Completely OT poison sumac
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Completely OT poison sumac Sharon Hays 05-29-2008
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Posted by Kathleen on May 29, 2008, 5:36 pm
Sharon Hays wrote:

> Hey All,
>
> Does anyone know a good way to get rid of poison sumac? DH was weedeating
> at the bottom of the hill (I try to keep him fed, but.... LOL) Anyway.
> The weeds were hip high. He had on shorts. He couldn't see the poison
> sumac till it was too late. His legs are a mess, and I have some on my
> feet and ankles. He found two tortoises down there in the weeds. I went
> down to see how cute they were, wearing flip flops. *sigh*
>
> I've been putting calamine lotion on there twice a day or more. But a week
> later, it's still hanging on. :( Making it more annoying, the only shoes
> I can stand to wear are those flip flops (they are "leather." I cleaned
> them with some off with the "kill it all" spray I use in the kitchen.) I
> like these shoes, but it would be nice to wear something else. *Sigh*
>
> I know all the wonderful brains here will know something to do for it.
> Would tea tree oil work better?

My mother had the worst case of poison ivy I've ever seen. My dad was
burning brush, including poison ivy, out of a ditch and my mom walked
through the smoke.

At the emergency room they gave her a prednisone injection, plus a
course of oral prednisone to take at home, plus a topical steroid cream.

In the future you can try applying a barrier cream first:
http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/92257.aspx?feature=Product_4&kw=poison+ivy

Then washing off immediately afterward with a scrub meant specifically
for removing the volitile resin that causes the rash:
http://www.duluthtrading.com/search/searchresults/22687.aspx?feature=Product_1&kw=poison+ivy


Posted by Kay Lancaster on May 29, 2008, 5:42 pm
> I can stand to wear are those flip flops (they are "leather." I cleaned
> them with some off with the "kill it all" spray I use in the kitchen.) I
> like these shoes, but it would be nice to wear something else. *Sigh*

I'd suggest the Technu line of products, based on
experiences of friends who are very sensitized to PI/PO/PS
http://www.teclabsinc.com/product-categories.cfm?id=1E8
FDCC1-F136-4EBF-EF2DA11F1E0BAEB8

The combination of Technu cleanser and "Poison Oak n Ivy Armor" has been
enough to keep a couple field botanists I know who are very sensitized
free of rashes for the last 15 years.

The urushiol you've got on your shoes may be enough to continue the siege
of rashiness... it's a very stable chemical that is difficult to remove,
especially from something like leather. Urushiol is so stable that volunteers
who were sensitive to PI who handled dry specimens more than 100 years old
reacted.

Tea tree oil, because it will dissolve some of the urushiol, may work. Or
it may simply spread it around to new areas.

BTW, if you're sensitized to PI/PO/PS, be very cautious of mango, raw
cashew and real oriental lacquer. They're all related.

If it's really troublesome, some corticosteroids may be called for...
you can try OTC cortisone, but usually a trip to the doc for some of the
bigger gun meds are needed.


Kay, stray botanist



Posted by Sharon Hays on May 31, 2008, 4:00 pm
Kay Lancaster wrote:

>> I can stand to wear are those flip flops (they are "leather." I cleaned
>> them with some off with the "kill it all" spray I use in the kitchen.) I
>> like these shoes, but it would be nice to wear something else. *Sigh*
>
> I'd suggest the Technu line of products, based on
> experiences of friends who are very sensitized to PI/PO/PS
> http://www.teclabsinc.com/product-categories.cfm?id=1E8
> FDCC1-F136-4EBF-EF2DA11F1E0BAEB8
>

Thank you everyone for the suggestions!!!! And thank you also for the pats
on the head....believe me I totally understand you washing thoroughly
afterwards. lol

I was using the clear caladryl lotion. That was helping some, but not
really getting rid of the stuff. (It's only 3 small spots. I have one
line of blisters about 1" long on the top of one foot. That foot also has
one solitary blister by my ankle bone. The other foot has a small cluster
of blisters (smaller than a dime) by the ankle bone. It's not a ton, but
it was making me crazy(ier) it itched so bad!!!!)

I went to the pharmacy and looked to see what I could find. I found Calagel
which is a Tec Labs product. It says; "Maximum strength anti-itch gel.
Poison Oak and Ivy itch relief; Dries oozing and weeping; Skin protectant
and topical analgesic; First aid antiseptic; Satisfaction Guaranteed."

In the box was a free sample, 2 oz. bottle of Tecnu.

I LOVE this stuff!!! The gel is clear, but it's WAY thicker than the
caladryl. And, after 2 days of using it, I can see an improvement in the
rash. Especially the top of my foot, and that's the worst spot. The stuff
is drying out and it won't itch for pretty much the whole day after putting
this stuff on. Thank you Kay for mentioning this brand in particular. I
will be washing my flip flops with the tecnu. :)

Thank you again everyone. I really appreciate it. If it's not gone by the
end of this week, I will go to the doctor (which I hate having to do.)

Enjoy the weekend!

Sharon
--
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time and just annoys the
pig.

Posted by BEI Design on May 31, 2008, 7:20 pm
Sharon Hays wrote:

> Thank you everyone for the suggestions!!!! And thank you
> also for the pats on the head....believe me I totally
> understand you washing thoroughly afterwards. lol

;-)

<snip>

> In the box was a free sample, 2 oz. bottle of Tecnu.
>
> I LOVE this stuff!!! The gel is clear, but it's WAY
> thicker than the caladryl. And, after 2 days of using
> it, I can see an improvement in the rash. Especially the
> top of my foot, and that's the worst spot. The stuff is
> drying out and it won't itch for pretty much the whole
> day after putting this stuff on. Thank you Kay for
> mentioning this brand in particular. I will be washing
> my flip flops with the tecnu. :)

I was going to suggest tossing the sandals. It sounds like
they are favorites, but if wearing them brings back the
reaction... :-(

> Thank you again everyone. I really appreciate it. If
> it's not gone by the end of this week, I will go to the
> doctor (which I hate having to do.)
>
> Enjoy the weekend!

I hope you're all better soon.

I sent the Wikipedia link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Urushiol
to my DD, she has always reacted badly to mangos, and has
known for a long time that she is very allergic to cashews.
That article gave her a heads up on the connection to the
Urushiol oil in poison-oak-ivy-sumac. We have lots of
poison oak hereabouts, she's forewarned.

Beverly



Posted by Gerry Leath on May 29, 2008, 6:12 pm
The last time I got poison ivy, I was in the hospital for 3 days it was so
severe. If you've had it this long and the calamine lotion isn't helping,
go to the doctor and get some steriods. The longer it goes, the worse it
gets. Gail

> Hey All,
>
> Does anyone know a good way to get rid of poison sumac? DH was weedeating
> at the bottom of the hill (I try to keep him fed, but.... LOL) Anyway.
> The weeds were hip high. He had on shorts. He couldn't see the poison
> sumac till it was too late. His legs are a mess, and I have some on my
> feet and ankles. He found two tortoises down there in the weeds. I went
> down to see how cute they were, wearing flip flops. *sigh*
>
> I've been putting calamine lotion on there twice a day or more. But a
> week
> later, it's still hanging on. :( Making it more annoying, the only shoes
> I can stand to wear are those flip flops (they are "leather." I cleaned
> them with some off with the "kill it all" spray I use in the kitchen.) I
> like these shoes, but it would be nice to wear something else. *Sigh*
>
> I know all the wonderful brains here will know something to do for it.
> Would tea tree oil work better?
>
> TIA!!!
>
> Sharon
> -trying not to scratch....
> --
> Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of time and just annoys
> the
> pig.



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