<p>I do think you have to be cautious and aware of the effects of corticosteroids- high doses can result in a puffy faced look- for months after, there are also serious side effects, including immunosuppression, so it depends on how bad the poison rash is, how much the steroids help and each persons overall case.</p>
<p>We have had bad luck (subsequent hospitalisation with illness) with the immunosuppresent factor and did not see enough improvement, I would not risk strong steroids again, but for some one else it might be no problem.</p>
<p>The cream may have fewer side effects than the oral meds?</p>
<p>somemom, sorry to hear that. For my son, he used the cream for about one week. He did not experience any side effects, and he used it liberally from head to toe!</p>
<p>I react very badly to poison ivy, and I second Zanfel. I pay about $25 at the pharmacy (sometimes kept behind the counter but doesn’t require a perscription) and it’s worth every cent. I used tecnu for years, and though it might have reduced the itch somewhat, I was still plenty miserable. But Zanfel gets you past the oozing stage and reduces the itching stubstantially. It seems strange that the doctors can’t diagnose it, as the oozing is so characteristic to poison ivy.</p>
<p>I took oral steroids once for poison ivy and had miserable side effects, never again! Good luck to your son, poison ivy sucks bigtime.</p>
<p>His best defense against future PI attacks is to learn to spot it a mile away. Also, be careful petting dogs/cats, touching shoelaces that may have been near it, handling garden tools/lawn mowers etc. And no retrieving frisbees or balls out of weedy places!</p>
<p>I can identify poison ivy from my moving car! It can be a vine, a little herbaceous plant, or practically a tree-like thing. I see it in parking lots, on city fences, at the base of city trees. I’ve seen it growing in lawns, and of course parks and the edges of athletic fields. It is EVERYWHERE. Frankly, I’m surprised more people don’t have it. </p>
<p>Turns out climate change is favoring it too, and I will attest to the fact that I see a LOT more of it now even in places where nothing else has changed in the past 2 or 3 decades.</p>
<p>Since he seems to be super allergic he really needs to be on the lookout. My sympathies!</p>
<p>wenie- same here, I can ID poison oak and get itchy whenever I see it. When we used to live where there was PO, I would wash my hands every time I touched our pets, who had to remain outdoors, as I could not risk the oils getting in the house. It got so I would tingle until I washed!</p>
<p>That was a part of our decision to choose our new home, after many years of visiting and walks in the woods, no one has gotten it, so hopefully it is not actually lurking around.</p>