I have NO idea how i got this nasty stuff…a giant patch in the bend of my leg behind the knee…itchy as hell!..looks like elepantitis…any home remedies???
HELP!
Buy some Technu right away and try rubbing down with that. It may help keep it from getting worse. I generally will apply topical hydrocortizone cream for the inflamation and itching. Get the Technu at Longs Drug.
Chris
calamine lotion.
Had a bout of Poison something last year. The doctor couldn’t tell if it was Sumac/Ivy, but something like that. He prescribed Prednisone. I had to take the entire protocol. He also said Benadry for the swelling.
He was dismissive of Calamine lotion as it just masks the itching and doesn’t solve the problem. I read some nightmare stories about PI that doesn’t go away. Luckily mine did.
good luck,
B.
OK…let me start by saying I’m no doctor…but I also had a severe case of poison oak. I tried all the over the counter options and it continued to spread every time I worked out (sweating)…swelling also got worse. Finally the pharmacist offered a less than scientific solution that cleared it right up. Get in the shower with the hottest freak’n water you can stand on the area. You are basically scalding the area to open the pores and release the oil - then wash with dial antibacterial soap. That stuff is pretty harsh and dries out the area. I did this for a few days and it was all cleared up. Again…not the most scientific method…but it worked for me.
I don’t give medical advice over the internet. That said, if I were you, I would get to my doctor now and and ask him/her about a short course of steroids (i.e. prednisone). Seriously. Poison ivy sucks.
Philbert
I am a self proclaimed poison oak expert. I’ve had it in many levels of severity from hospital trips as a kid to two minor incidents this season. It’s everywhere on the trails here and if you like doing some off trail, side trail exploring its inevitable.
First it can not spread to other people after initial infection area has been thoroughly cleaned. Second it can not be spread on your own body from scratching, sweating, etc AFTER the oils from initial contact have been washed off. Exposre to the oil on the poison oak plant is what causes the rash, not exposure to the rash itself. So all the “scratching spreads it” stuff is myth. The reason it will often pop up on your arm, then on your leg a few days later is either b/c some parts of the body are more resistant to poison oak or some parts where hit more directly with the oils. (behind the knee, under arm, belly, etc all seem to be super susceptible).
As for treatments:
If it is really bad see a doctor and get steroids. This works quickly. Otherwise use some calomine or any other anti itch stuff that will help you not scratch it and just wait it out. It takes about 2 weeks to run its complete cycle on me. If you can avoid scratching and popping the blisters it causes it will go away much more quickly and won’t look nearly as gross.
Poison oak is uncomfortable and gross looking but aside from itching shouldn’t effect your training at all. Hope that helps.
(edit: it effects everyone different. If you are highly allergic to it it can be a real problem (like bee stings or anything else).
I read that (and I am ABSOLUTELY not endorsing this) some people toss bleach on the PI to kill it. Nuts…
Since your rash is behind the knee, you’ll need to take extra care to keep the skin clean and dry. After (and possibly during) workouts wash the area and pat dry. Hot, sweaty skin is your enemy.
I’d also go the steroid route if it’s really bad. Your skin will still be on fire for the first few days, but ultimately it’ll help.
I write for a Medrol Dose pack (tapering 5 day course) all the time for Poison Ivy or any Rhus species chemical dermatitis. Get it done and keep riding.
I had a very ugly (literally) case of poison ivy 2 years ago - all over my freakin’ body. I recall my doctor’s nurse practitioner saying it was the worst she’d ever seen. I had it from my ankles to my neck because I took a shower after exposure and just sort of rubbed it everywhere rather than getting it off! It started to go away with the 5-day pack, then came back about 24 hours after I finished the pack - only this time it was worse! Eventually, I started a 30-day taper (prednisone) and that helped.
For itching, the absolute best thing is a very hot shower. I mean, go as HOT as you can. It feels almost as good as sex. The release is just incredible!!! The hot water releases the histamines that are causing the itching and it just feels so good not to itch even temporarily. At night, I’d do this and then take Benadryl about an hour before bed just to get some sleep.
Hope that helps a bit! Just try to be aware of your surroundings!
-jay
Tecnu or Zanfel.
I’ve used for former, it works very well. Cleared up both Poison Oak and Ivy, no problemo.
Zanfel is also supposed to be very good. Both are kinda pricey, but, $15 or $30 is nothing when you compare it to the cost of suffering thru poison _____.
Calamine just makes the itching less. Still better than nothing.
IronZ06, I’d also suggest you visit a doctor and see if they’ll prescribe prednisone. I had a terrible case of poison ivy several years ago and over-the-counter medication didn’t seem to help. My Dr. prescribed prednisone and it dried up in two or three days. FYI, Prednisone irritated my stomach so you might need something to address that as well. JohnL
Poision Ivy SUCKS!
Technu ROCKS!
Try Zanfel as stated above. Here is the website. http://www.zanfel.com/ You can pick it up at the pharmacy and its over the counter. I have had many cases of Poison ivy and this is by far the best thing I have ever tried barring a prescribed steroid. Its pretty well clears up mild cases over night.
Burt Bees Poison Ivy soap (at most health food stores)
I picked up a plant a little over 3 weeks ago. Immediately washed my hands (3 times), but must have touched my hip before as thats where it popped up. It’s just now fading away. Poison Ivy truly SUCKS, and it seems like the more you get it the more sensitive you get to it.
This is absolutely the case:
“Contrary to popular belief, the more you are exposed to poison oak, the worse the rash gets. You can’t become used to it or immune from repeated exposure, the exact opposite is true.” http://www.knoledge.org/oak/
you guys, i’m in deep shit with poison ivy. it is very painful and underneath my knees. yestereday i was laughing, but today i’m really suffering.
i don’t even know if i’m going to be able to ride my bike. this is very upsetting!
i did the hot water thing, but it’s very painful and my legs actually ache. will try other remedies on this thread.
this is the bastard stuff. it climbs, gets hairy, and can have red leafs. if anybody has to pee in the woods, inspect carefully, i didn’t do this and have it all under my legs. someone kill me. please.
Run do not walk to the Doc in the box…get a steroid shot…the results for me were almost immediate…I had it VERY bad…ooozy weepy crap…
see if you can get on prednisone from the dr and use technu as a topical treatment. one of my friend’s squatted in it and her name is now reba rump rash.