What is the best medicine/treatment you have found to get rid of poison ivy?

[Bowser]

I was working in the yard last Friday trying to reclaim my fence from the wild, and apparently stumbled into some poison ivy/oak/sumac. By Sunday, I had the stuff up and down both arms (which were swelling), on my stomach, down my left leg, and my eyes were working on swelling shut. I went to the urgent care where they gave me a shot, and prescribed a cream to put on the affected areas - Desoximetasone.

Today, my eyes and arms aren't nearly as swollen, but the ivy rash, those bumps, seem to be spreading. Is there anything else I should put on this crap to dry it up, or should I just let the medicine and cream do its work?

And yes, I know I should try to avoid it to begin with! Just cutting a few of you off at the pass.......

[Bowser]

Originally Posted by REDHOTGTO

This works for me every time, sounds goofy but it really works.
scratch all poison ivy spots quite hard and break them open and either pour chlorine beach on them or put a gallon in your bath tub and soak in it,{less painful} this sounds crazy but works wonders I PROMISE

I've had someone tell me to try that, but only with Hydrgogen Peroxide. Bleach would hurt like a mofo!

[catfish307]

Cortisone shot and the dosepacks of steroids are the only way to go. Should start to dry up in a day. Wait til you get poison ivy on your ball sack if you really want to be miserable..........

[jarjar]

set yourself on fire

[Iowanian]

Get someone to Pee on it.............

[jcroft]

This sounds like a good excuse to take some hydrocodone.

Then again, I can turn just about anything into an excuse to pop a couple of hydrocodone pills.

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by redbrian

If it's not bad the ivy dry is good, if I get a bad case I get a Cortizone shot from the Doc (any good cream you use will be cortizone based), the shot will usally clear up even the worst case in a day or two.

The best thing when you can is to take a shower as soon as possible after exposure and wash your clothes (make sure to wash your hands after handling the contaminated clothing). Lye soap is the best thing I have found to cut the oils, there is also a specific soap on the market for poisen ivy which I have found effective (can't remember the name off hand though).

Yep. The shot is the best way to go. Make sure to ask the Doc for some cream as well. The Rx creams work a lot better than over the counter stuff. That way the next time you get into the stuf, you have some of the slave to keep it from getting so bad.

Also, Joy dishsoap does a really good job too. If you've ever worked on a car and gotten that black grease from head to toe, and remember how much you scrubbed to get it off, keep that in mind when you are washing after being in poison Ivy or Oak. It is a clear oil that gets onto your skin that you have to get washed off if you don't want to get the crud.

Originally Posted by REDHOTGTO

This works for me every time, sounds goofy but it really works.
scratch all poison ivy spots quite hard and break them open and either pour chlorine beach on them or put a gallon in your bath tub and soak in it,{less painful} this sounds crazy but works wonders I PROMISE

I've done that too and it does work. Though I would be hesitant to do so on your face. It does sting just a little, however I have found that I don't itch near as bad after pouring bleach. I'd gladly deal with the stinging to get rid of the itching for a while.

[ROYC75]

Originally Posted by Simplex3

Steroids from your doctor. Nothing else compares. When I was a kid my dad and I had poison oak from head to toe, that was a miserable f**king time.

Have the doc get you a 7 day steroid pack and cortizone, some kind of anti itch cream. If you can take benedryl without getting sleepy, it works best for the itch.

I use to work in the timber ,logging and had to do this twice a year .

[PastorMikH]

BTW, the last case of poison ivy I got, I got from a deer. I shot the deer during bow season and I guess he had been into some prior to me killing him and had the residue on his fur.

The wife worked at a clinic and I slipped in the back door and caught on of the Drs. He was from the middle east, and you don't see much poison ivy in SW Kansas. He's sitting there looking at it telling me he's never seen anything like that before. I tell him it's poison ivy and if he will give me a cortisone pack and cortisone cream, that will take care of it. OK, he says, and writes the prescripts.

[MOhillbilly]

just rub some dirt on it.

[badgirl]

While we are on a what medication subject, what is the quickest way to heal cold sores? I went to the tanning bed a few days ago and burnt my face and lips, I got 3 big cold sores, and they hurt like hell, everytime I get sunburned, tanning bed burned or a high fever I end up with these agravating things, and if I get really stressed out.

How do I get them to heal up fast?

[PastorMikH]

Originally Posted by badgirl

While we are on a what medication subject, what is the quickest way to heal cold sores? I went to the tanning bed a few days ago and burnt my face and lips, I got 3 big cold sores, and they hurt like everytime I get sunburned, tanning bed burned or a high fever I end up with these agravating things, and if I get really stressed out.

How do I get them to heal up fast?

Go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist. There are several over-the-counter meds for them. We had some here that you squirt on a Q-tip then dab it on the cold sore. Dries them right up.

[Baby Lee]

Originally Posted by badgirl

While we are on a what medication subject, what is the quickest way to heal cold sores? I went to the tanning bed a few days ago and burnt my face and lips, I got 3 big cold sores, and they hurt like hell, everytime I get sunburned, tanning bed burned or a high fever I end up with these agravating things, and if I get really stressed out.

How do I get them to heal up fast?

Stay away from Ron Mexico!!!

[badgirl]

Originally Posted by PastorMikH

Go to the pharmacy and ask the pharmacist. There are several over-the-counter meds for them. We had some here that you squirt on a Q-tip then dab it on the cold sore. Dries them right up.

I been using carmex, and Herpecin L, I have had them for about 5 days, so this stuff isn't working all that great.

[jcroft]

Originally Posted by badgirl

I been using carmex, and Herpecin L, I have had them for about 5 days, so this stuff isn't working all that great.

I would think the Carmex could actually make them worse (although it probably makes them FEEL better). You gotta look out for that stuff, too -- the camphor can be addictive.

[Edubs]

I think you are supposed to pee on yourself.