Poison Ivy - what do you use?

Farelle wrote: Ok, so I have no one but myself to blame for my latest outbreak of poison ivy. It's not too bad, but it's also not going away. I don't want to call my MD and take those little steroid pills again.....and the calamine lotion just isn't doing the job.
Any other suggestions?

Twelve Volt Man replied:
I can't help, but just be thankful you're not a guy who has used the bathroom before realizing he had Poison Ivy. The result is miserable. I hope you heal up quickly.

redchief replied: WebMD has a good advice page on contact dermatitis (the rash caused by contact with poison ivy).

http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/Poison-I...-Topic-Overview

Farelle replied:

I'm not complaining about mine anymore!!! OMG! I AM thankful!!!

Calimama replied: No suggestions, but I hope it clears up quickly for you.

mom21kid2dogs replied: Stephen had poision something while we were on vacation. We got Caladryl (actually, the WalMart version of it) and it dried up quickly. It was a clear formula.
Hope you stop itching soon!!

grapfruit replied: I've heard salt water works (maybe a bath w/epsom salt). I remember being at the beach once and I had it. After swimming in the ocean it was gone like the next day. (maybe ocean water is special though...)

momtoMegan&Alyxandria replied: I currently have a posion sumac rash. I bought a cream at Kroger (grocery store that is stronger than calamine lotion. I got it in the same isle as the hydrocortizone creams. It is made for posion ivy, sumac and oak. It says that it keeps the rash away for 8 hours. So far I will have to say I agree with that. I am also taking benedryl everynight to help dry it up. I wish I could take it during the day, but man does it knock me out. Try that. There were two new types of treatments at Kroger for posion ivy, sumac and oak, but I wasn't ready to jump directly to $19.99 or $29.99 for treatment. A tried and true cure that I usually do is take a wash cloth (dry) and rub the crap out of the rash and then dump alcohol or bleach on it. Burns like mad (censored) , but really helps dry it out. Good luck I know how you are feeling.

Anthony275 replied:
my friend did that, he had it for a month


just be thankful you dont bleed everytime you get poison ivy

aspenblue1 replied: hydrocortisone cream. we use that with the lovely steriods for Isabella -- she has a bad reaction anytime she is around it.

lovemy2 replied:
Come now - do tell that story I bet there was steak and beer involved in there somewhere

Farelle replied: Thanks for all the suggestions. I think I have just scratched the @#$!! out of it and that's helping
The worse place is on my fingers and toes.....for some reason those two spots itch like CRAZY!!!

Next time I will SPRAY before I cut it..........I know better, but I didn't want the boys to get it.......I guess better me than them..............right??

luvbug00 replied: Caladryl for us too and i really dry it out with facial astringent. burns like haties but it drys those kinds of things out like youw ouldn't believe. (not sure how good it is for you though)

Anthony275 replied: there's also this stuff you put in the bathtub and lay in it, it dries it out and makes it go away a little bit.

Farelle replied: Hmmm.....perhaps I'll try "burning" it out. I seem to remember doing that at one time. STUPID POISON IVY!!!!!!!! Arghhhhhhhh!!

My3LilMonkeys replied: It's probably not a recommended solution, but I pop them with a sterilized needle, squeeze the liquid out and put rubbing alcohol on it....gone by the next morning every time! It stings for about 15 min when you first do it though.