# I am being driven insane **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 30, 2010, 10:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982 "2010-08-30T10:08:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/21 "2010-08-30T21:02:39Z")
Seriously, the zinc oxide diaper cream. You’ll thank me tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/22 "2010-08-30T21:38:55Z")
I’m stuck at home so I’ll see if the fiance can pick some up on his way home. If I tell him it’ll make him stop itching too, he’ll definitely get it. ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/23 "2010-08-30T22:23:55Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > You may not have an infestation or poison ivy. I had crazy random bubbly itches on my hands for a long, long time. Out of nowhere these itchy blisters would pop up and as I would scratch them they would pop and weep clear fluid all over. After the blister healed it would leave a red, dry, welty-looking patch of skin. I never saw a dermatologist for it because every time I would get ready to make an appointment they would pretty much dissapear. When I finally went to the dermatologist he explained that I have a form of stress related excema and prescribed a cream that has gotten rid of it completely. I use a tiny amount every day and it has gone away completely. I highly recommend you speak to a dermatologist if you can afford it. Hunh. I had a rash that was just like you describe. I went to my usual nurse practitioner about it and she pretty much shrugged at it. Eventually it went away. I didn’t know stress can cause eczema. I don’t normally have eczema but that was a more than usually stressful time in my life when I had the rash. If I ever get it again, I’ll mention this. Poison Ivy: Because Mother Nature doesn’t like us best. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/24 "2010-08-30T22:32:57Z")
Is it just me, or does this rash from the collection of photos look kinda like Homer Simpson? [http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm](http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/25 "2010-08-30T22:43:57Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Is it just me, or does this rash from the collection of photos look kinda like Homer Simpson? > > [http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm](http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm) Bizarrely enough, yes – if the idea has already been implanted in your head by an evil Doper. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/26 "2010-08-30T23:12:08Z")
Have you taken any antihistamines? Take an oral antihistamine fercryinoutloud. It really will help, take it from someone who had hives of unknown origin for 7 months… Benadryl (diphenhydramine) may make you drowsy, but especially if you take two before bed (50mg), that will help you sleep anyway, and also make you more comfortable to sleep. Chlorpheniramine is another one that’s only every 4 hours, and can also be doubled (8mg) for sleeping or if it doesn’t make you too sleepy during the day. Claritin or Clarinex can also be used - I’m not as familiar with those, but they are “less drowsy” to use during the day. When I had those crazy hives, I was prescribed 10mg of Clarinex for daytime and 20mg of hydroxyzine for sleeping. Helped oh, so much! Especially since nothing topical works for hives anyway. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2010, 11:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/27 "2010-08-30T23:59:23Z")
The only antihistamine i have is loratadine which says to only take 1 per day. I have been taking 1 per day most days for the last 2 weeks. Oddly enough it never occurred to me to double the dose even though I frequently double doses if the regular dose doesn’t help. The 1 pill per day has done absolutely squat for me. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/28 "2010-08-31T00:16:03Z")
You can also still take the diphenhydramine. If it makes you too drowsy, just take it at night and it should at least help you sleep. But yeah, I frequently google for maximum doses to see what meds I can dose above labeling safely. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/29 "2010-08-31T03:42:05Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > Is it just me, or does this rash from the collection of photos look kinda like Homer Simpson? > > [http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm](http://www.poison-ivy.org/rash/source/36.htm) That is just completely disgusting. And yes, it does. Ewwwwwww! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/30 "2010-08-31T04:09:09Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > You can also still take the diphenhydramine. If it makes you too drowsy, just take it at night and it should at least help you sleep. But yeah, I frequently google for maximum doses to see what meds I can dose above labeling safely. Luckily I don’t need to worry about drowsiness. I don’t have a job or kids and school for me doesn’t start for another week. And, I found a completely random box of Benedryl + cold stashed almost behind the microwave. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/31 "2010-08-31T12:39:19Z")
Hey, look at the bright side, at least you don’t have bedbugs. ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/32 "2010-08-31T13:38:59Z")
Oh my god that is such a bright side. I sleep naked and the idea of having bugs crawling on my body, or wearing pjs made me sad. ---
**Author:** ![moldybread](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ea924/32.png) [@moldybread](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moldybread)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/33 "2010-08-31T13:59:28Z")
I get it all the time. I use [Tecnu](http://www.teclabsinc.com/products.cfm?id=1F5604C8-9D05-4675-56129F6D83DF2417). > [@](#): > > Urushiol oil can also spread from contaminated clothing, shoes, gloves, tools and pets. Since the oil does not evaporate, it can remain on these items for months or even years at a time. Use Tecnu to remove the oil and avoid a rash from secondary contact. Since I started using it, I have never had it spread from the original location. I believe it was created to remove radiation from skin (it’s a soap) don’t qoute me on that though. Check out the link, there’s more info on how to use it on dogs and the like. Dang dogs rolling in the P.I. then coming in the house. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982/34 "2010-08-31T15:23:48Z")
> [@TruCelt](#): > > It’s ugly and goopy and you probably don’t want to put your best clothes on over it, but the relief is incredible! So, my thoughts on this. Yes it’s ugly and goopy. A good thing to keep in mind is that a little goes a very very long way. Oh and, it smells. Blech. I just put it on and the relief hasn’t been instantaneously incredible but I have felt a difference. I’m willing to give it more than a minute to work. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-being-driven-insane/551982.md?page=1)