Itchy Scratchy Poison Ivy... Ow... Does THIS stuff work ?

[smacks]

Used Zanfel to great effect. YMMV.

[JoeM]

As someone who is very sensitive to Posion Ivy and has been treated as a hospital outpatient for 8 weeks once, I can vouch for, believe it or not, white vinegar. You are supposed to dilute it with water but I have used it straight on compresses and it provided a lot of relief.

The down side is that you walk around smelling like a salad.

This is the best over the counter stuff I've come across. Works very well:
http://www.teclabsinc.com/products/poison-oak-ivy/tecnu

[cbelt3]

Thanks, all. I think I'll go to the doc.

[haikuman]

M>B> wrote:
Replace the watchband!

Just dump that watch *(:>*
"When you are in tune with the universe you are always on time."

Since you mentioned the watch and watch band
I am thinking contact dermatitis.

See your Doctor and Bring some V-8 Juice *(:>*

[Carm]

[spoiler=Itchy and Scratchy]
http://images2.fanpop.com/images/photos/...0-1024.jpg

[/spoiler]

[NewtonMP2100]

try to SCRATCH.....n then sniff.....???

[macphanatic]

I use Tecnu, also available at CVS. Not cheap, but works well. Use it as a wash with cool water. Then rub in as a lotion.

[Psurfer]

Tecnu never fails. It's made to remove the oils - on the skin, and to a lesser degree, under as well (in my experience it's beneficial to use it a few times during day 1, then continue using for a few more days).

And one more tip, it's supposedly highly hydrophilic (sp?), so don't wet skin before using and don't mix Tecnu w/water. Rub it in for a good while on completely dry skin if possible, and then rinse it off for max benefit.

edit: Always keep some Tecnu around, even a small sample bottle will be more than you probably need for a few years. The Walgreens near me now only sells a big-azz size bottle, but when you need it, it's worth every penny. The sooner you apply it after exposure, the quicker you can be entirely rid of the plague... Shelf life I've found to be at least ~3yrs, at some point it starts to turn color and begins to smell bad (but even then it still works, if no longer at it's full strength).

[colonel panic]

[AllGold]

Good article on poison ivy: http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/artic...aiting-you

An excerpt:

If you think you’ve been exposed to the plant, says Mycka, wash the area vigorously as quickly as possible with a lot of soap and water and clean it liberally with rubbing alcohol.

It’s best to get to the washing-off stage within 10 minutes.

Do your best to avoid it and make the sink the first stop after gardening or working out of doors where you’ve spotted the plant. A more sophisticated cleansing agent, used by staff at the zoo, is Tecnu, a liquid that comes in a pump bottle.

“It’s really just a strong soap. Alcohol is a much better bargain. Tecnu is expensive but it’s a lot less expensive than three weeks of suffering,” he said.

If you missed the diligence step and the rash develops, Mycka suggests using a product called Zanfel, which promises almost instant relief from itching and can be used in a shower.