Please share your knowledge about poison ivy!

[Gail and Bailey]

I need input from all my DK friends about poison ivy!  

My dog does not have it....I do...and I am sick and tired of getting it!  I live in the woods and my passion (besides my doodle) is working outdoors in our yard.  I will start by saying that I always walk Bailey in the street and only allow her to venture into grassy areas,  never into any brush or wooded places.  She is not the carrier.  I steer clear of all areas that could possibly have poison ivy growing.  When I work in the yard I have garden beds and a dry creek area that I have created and that is my focus.....never in the surrounding woods.

Despite all this I have gotten poison ivy three times this summer!  This one is the worst outbreak.

I have researched poison ivy on line and know that I must be coming into contact with the urushiol oil that the plant produces.  Here is where the "facts" get cloudy for me......the outbreak can continue to get worse ("spread") for days and I can't seem to get clear information on why and how.  

I have read that it is a matter of how much oil got on your skin and in what concentration that causes the breakout......the first and worst being where the oil was most concentrated....the "spreading effect" being places where the oil was not as concentrated and takes longer to show.

 I know the oil can be on inanimate objects (garden tools, gloves, doorknobs....) and it can be spread in this manner.

I have read that it is an "old wives tale" that itching and distributing the fluid in the blisters causes it to spread.

I went to the doctor today to get a steroid shot and even she left the room after not touching me or the doorknob!  Leading me to believe I am "contagious" (so to speak). (the nurse gave me the shot.)

Can anyone help me with the facts???   

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm sorry to hear this Gail. I have never had poison ivy, nor has any member of my immediate family to my knowledge, so I'm afraid that all I know comes from medical websites. I think your doctor and a reliable medical website like the Merck Manual would be your best sources of information.

 http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic_disorders/der...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

And here is another good source, the American Academy of Dermatology: http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/m---p...

[Gail and Bailey]

Thanks for the links, Karen.  The most useful info I got was..."The rash is not contagious and does not spread. It might seem to spread, but this is a delayed reaction."   This is what I am hoping is really true!  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Well, the sources are about as reliable as they get, so I think it's a realistic hope. :) 

[F, Calla & Luca]

It is true. As soon as you might notice you have touched PI wash the area thoroughly with soap and water. Once you get the oil off your skin you cannot spread PI. The most vital thing is to recognize the plant from tiny reddish green sprouts in the spring to big hairy vines growing up trees. All parts of the plant including smoke from fires burning the plant can cause the rash. Hydrocortisone cream etc. can help with the rash. I pull bird planted PI in my yard often and use plastic bags over my arms to do so.

[Gail and Bailey]

Thanks, F.   I am starting a crash course on PI identification right away!!   I will use disposable gloves to pull "weeds" from now on too!

[Donna, Emma, Bender & Busby]

Unfortunately, I have no real "facts" for you either, although I seem to be very susceptible myself.  I came down with poison for the first time the day after we moved into our new home ten years ago.  Believe me, there was no way I was even on the deck that day, let alone in the yard, and didn't have dogs yet, so I have absolutely no idea where I came into contact with the vile stuff.  I DO know that I always come down with a severe case and must treat it immediately.  I have had great success with Zanfel which stops both the itch and the spread, but its' pricey (almost $50 per tube).  The last time however (4 yrs ago) I was so completely covered that I ended up at the doctors' office for both an injection and a five day course of prednisone.  Poison Ivy is definitely an evil thing!  Good luck with your research and I hope the injection helps.

[Gail and Bailey]

Thanks, Donna!   Here's hoping the shot works fast and I can relax.  I hope you don't get it again but if you do, I am here and will sympathize with you!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Look up the word, Contact Dermatitis.    That might give you a better understanding.  

My sons would get poison ivy to the point where it got so bad and became so demanding, I told them I would ground them for entering any!    I was serious about grounding too. It is a lot of work. 

Because you are re-infecting yourself that it causes it to spread. Whatever you touch, you can spread to YOUR own body. Not someone else.    If you touch an area of outbreak then touch another area, you just spread it again. 

Do Bleach you tools. That helps. I've bleached body parts too--but only after immediate contact. Dont do that now.

Do: wash your sheets daily, change your cloths and wash in hot water, never reuse a towel.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yep, the Merck article I linked is about contact dermatitis; poison ivy is one form of it. 

[Gail and Bailey]

Thanks Joanne.  I will be bleaching everything in the garage and throwing away all my garden gloves!  Washing sheets and towels as we speak!

[Robin and Libby Louise]

So sorry that you are suffering with this.  I have never had it but Libby's mom gets it every year.  Still don't know how or where.  She uses a product called Tek-Nu - see if you can find it.  It definitely helps.  But unfortunately steroids seem to be the only thing that really stops an outbreak.  Good luck!