Completely OT poison sumac

I feel for you because it is the absolute worst. I kept getting poison "something" all last summer from somewhere in my yard and I can't find the offending plant anywhere. And it would show up on my stomach, which was covered. Even my Dr was mystified. I got some very expensive Olux Foam(clobetasol propionate) from my Dr which did very little. The only thing I found that works adn works very quickly is a prescription for methylprednisolone tablets, 4mg. You take 6 (I think) the first day then 5, then 4 etc. My rashes went down drastically within 24 hrs. One time I was out of town and got some rash while out in my in laws back yard and they had some Tecnu in the medicine cabinet. That worked, but I started using it before the rash had gone crazy.

(((Hugs))) ;-}

Try "Caladryl", calamine lotion with some benedryl in it.

if you have a Krogers nearby:, try "Kroger Clear Lotion" similar to Caladryl but a clear lotion. Or OTC hydrocortisone cream (1%), and if that doesn't help, see your doctor about a prescription strength hydrocortisone. any of those, be very careful about washing your hands after application and don't get it anywhere near your eyes. BTDT, yonger DD had several episodes of poison oak. NAYY, hope it helps.

Beverly

The usual remedy for these rashes is steroids, such as hydrocortisone. There are some drawbacks. You build immunity to it as it builds up in your liver, ultimately thinning your skin and bones and leaving you with a repressed immune system.

If you want to avoid that, try mixing 3 parts Aquaphor, 2 parts zinc oxide, and 1 part Burow's Solution in an ointment which you apply to the affected areas. This is effective for rashes of all kinds, and has no side effects. Other than being a bit messy. You can have a formulating pharmacy mix this up for you - I think the minimum charge is something like $30 plus ingredients - or you can mix it yourself. I use a tile and a plastic knife. Mix thoroughly then put into a clean jar. You can adjust the quantity as you like, just keep the proportions. It has a long shelf life.

For severe, weeping lesions, Burow's Solution applied in compresses brings relief.

My mother had the worst case of poison ivy I've ever seen. My dad was burning brush, including poison ivy, out of a ditch and my mom walked through the smoke.

At the emergency room they gave her a prednisone injection, plus a course of oral prednisone to take at home, plus a topical steroid cream.

In the future you can try applying a barrier cream first:

washing off immediately afterward with a scrub meant specifically for removing the volitile resin that causes the rash:

I'd suggest the Technu line of products, based on experiences of friends who are very sensitized to PI/PO/PS

combination of Technu cleanser and "Poison Oak n Ivy Armor" has been enough to keep a couple field botanists I know who are very sensitized free of rashes for the last 15 years. The urushiol you've got on your shoes may be enough to continue the siege of rashiness... it's a very stable chemical that is difficult to remove, especially from something like leather. Urushiol is so stable that volunteers who were sensitive to PI who handled dry specimens more than 100 years old reacted.

Tea tree oil, because it will dissolve some of the urushiol, may work. Or it may simply spread it around to new areas.

BTW, if you're sensitized to PI/PO/PS, be very cautious of mango, raw cashew and real oriental lacquer. They're all related.

If it's really troublesome, some corticosteroids may be called for... you can try OTC cortisone, but usually a trip to the doc for some of the bigger gun meds are needed.

Kay, stray botanist

That's with long-term continual usage, such as in certain arthritis patients, and transplant recipients (who are using it specifically for its ability to damp down the body's immune response in order to protect the graft). I would not hesitate to accept a short course of prednisone to get over a sever case of poison ivy.

The last time I got poison ivy, I was in the hospital for 3 days it was so severe. If you've had it this long and the calamine lotion isn't helping, go to the doctor and get some steriods. The longer it goes, the worse it gets. Gail

I was first given hydrocortisone 50 years ago, by prescription, for eczema. For years, it worked like a charm. I don't get eczema all the time, sometimes years go by between episodes, but about 10 years ago, the cortisone stopped working. I got a prescription for a stronger ointment, but that didn't work either. The "recipe" for the mixture in my post came from a dermatologist who thought we overuse some of the drugs in our arsenal. I would also note that different people react differently to the same drugs. (There's a long list of things that I can't benefit from, most due to allergy. Novocaine, for instance. That'll change your life!!) Anyway, I mixed up the 1-2-3 ointment, and was delighted with the results. The last time I saw my doctor, he asked what I was doing for my eczema and I told him. He said that was "good stuff."

