I have a couple of patches of poison ivy rash( I used to be immune, which is why I didn’t take proper precautions and wore shorts in the woods). My wife, whose skin has always been VERY REACTIVE to insect bites has some that are really annoying her.
We find Benadryl, or the generic diphenhydramine to be exact, effective but it makes us both zombies, so it can only be taken at bedtime.
We also use a topical treatment calledCaladryl, which is an antihistamine-and- calamine product, but it’s effectiveness is short-lived.
Is ther a better topical OTC product available? Does OTC-strength Claritin or its generic equivalent work on the histamines in poison ivy and insect bites? Is there any other OTC pill that works without zonking one out?
As soon after contamination as possible, wash (and launder clothing) with a soap additive like Tecnu™ by Oak-N-Ivy. This removes the irritating oils of the plant from skin and clothing, so the reaction might not be as bad in the first place, and it ends any risk of recontamination.
It REALLY removes oils on skin, though, so some moituriser may be in order afterwards.
Some people are extremely reactive/allergic to the poison ivy/sumac/oak plants and you might need to visit a doctor.
I’m just getting over an allergic reaction to bug bites, too. What helped me was lots of hydrocortisone and a Benedryl Itch Relief stick. I didn’t take Benedryl in pill form because I didn’t know if it would interact with any of my current medications.
I also recommend an Aveeno oatmeal bath. I remember taking one when I was little to help the itching from chicken pox.
This is not so much for the ivy problem but for insect stings (wasp, yellow jackets, etc.) put ammonia directly on it ASAP. It acts as a counter agent to the poision. This from years of surveying in Florida.
Benadryl is probably the most effective antihistamine, but you would get some benefit from a non-sedating, second generation one.
Aveeno, calamine lotion, Benadryl cream, Caladryl, After Bite (?ammonia) have their place for mild rashes/stings. Hydrocortisone cream is a weak steroid cream but is useful for minor symptoms. ICES, a reputable research institute, feels hydrocortisone cream is too weak for moderate symptoms.
A short course of prednisone, not OTC, is effective for more severe symptoms.
BTDT, while you are checking out old threads, check mine from a few months ago.
Also for sure sorth some of your time, read the Poison Ivy, oak, and sumac information center
I found the suggestions of a hot shower to be a great help just before bed.
I haven’t had to use their poison ivy soap, but I’ve been exceptionally impressed with Burt’s Bees products for other semi-medicinal uses. I know they make a poison ivy soap and it will be the first thing I tried if my husband and I ever get poison ivy again.
You can get it online via lots of places, but you’d probably want it faster. Their website has a list of retailers. I find you need to go to Whole Foods for their whole product line. Places like Borders and small gift shops may sell the gift sets, but that’s mostly pampering stuff and doesn’t have their other products.
I get poison ivy something fierce, and have had t go to the doc to get prescriptions on multiple occasions. (In the throat one time was fun.)
One day I found the Tecnu stuff in the pharmacy…it’s better than friggin’ prescription medicine, I shit you not! I’ve never since had a problem with poison ivy.
For a few bites or limited rashes, Benedryl cream is great. I always carry it around with me for bug bites, since it will counteract most of the allergic reaction only in the area the cream is added to. It also works well on small patches of poison ivy rash.
However, if you spread the cream on large parts of your body, it is absorbed and can be worse than just taking a pill.
I know your pain. I am still recovering from poison ivy from a few weeks ago. Gah.
It was my understanding that the wash products like Tecnu only worked if used right after the exposure. Is that not right?
I used Cala-gel and IvyDry depending on my mood at the time. Both worked moderately well for me. Once I added oral antihistamines, life was better. Not good, mind you, but better.
Yes, Tecnu and similar sopa/cleanser products are meant to cleanse the person, tools, clothes, etc… as soon after contamination as possible in order to prevent any further spread of contamination. Sometimes, using those washes effectively ends the problem, other times it requires that you use some treatment for the actual infected areas.
But, if you don’t want to reaggrevate the condition a week later, wash those tools and clothes and this type of product!
One Summer, I was brush hogging and clearing some land when I had a minor accident involving some vines. I sustained a couple of very deep cuts in my leg. I didn’t go to the doctor right away, but I did go home to clean up the wounds. Afterwards, I washed up everything with Tecnu just because I do that whenever clearing land.
A few days later and my leg wounds were incredibly gross looking, hurt like hell, and I was feeling like I had the flu or something. So, I finally wnet to the doctor. Turns out that the vines which cut me were poison ivy/sumac/oak or something similar and I had blood poisoning. I was prescribed six weeks of steroids, antibiotics, and two different antihistamines, plus a topical ointment. Doc bitched me out, too, for not getting proper medical care in the first place. This time, he was justified.
Lessson? Don’t take poison-whatever plant infections lightly. If your reaction is severe, see a medical professional and don’t just keep trying OTC remedies, no matter how well they’ve worked for others.
Despite the fact that the manufacturer makes no claim about its efficacy once you already have a rash, I find that a couple of applications of Tecnu to the afflicted area(s) per day helps a great deal in reducing the severity and itchiness of an existing rash.
Can you imagine just how bad your reaction would have been had you not washed with Tecnu? Not only would you have had blood poisoning, you would have had major itchy scabby parts too. Oy.
