, it comes in chewable pill and liquid dropper form. My father swears by the pills, we swear by the drops.

It builds an immunity to the ivy in your blood system. It takes a couple days to really put your internal system on full battle mode, but it will stop the ivy on your skin from spreading very quickly. The itching and pain will need a minor remedy from those posts above for a few days.

We take this whenever we know we will be working anywhere near the nasty plants. After taking the tincture for a couple days, you could wipe the leaves on your body and never have the rashes again. It takes a mainanance dose to keep it active in your blood, but a little goes a long way.

My 2 cents....

[Jeslik]

I'm currently battling my own case of P.I. Thankfully its not bad, but it is widespread. I was using the brushtrimmer, and walked through the atomized particles. I'm using Gold Bond anti itch cream and basically ignoring it (but again, its a mild case).

Make sure that you have washed all of the clothes you were wearing, (don't forget your shoes!) The oil will stay "active" forever, until its washed out. If you haven't washed them yet, make sure you wear gloves when you throw them in the washer, and then wash teh gloves too. You might also wipe down any tools with alcohol or soap and water.

If it doesn't cause problems for you (such as falling asleep at work :P) I'd recommend benedryl to control the itching...

Good luck, and don't scratch!

[a1cowmilker]

I have used full strength lavender oil and it helps stop the itching. But, the case was not severe so I don't know if it would work or not. lavender really workd for me on mesquito bites and chiggers as well. But I have to admit, I love that stuff.
Lavender oil to me is what windex was to the father in _my big fat greek wedding_

[tallpines]

What part of the JewelWeed is used?
And---How is it used?

[brownthumb]

Wash thoroughly in luke warm water with Ivory soap. Do not use any soap with oils such as Dove, Safeguard etc.

Apply a new non-prescription remedy called Zanfel. You can buy it at any drugstore chain like Walgreen or RiteAid. Follow the directions exactly. You will get immediate relief. It worked for us. The only problem is that Zanfel is expensive. It costs about $30-40 for a small tube.