I am not selling anything here. If you want to use prednisone, more power to you. I am just offering an alternative to a burning question. I've lived with itching and scratching, and I am all sympathy!!!

Not sure, but if it is an allergic reaction, you could try an anti-histamine (as used for hayfever). I did some gardening one day, and came up in a beautiful rash all over my arms, where I'd been touched by ivy, fir trees etc.

Doc said it wasn't unusual for a Monday morning complaint after a sunny weekend! And sent me home with some anti-histamine tablets.

Sarah

DH uses Round Up, judiciously applied.

As for the rash, prevention is all I know. When I had to mow poison ivy, I would go straight to the cellar and undress into the washing machine: every stitch from the skin out. Then I'd take a cool shower

-- just barely enough hot water that I didn't mind standing in it.

Then I'd rub myself with a plain wet rag, and only when I'd got as much off as I could without using soap would I lather my rag up with Grandpa's Pine Tar Soap. Then after the shower I'd clean my shoes -- an old pair used only for mowing -- with saddle soap and running water.

I usually had itchy ankles, but never got a rash.

Joy Beeson

days it was so

isn't helping,

the worse it

i'd like to second that experience ...

a small insignificant streak on my arm , **untreated** , eventually developed into a blistering, crusty, unbelievably itchy swath after two-three weeks and slowly cleared up over another 2-3 weeks

robb

Hi Sharon,

My .02 is to have your doctor prescribe a form of prednisone (oral) and cortisone cream, preferably as generics. It sounds as if your condition is *way* beyond the OTC remedies. Hope it clears soon.

Benadryl gel or lotion is available over the counter and works wonders on rashes from poison ivy, sumac, etc.; and also takes the itch out of bug bites. Since you apply it directly to the afflicted area you don't have the usual sleepy side effects of Benadryl.

Barbee

I'm glad we don't have poison ivy!

But the question was about sumac - is it the same thing?

Mary

The question was about *poison* sumac

Poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac all contain urushiol:

"...[urushiol] is an oil found in plants of the Family Anacardiaceae, especially Toxicodendron spp. (e.g. poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac). [...] It causes an allergic skin rash on contact, known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis."

Pogonip wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.bnb-lp.com:

this is what my pediatrician suggested when i was a teen & into bottle digging (up until the 20s or so, every house had their own 'dump' & i collected the bottles). old dumpsites are perfect poison ivy/oak habitats & i'm violently allergic... last year i got some poison ivy from trying to clean up around our summer place, so i bought Benadryl cream thinking the Benedryl would help... nope! i got hives from the cream that were *far* worse than the poison ivy and lasted weeks longer. i'll stick with the Burow's solution :) lee

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!!!! And thank you also for the pats on the head....believe me I totally understand you washing thoroughly afterwards. lol

I was using the clear caladryl lotion. That was helping some, but not really getting rid of the stuff. (It's only 3 small spots. I have one line of blisters about 1" long on the top of one foot. That foot also has one solitary blister by my ankle bone. The other foot has a small cluster of blisters (smaller than a dime) by the ankle bone. It's not a ton, but it was making me crazy(ier) it itched so bad!!!!)

I went to the pharmacy and looked to see what I could find. I found Calagel which is a Tec Labs product. It says; "Maximum strength anti-itch gel. Poison Oak and Ivy itch relief; Dries oozing and weeping; Skin protectant and topical analgesic; First aid antiseptic; Satisfaction Guaranteed."

In the box was a free sample, 2 oz. bottle of Tecnu.

I LOVE this stuff!!! The gel is clear, but it's WAY thicker than the caladryl. And, after 2 days of using it, I can see an improvement in the rash. Especially the top of my foot, and that's the worst spot. The stuff is drying out and it won't itch for pretty much the whole day after putting this stuff on. Thank you Kay for mentioning this brand in particular. I will be washing my flip flops with the tecnu. :)

Thank you again everyone. I really appreciate it. If it's not gone by the end of this week, I will go to the doctor (which I hate having to do.)

Enjoy the weekend!

Sharon

;-)

I was going to suggest tossing the sandals. It sounds like they are favorites, but if wearing them brings back the reaction... :-(

I hope you're all better soon.

I sent the Wikipedia link:

my DD, she has always reacted badly to mangos, and has known for a long time that she is very allergic to cashews. That article gave her a heads up on the connection to the Urushiol oil in poison-oak-ivy-sumac. We have lots of poison oak hereabouts, she's forewarned.Beverly