Oozing, festering, sticky mess
I am currently losing yet another battle with a poison ivy infection. I never get small, negligible infections. It’s always a colossal infestation replete with multiple lakes of crusty, golden blisters. I look like a character from a Troma movie.
I’m curious if anyone knows of any prescription medicine that someone like myself can keep around for just these kinds of flare ups. I’ve done the whole decadron, prednisone, cortizone, benadryl, zanfel, kerosene, napalm thing several times, but it seems like there should be some bottle of magical pills I can turn to when I wake up all itchy after working in the yard. If I’ve learned anynthing from watching TV, it’s that people with herpes take Valtrex at the first sign of an outbreak and then they either run on the beach, play volleyball, or help a child learn to ride a bike.
Is there something similar for those allergic to urushiol oil?
OK… not a cure, but the best darn thing I’ve found for Poison Ivy relief is a hairdryer. I found a community of like-minded sufferers on the internet so this must be true. It won’t cure it but when you have that urge to itch, point a hot hairdryer at it. It “itches” it and dries out the oil. Not actually itching it keeps it from spreading and clears up faster. So they say.
As far as preventative (again not your question, but could reduce duration) there is this multi-step program (1st step is admitting you have a rash) called Ivy Off. Google it and you can order from several places on line. I haven’t gotten PI since — of course that could be because I have also now hired a lawn guy.
I feel your pain.
I don’t have a cure for you but, in case you don’t know about it… I always, always keep a bottle of Tecnu with me in my backpack and use it even if I look at poison ivy.
http://www.teclabsinc.com/pro_tecnu.html
It works great but, it is, sadly, a first step after touching the stuff. It removes the oil before it has time to work.
I am as allergic to poison ivy as I am prone to sunburn. My suggestion is long sleeves / pants when you know you might be around it. Sure, it’s hotter than h*ll when you are out there, but I’d rather that than scratching all summer.
btw- I’ve tried every OTC cleanser, preventative, whatever, none of them work for me. :(