Extreme Poison Ivy Rash?

[cjcouple]

My husband has a really bad breakout of Poison ivy. It is everywhere! It started with a small patch on his arm and is now covering his arm, lower back, hands, private, stomach...he is miserable. He is using a scrub/wash the pharmacist recommended on Saturday, calamine, benadryl but it's just getting worse.

I say go to Dr and maybe they can give him a steroid or something.

Anyone ever have a bad breakout? How did you treat it?

[eb777888]

My H is super allergic to Poison Ivy. I swear the wind just wafts by near it and it's a rash all over him. His entire family is like that. The doctor gave him a steroid shot once when it was REALLY bad, then again when it reached his face. But he got it a couple of other times and they made him tough it out with topical cream. The steroid shot really helps so if it's really bad, I'd push for that.

[SusanBAnthony]

Yes i have. Doctor and oral steroids.

[heygrey]

One of our friends has a bad case of poison ivy right now and he got an antibiotic cream at urgent care. I only know all about it because he got it on a hike with a group of our friends so the group chat has endured the entire saga. 

[eb777888]

Oh, if it's by his privates, definitely go get a steroid shot! OMG, that must be miserable. Poor guy.

[wanderingback]

Yes going to the doctor is a good idea and generally we will treat with oral steroids for severe cases.

[mofongo]

Oh poor thing:( Def go to the doctor for steroids!

[cjcouple]

thanks. I feel so bad for him. I thought they may be able to give him something better than OTC stuff. He's calling first thing in the morning.

[tiki]

Definitely ask about oral steroids. A friend accidentally ran through poison oak while avoiding some cows, and her entire legs ended up inflamed. Steroids calmed it down and let it heal.

[livinitup]

Me, it happened to me. It actually got worse & ‘spread’ over a few days. It freaked me out. It was on my leg. Your H’s sounds even worse. I went to Urgent care & got a steroid. I was all “is this bad enough to come to Urgent care?” Yes, yes it was. They brought in other doctors, new residents to see it. For their education.

[sadlebred]

Oct 7, 2024 21:44:57 GMT -5 heygrey said:

One of our friends has a bad case of poison ivy right now and he got an antibiotic cream at urgent care. I only know all about it because he got it on a hike with a group of our friends so the group chat has endured the entire saga. 

An antibiotic cream won't work for something unless it is a bacterial infection. It might have been a steroid cream.

I agree with the PPs that a trip to the doctor or urgent care is needed. If they do a shot and also won't give oral steroids, ask about getting the highest dose prescription steroid cream available. Cortisone OTC doesn't cut it.

[heygrey]

Oct 7, 2024 22:26:14 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

Oct 7, 2024 21:44:57 GMT -5 heygrey said:

One of our friends has a bad case of poison ivy right now and he got an antibiotic cream at urgent care. I only know all about it because he got it on a hike with a group of our friends so the group chat has endured the entire saga. 

An antibiotic cream won't work for something unless it is a bacterial infection. It might have been a steroid cream.

I agree with the PPs that a trip to the doctor or urgent care is needed. If they do a shot and also won't give oral steroids, ask about getting the highest dose prescription steroid cream available. Cortisone OTC doesn't cut it.

It was an antibiotic. Originally they thought it was a poisonous spider bite because it was showing signs of infection at the site. Later it spread and became obvious that it was poison ivy. So he might just have a unique case of bad poison ivy. 

[mrsslocombe]

My H had a bad case on his hands this summer-the dr. at urgent care took one and gave him a prescription for oral steroids. After about 24 hours the swelling went down significantly.

[nospaekae]

I get very bad reactions to poison ivy every year. It is pretty prevalent where I live and tough to avoid. I usually end up at the dr. for a steroid shot every spring. It typically carries me through summer, but I occasionally have to get a second in the fall. I keep Technu wash on hand and topicals as well to try to catch it before it spreads - once it is on my face though, it's an immediate trip to the Dr.

[redhead610]

My H and one of my kids are extremely allergic to poison ivy. They need oral steroids plus a steroid cream when they get it. Definitely worth a visit to the doctor!

[georgeglass]

My husband gets it so bad that an EMT once stopped him in a parking lot asking if he could help.

(He had worn shorts and used a chainsaw to cut down a limb that was covered in it. So dumb. So awful.)

