I need something to cure poison Ivy from my face and eyes
2006-07-26 03:31:48 · 5 answers · asked by schnees7 3 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Skin Conditions
First, throw the clothes that you were wearing in the washer and then hop into the shower and wash with plenty of soap and water. The reaction to poison ivy is to oils secreted by the leaves of the plant. These oils are easily washed off...but if left on the skin they can cause a worsened reaction and can be spread to other areas.
The effects of poison ivy are actually caused by an allergic reaction and over production of histamine...so treat it like an allergic reaction with histamine blockers and steroids. Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is an excellent histamine-1 blocker, but it will make you sleepy if you take it by mouth. However, it will decrease the swelling and itching. Benadryl is also available as a cream that will decrease the itching, but not the swelling as much. Pepcid (famotidine) and Zantac (ranitidine) are both histamine-2 blockers usually used for upset stomachs, but they will also decrease the affects of the poison ivy and are not as sedating as Benadryl. Hydrocoritsone cream is as steroid that will decrease the itching and the swelling. You might want to alternate the Benadryl cream and the hydrocoritsone cream during the day and evening, take Pepcid or Zantac (not both at the same time) during the day and Benadryl at night...or low dose Benadryl during the day or some other combination depending on how alert you have to be. Don't use the hydrocortisone cream continuously for more than a few days without checking with a doctor. You can consider going to a doctor, who may prescribe oral steroids to reduce the swelling and/or give you a steroid shot to speed your recovery. Make sure that you use all drugs per the manufacturer's recommendations and good luck...I hope that this helps.
2006-07-26 03:49:38 · answer #1 · answered by Wayne D 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Go to your local pharmacy. There is a preparation called Domeboro (I had never heard of it either). You make a solution from it and apply topically. It dries out the lesions and makes them itch much less, if at all. I got this tip from a dermatology text.
2006-07-26 10:40:18 · answer #2 · answered by c_schumacker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Octagon soap! Use it a couple times of day. It helps dry it out.
It works really great.
2006-07-26 10:36:46 · answer #3 · answered by Jill P 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make a paste of baking soda and apply that.
2006-07-26 10:35:27 · answer #4 · answered by expatmt 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Injection of dexamethasone. Be careful of it getting in your eyes.
2006-07-26 10:36:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