poison ivy

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2008-08-15 5:09 PM

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Expert
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Kansas City, MO
Subject: poison ivy
I am currently dealing with a fair amount of poison ivy on both of my legs, plus some on my right arm.  I know very little about poison ivy other than you shouldn't scratch it and it itches like crazy.  My question is this: is there any reason why I should refrain from running while I have it?  I just want to be certain that my 8 mile run tomorrow morning won't make it worse.  Thanks in advance for your answers/advice.

2008-08-15 7:11 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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Expert
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Springfield, MO
Subject: RE: poison ivy

yuck!!!  I can't even get close to the stuff...have even had to get steroid shots for it.  Upside - I got huge...jk

Good Luck!

2008-08-15 7:17 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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Miller Place, Long Island
Subject: RE: poison ivy
Unfortunately, I have a lot of experience with poison ivy. I had it last summer and here is what I recommend. Keep in mind, I am not a doctor.

Keep in mind that the stuff that oozes (I know, gross) from your skin DOES NOT spread the poison ivy... that's a common misconception.

You should be ok running with it. The heat may bother you and sweating may cause more itchiness, but, it shouldn't cause the poison ivy to get any worse.

There is a soap (like a lotion soap) that I have used in the past and it is great, It will make your skin very, very dry however. I It's called, Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, your pharmacy should have it. Use that whenever you take a shower and a few times in between and it will greatly reduce your pain. Chaladryl (sp?) is also pretty good and so too is Benadryl even taken orally (I used my daughter's children's benadryl). If all else fails and it doesn't get much better, you could see the Dr. and get a prescription for the steroid they use. Usually, for me at least, that does the trick in a couple of days.

When it's all gone, go to Home Depot, get some roundup poison ivy killer and spray the hell out of the Poison Ivy (if it was on your property that you encountered it.
2008-08-15 7:34 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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the Alabama part of Pennsylvania
Subject: RE: poison ivy
Here's another thread on this topic.  But don't look at the pictures.
2008-08-15 8:35 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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810
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Southeast
Subject: RE: poison ivy

There's no serious reason not to run.  Your body is working to recover from the poison ivy, but not working so hard that running will be too much stress. 

Do a 'heat treatment' (see below) right before you run and you are likely not to have any problems iwth itching on the run.

Heat treatment': run warm water over the affected areas, then gradually increase the heat until you can hardly stand it.  (But don't give yourself 3rd degree burns!)  You will probably experience INTENSE itching for the several seconds of the treatment, which will then subside.  Then move on to the next area.  The resulting no-itch lasts several hours.  It's the only treatment apart from steroids (yuck) that works for me, and I've tried everything I've ever heard of.

And once you have washed the oils off your body (Tecnu works for this) you can scratch all you want.  The puss from the blisters does NOT spread the rash. 

2008-08-15 8:59 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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MA
Subject: RE: poison ivy
I grew up spending summers on an island in No MN with lots of PI...we did the standard treatment. My son got it a year or two ago. We got this stuff at Target back behind pharmacy desk but not a prescription..starts with a Z and about $40. It was amazing how quickly it cleared up less than 48 hours. After summers of seeing folks struggle with poison ivy for a long time, this stuff is amazing. I wish I knew the name of it but I'm not at home.

2008-08-15 9:03 PM
in reply to: #1607394

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810
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Southeast
Subject: RE: poison ivy

KathyG - 2008-08-15 9:59 PM I grew up spending summers on an island in No MN with lots of PI...we did the standard treatment. My son got it a year or two ago. We got this stuff at Target back behind pharmacy desk but not a prescription..starts with a Z and about $40. It was amazing how quickly it cleared up less than 48 hours. After summers of seeing folks struggle with poison ivy for a long time, this stuff is amazing. I wish I knew the name of it but I'm not at home.

I think you mean Zanfel.  Some people do have success with this product.  It is definitely worth a try.  Doesn't work for me. Frown

2008-08-15 9:29 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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No excuses!
Subject: RE: poison ivy

I have had my fair share of that crap. I bought Cortaid two step. One is a scrub and then a mist spray. It was about $30 or so but I loved it because the scrub I could itch the crap out of my arms and legs and then spray that mist on there and it was  a cool sensation. It cleared up in  a couple of days.

 As others said, no reason to not run.

2008-08-15 9:29 PM
in reply to: #1607184

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Master
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Chapel Hill, NC
Subject: RE: poison ivy
I swear by Zanfel. I don't remember it being $40, but I just checked CVS.com and it is listed as $39.99 SALE: $29.99. Worth every penny! You don't need to use much, so the tube lasts for many episodes (tho hopefully you won't ever need it again!)

PS: you don't want to order it online if you need it NOW. Go out and buy it at CVS or Walgreen's. The sooner you use it the sooner you will heal.

Edited by keyone 2008-08-15 9:30 PM
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