Ditto the oral steroids and shot. Our school nurse also recommended this - www.walmart.com/ip/ZANFEL-Poison-Ivy-Oak-Sumac-Wash-1-Oz/10324648?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&wl13=4191&gclsrc=aw.ds&adid=2222222227710324648_161193766053_21214199653&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=697173827980&wl4=pla-2348450966064&wl5=9197866&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=local&wl12=10324648&veh=sem_LIA&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsJO4BhDoARIsADDv4vDzILoYXZy9pVgvr3mMd79dgm2dpRCW_OpVkqsEdTfrBphcMXL01XgaAvLnEALw_wcB

[gottadobe]

I am very allergic and mine tends to go systemic.  I get topical and oral steroids.
Sarna lotion - keep in the fridge for even more cooling/numbing effect.

[arielroux]

The one and only time I had poison ivy this happened to me! I finally went to the dermatologist and she immediately called in another doctor (which is always comforting, lol), and this lady rolls in with her little medical headlamp on, and I was like “oh, cool, I’m about to die from poison ivy…” anyway, they both said it was the worst case of poison ivy they had ever seen. They gave me an oral steroid and it cleared up within a couple weeks. It took a while for the skin discoloration to go away, but I’m pretty sure I’d still have poison ivy 5 years later if it wasn’t for that steroid! I’m so sorry he’s dealing with this.

[beerlover]

Yes, go to the doctor! My H gets like this too and they'll give him creams and a course of prednisone.

[Wallflower]

Just chiming in with sympathy! I had a bad case in the spring ("is that? no, that isn't poison ivy!" Narrator: Yes, yes it was poison ivy.) I was lucky and just happened to have a dermatologist appointment about a week later. She took one look at me and before she did anything, she wrote up two prescriptions, one for an oral steroid and one for a steroid cream. It was bad enough that she had me come back a few weeks later for a follow-up appointment.

[DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22]

In addition to treating, the oil that will spread the rash is on anything it touched still. It may be spreading this way.

Think shower towels, Hand towels, any hand cleaner pump, work clothes, work gloves, sheets, faucet handles he washed his hands with when he got in, etc.

[stemmie]

Absolutely call/see his doctor for meds. Poison Ivy, especially on the face or genitals, is generally treated with a steroid shot or a 5-day Medrol pack which clears it fairly quickly.

[shauni27]

this happens to my husband every year and he needs to get a steroid. It is miserable; I am sorry your husband is dealing with this!

[lilac05]

Oct 8, 2024 6:28:04 GMT -5 gottadobe said:

I am very allergic and mine tends to go systemic.  I get topical and oral steroids.
Sarna lotion - keep in the fridge for even more cooling/numbing effect.

I’ve had this, and it’s SO miserable. It’s been awhile, but I think the last time, I got an extended dose of oral steroids (because the shorter dose wasn’t enough) and hydroxyzine(?) for the itching. There is an Benadryl spray that I’ve used before, but read the directions…you can’t always use it in combination with other things.

Every time I get it, it seems to be worse than the time before.

[cjcouple]

Oct 8, 2024 6:52:48 GMT -5 DefenseAgainstTheDarkArts22 said:

In addition to treating, the oil that will spread the rash is on anything it touched still. It may be spreading this way.

Think shower towels, Hand towels, any hand cleaner pump, work clothes, work gloves, sheets, faucet handles he washed his hands with when he got in, etc.

yeah, I was thinking about that. All laundry has been done since it started but I'm curious about his shoes.

[cjcouple]

He's off to the walk in. Hopefully they will give him prednisone

[Bad Dingo]

Good luck to your DH! I am very allergic to poison ivy. I was on steroids for almost a whole summer once, so much roid rage! Now I have an rx steroid cream to head off any tiny spot as soon as it shows up before it has a chance to spread.

I know it's not really known if it can spread systemically, but I get weird lines in consistent places that make me think that it does.

[ewall]

In the future (hopefully not because who wants more poison ivy!) this is the perfect case for telemedicine. It saved me last year when I had a bad case. I quickly got a RX for steroids and went on with the rest of my day. Was still absolutely miserable for a week even with the steroids, but they did help. Hope you H feels better!

[cjcouple]

He got prednisone, some oral anti-itch med and a cream.

Dr said his hand looks like eczema though but the treatment is the same.

[cjcouple]

Oct 8, 2024 7:55:25 GMT -5 ewall said:

In the future (hopefully not because who wants more poison ivy!) this is the perfect case for telemedicine. It saved me last year when I had a bad case. I quickly got a RX for steroids and went on with the rest of my day. Was still absolutely miserable for a week even with the steroids, but they did help. Hope you H feels better!

I asked if he had that option last night (he has different insurance) but he didn't know.