Itching!!

[pugmu71]

The dreaded pi!!!
I finally got my yearly dose of poison ivy!! This stuff apparently grows rampantly in the woods behind our house. My case this year (yes I do seem to do this every year!!) seems worse than usual. I went to my doc and she gave me a cream to help with itching. I know you can take steroids but I'm not a big medicine taker. I've had people tell me to put straight bleach on the break outs. That sounds pretty radical to me, so I'm just wondering if any of you have any suggestions for me. Have to go scratch!!

[lhall]

You could also try a collodial oatmeal bath such as Aveno.

Leigh

[lorilei]

I've heard that tea tree oil can work wonders on poison oak and poison ivy. It relieves the itching and can help to dry up the rash nearly overnight...

Aloe Vera will also help with healing.

[JenniferJJ]

Take the steroids and put yourself out of your misery. I got my second case of poison ivy 10 days ago (the first case was last year - hope it's not going to be an annual thing). I put off going to the doctor because I'm treating another infection and 1)didn't want to take time out of work going to another doctor and 2)didn't want to take any more pills in addition to the ones I'm taking for my other infection. Well, I was finally in so much misery that I didn't care. I got a shot at the doctor (first time I've ever asked for a shot - I was THAT miserable). I got the steroids, too. Now I have 11 pills/day to take (5 for my other infection) and they all have to be taken at certain times with food. It's worth it though - it's clearing up when the creams and soaps did not.

I'm sorry to hear about your poison ivy. I know first hand how miserable it can be. Remember to wash everything (clothes, towels, sheets) that were exposed to the oils that oozed out of your skin. If you don't, the next time that you touch those things, the oils can re-affect your skin.

[aggie94]

There was a fairly recent thread about poison ivy remedies:

http://community.cookinglight.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=41575&highlight=poison

My DH stills swears by Tecnu.

[Leisa M]

Originally posted by lorilei
I've heard that tea tree oil can work wonders on poison oak and poison ivy. It relieves the itching and can help to dry up the rash nearly overnight...

Aloe Vera will also help with healing.

Tee Tree Oil does work on poison ivy. You can buy the oil OTC, but if you want really pure/good oil, PM me and I will tell you about Melaleuca. Their oil is tested to make sure of it's strength and quality.

[pugmu71]

Itch update - thanks all for your input. The dreaded pi hasn't gone away yet by any means, but either I'm adjusting to it or it's slowly starting to get better. I had a tennis match today and for some reason, played out of my mind!! I told my partner maybe I should always have poison ivy when we play. We hope to make the state championship in a couple of weeks so maybe I should hope for the pi to hang on!! Just kidding!!

[wallycat]

You can try Noxema face cream.
They use menthol at the allergist's office when you get scratch tests :D