Does anyone have any advice for home remedies for poison ivy. I went to the Dr. 2 weeks ago and had a Depo-Medrol shot. At that time, my eyes were swollen shut and whole face was a mess. It actually came on quicky. The day prior I woke up with an itchy on my eyelid and thought perhaps a spider had bit me. The shot helped about 90% at the time but now I have the itchy bumps all over my neck and between my fingers. I'm using the clear anti-itch lotiion and the spray ivy dry but nothing helps. I've even dabbed Clorox bleach directly on the spots between my fingers to no avail. I'm open to any and all suggestions but hope to avoid another steriod shot.

If you have it that bad, then I would say go to the doctor and get another shot, especially since it is on the face.

It sounds like you are spreading it yourself. Make sure to use wash throughly after possible contact with the effected areas.

I too have had it very badly and getting it wet and/or scratching it are two things to avoid but are very hard not to do!

I also have recurring eczema (which amazes me with how similar it is to the poison ivy) and the only thing that makes it go away is a steroid cream.

Here's hoping you feel better. Yuck.

When I had Posion Ivy it was horrible. The day after hiking down a mountain i woke with some terribly itchy patches mostly on my legs. My mom gave me a cream to relieve the itch and just much luck that is how i found out I was allergic to Hydrocortisone. As if the itchy spots weren't enough I had a burning allergic rection with hives on top. I seem to remember Calamine lotion was really soothing .(probably wouldn't put it too close to eyes though) - I went to a doctor and he gave me a prescription for like 3 days of some kind of steriod drug that cleared it up in just a couple days.

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keep oatmeal on it. it draws out the fluids in it. I get it very bad as well. The shot is usually the only thing that will stop it.

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You DO need to go back to the Dr. if it's near your eyes! That is nothing play around with and it CAN cause MAJOR eye problems..this is no joke, call your DR. tomorrow!

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My friend was hospitalized becuase of poison ivy, and she too found out she was allergic to Hydrocortisone. If you have it this bad after two weeks don't you think you should go to the dr?

you need to go to the ER or Urgent Care--if you are continuing to have symptoms like this (and it's been two weeks since the cortisone shot) you may need further care. I am concerned that it is on your neck and could cause swelling in your throat. I've always found having difficulty breathing or ceasing to breath to really screw up my day....

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Yep, get an appt Monday. Our doc gave dh a shot, Rx meds and some ideas for clearing it up. Ended up dh had an allergic reaction (to the poison ivy).

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You need to go back to the doctor. For the short term...Preparation H.

I'm very allergic to poison ivy, I often scratch it in my sleep. I've had to wear socks on my hands to keep from digging it.

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Ok, you guys win.... I will call the Dr. at 9 in the morning and see what she can do. The first time, I went to an urgent care center because I was out of town. Hopefully there will be some relief in sight. Fortunately my DH hasn't gotten it. When he read all of your replies, he said, "see I told you that you need to see the Dr. again!" Thanks everybody!! I might try the oatmeal pack tonight though.

My hubby gets it a few times a year. NOTHING over the counter works for him, even the RX creams don't work. He's tried EVERYTHING. So, when it gets on his face he'll call the drs and they call in a prescription for steroids. He takes them for 10 days or so and it goes away.

I hope you were able to get some relief, OP!

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Prednasone. That is really the only thing that worked for me. Your dr. needs to prescribe it.

Hope you find something that works fast.

Judi

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I would go to the doc also this time. But if your like me and the wind blows just right you'll get it again. Nothing but a shot will get rid of it on me. 1 of my DS's can take the Prednisone and get rid of it. The other uses Zenfel and that works, although it would be cheaper to just give him the Prednisone. The Zenfel is around $40 a tube at our Drugstore.

Good Luck I know your just miserable.

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When my son got poison ivy , he was also allergic to hydrocortisone cream. He uses Burt's Bees poison ivy soap and benadryl. It taks a couple of days but it does give you relief. You can get this soap at drugstores and some grocery stores that sell Burt's bees products. I couldn't find it there so I ordered it directly from Burt's bees online. Afterwards I found it at a couple of grocery stores here, one was Roche Brothers.

Okay, now no laughing! I found in our local Amish Chatter a home remedy an Amish lady had written. She said to take 1/2 a grapefruit and continuously rub it all over the infected area (certainly not your face, since it's so close to your eyes and burning could occur) and then, on the moistened area rub over 1/2 a lime. Something with the acid in the two makes it dissolve.

Now, I haven't tried it myself but, did tell one of the guys that works for us and he's swearing by it now. Hope your feeling better soon!

Jewelweed --- break open the stems and rub the juice on the affected areas.

"Jewelweed is best known for its skin healing properties. The leaves and the juice from the stem of Jewelweed are used by herbalists to cure poison ivy and other plant induced rashes, as well as many other types of dermatitis. Jewelweed works by counter-reacting with the chemicals in other plants that cause irritation. Poultices and salves from Jewelweed are a folk remedy for bruises, burns, cuts, eczema, insect bites, sores, sprains, warts, and ringworm.

Jewelweed is a smooth annual; 3-5 ft. Leaves oval, round- toothed; lower ones opposite, upper ones alternate. A bit trumpet shaped, the flowers hang from the plant much as a jewel from a necklace, Pale Jewelweed has yellow flowers, Spotted Touch-Me-Nots have orange flowers with dark red dots. The seeds will 'pop' when touched , that is where the name Touch-Me-Nots came from. The Spotted Jewelweed variety is most commonly used for rashes although the Pale Jewelweed may also have medicinal properties."

http://www.learningherbs.com/image-f..._jewelweed.gif

Plant usually grows nears dank areas and near poison ivy.

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Thanks everybody for all of your suggestions. I was supposed to go to the dr. yesterday early afternoon and then she got called out for an emergency. I then went to talk with my pharmacist. She recommended the wash called Zanfel (My Time mentioned it above). It was $29.05 for a tube and before I purchased it, I went home to research it online. I was reading the testomonials and looking at the pictures submitted for before and after Zanfel treatments. The pharmacist was really not in favor of me getting another steroid shot since I just had one 2 weeks ago so I decided to go for the Zanfel. OMG it has truly been a god-send for me and I could submit before and after pics exactly like the ones at the website. The relief was almost instant and I will now always keep a tube in my medicine chest. You must follow the instructions exactly. It is an abrasive type scrub that kind of hurts when you scrub hard for 3 minutes but absolutely worth it. If you know anyone that suffers from poison ivy/oak/sumac type rashes, please recommend that they get this. The price seems high but it still puts in way below the cost of an office call and an injection. Thanks again everyone for your help. Another thing that I was impressed with was, it is safe for children and pregnant women.

Thanks for the tip! That's awesome. MyTime, yea!!!

Hopefully, you won't get it again but it is nice to know that there is something non-steroid that helps.