jksmith269
Proud Navy Veteran 1990-1995
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HoleInTheRoof;3401939 said:If you think itching poison ivy feels good, try taking a really hot shower.
I got into poison ivy real bad when I was around 12, and it felt good spraying the hot water directly on the rash. Back then, I thought I was doing a good thing, like my spraying it was cleaning it and the hot water killing germs.
Of course, I learned that the hot water was opening pours and spreading the rash.
But man . . . it felt good.
To this day I occassionally get it on my ankles after I mow the lawn. We have it around some trees in the back yard. Luckily they make this cleanser that you just apply to the area, and it'll wash away the poison ivy oils before it spreads.
I apologize if my story is even remotely similar to anything on Scrubs, or any other network sitcom.
actually spraying it with hot water and opening poors will not spread it, the only way for it to spread is if you have the urushiol on your clothing and haven't washed it off completely or on a pet's fur...
Can I spread it by Scratching?
"Rhus plants(poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac) are the most common cause of allergic contact dermatitis in the US. Rhus plans contain the potent antigen urushiol, which will sensitize 60% to 80% of the persons who are exposed to it. ...(It) may be carried on the fur of pets, clothing, shoes, toys, tools, or other objects and then transferred to the skin. Approximately 24 to 36 hrs after a sensitized person is exposed to the urushiol, a blistery, itching rash develops. Usually within 15 minutes of contact, the urushiol binds to skin proteins. If it is washed off with soap and water before that time, a reaction may be prevented. After the antigen is fixed, however, it cannot be washed off or transferred to other areas. Scratching or oozing blister fluid cannot spread the antigen to other areas of the body or to other persons. New lesions that appear a few days after the primary lesions represent less sensitive areas or areas where less antigen was deposited, not spreading of the antigen. Because the course of the reaction usually is 12 to 15 days, 2 weeks of medication should be prescribed. Reference [Dermatology in Primary Care 1994]
Once bound to cell membranes, urushiol is virtually impossible to wash off and attached to cell membranes becomes a "warning flag" that attracts patrolling T-cells and initiates a full-blown immune response. Reference [Herbalgram (American Botanical Council) Volume 34: 36-42, 1995 by W.P. Armstrong and W.L. Epstein, M.D.]
make sure the creme you get has steroids in it, that will help reduce the swellling...
