kjclizzie

well im new to this and dont know if this is the right spot i should be posting this but ill try anyway...well my first question is how in the do you get rid of poison ivy?! and is it passable by skin contact?

sourpuss

Calamine lotion. Cold showers and keep them as short as possible. Apply the lotion a few times a day and it should go away in under a week.

(Where in MT are you?)

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miffed23

Hey sweetie and welcome...

There are a few alternative methods ive heard about: -

Dry a weepy poison ivy rash with strongly brewed tea. Simply dip a cotton ball into the tea, dab it on the affected area, and let it air-dry.

Or, try baking soda - make a thick paste from 3 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and apply it to the affected areas. However, dont use anywhere near your eyes!

Pure lemon juice applied directly onto the affected area helps too.

As for whether its contagious - The dermatitis you get from poison ivy is from the allergen. If it is washed away from taking a shower for example, (sounds dull, yes) then you cannot catch / spread it. If the allergen is still on your body - it can then be transferred to others.

However, some people are susceptible to it and others are not....

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Fire(m)

I'll tell you a humorous story about poison ivy. I was NEVER allergic to it. I could take a bath in poison ivy and never have a reaction to it. Well, one day I was clearing some poison ivy from my property, and the next day I had a little "blister" that itch'd. I showed it to my wife who is highly allergic and she said "YOU'VE GOT POISON IVY".

She recommended that I sleep in long pants, long sleeve shirt and put socks on my feet and hands and "don't touch ANYTHING". Well, I did, but by the next morning, I was covered in poison ivy. I had it EVERYWHERE. I had it on my arms, my neck, my chest, stomach, back, legs, feet, bottom and PENIS/BALLS!!!!!

I went to the doctors office and he said "What's wrong with you?" and I rolled up my sleeve and showed him my arm. He was like "WOW", then I dropped my drawers and he was like "HOLY COW"!!! I got a shot and a 7 day pack of prednisone. By the next day I was a LOT better.

I hope this doesn't do the same thing to you...but if it does, just to to the doc and get some prednisone and you'll be ok in a day or so.

Cheers.