Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

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Poison Ivy
and Poison Oak

Minimize the Misery

Why is it that some women break out in poison ivy after just looking at the stuff, while others can practically swim in it and emerge unscathed?

Some people are allergic and others are not allergic to the thick, oily substance, called urushiol, in the resin emitted by poison ivy or poison oak, says Susan C. Taylor, M.D., assistant clinical professor of medicine in the Department of Dermatology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia. "If you're allergic to one, you're probably allergic to the other." But if you've never had poison ivy, that doesn't mean that you're immune. "This allergy can develop at different stages in life. You may get an outbreak at some time in the future," she says.

ACE THOSE SNEAK ATTACKS

If you have already come in contact with a nasty three-leaved plant--either from direct contact, carrying contaminated clothing or petting your exposed dog or cat--women doctors offer these practical strategies to minimize itching and discomfort.

When To See A Doctor You don't necessarily need to see a doctor for poison ivy or poison oak, says Mary Ruth Buchness, M.D., chief of dermatology at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. But if the rash lingers despite treatment with over-the-counter preparations, or if it's severe, you don't have to suffer on your own. A trip to the doctor may shorten the course of the outbreak, she says. Women doctors suggest that you see your doctor for poison ivy or poison oak if: * Itching and swelling is severe or keeps you up at night. * The rash covers a large area of your body. * Fluid weeping out of the blisters is turning honey-colored (you may have an infection). * The rash occurs on your face. * The rash occurs near your eyes, or your eyes are swollen shut. "If you're taking any medications, check with your doctor before taking an antihistamine for the itching of poison ivy, to make sure that it won't interact with other medications," adds Amy Newburger, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and a dermatologist in Scarsdale, New York. "And don't take an antihistamine without consulting your doctor if you are pregnant or have high blood pressure," she cautions. Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

Head straight for the laundry room. The resin can stick to your clothing and gloves, so you need to take everything off and wash your clothing in hot, soapy water. "As soon as you come inside, go right to the laundry room, take your clothes off and dump them into the washer," recommends Mary Ruth Buchness, M.D., chief of dermatology at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City.

Also, thoroughly rinse off your shoes. "Otherwise, the next time that you touch the clothes--even a week later--you could pick up the resin and get poison ivy," says Amy Newburger, M.D., assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and a dermatologist in Scarsdale, New York.

Rinse off the resin. Next, head straight for the shower and rinse, rinse, rinse your skin with warm water and soap to remove the irritating substance. "If you can cleanse the resin off your skin in the first two hours, you may be able to remove it and prevent the rash--or at least minimize it," says Dr. Newburger.

"The longer you leave the resin on your skin, the more intense and widespread the rash will be, says Dr. Buchness.

Ice the itch. For lingering itchiness, "run ice water over the rash or hold an ice cube against your skin for a few minutes," recommends Dr. Buchness. "Cool things are comforting to itchy skin."

Milk it. Soak a washcloth or a piece of gauze in cold milk and hold the compress on your skin. "This old-time remedy really works," says Dr. Buchness. "If someone calls us on the weekend with an emergency outbreak of poison ivy, and all the pharmacies are closed, this is what we recommend." Presumably, something about the fats or proteins of the milk is soothing to the skin, although there is no real scientific explanation.

Soak in oatmeal. Add a powdered colloidal oatmeal preparation (available at drugstores) to a tub full of water and soak in it for about 15 minutes. "Oatmeal baths are very soothing to the skin," says Dr. Buchness.

Apply a menthol cream. When you're feeling better, go to the drugstore and scan the shelves for poison ivy preparations containing ingredients such as menthol and camphor (which soothe skin), and pramoxine
(a topical anesthetic that relieves pain and itching), suggests Dr. Buchness.

Use calamine early. If you don't mind its pink color, calamine lotion can help dry out poison ivy blisters. You don't want to use calamine after the blisters have crusted over, because at that point it overdries skin and enhances the itch, says Dr. Newburger.

Visit with the good witch. Witch hazel, a clear lotion that you can get in drugstores, is soothing and cooling to itchy, rashy skin, says Dr. Newburger. Dab a witch hazel-soaked cotton ball on the rash for relief.