I have had rashes for a week. I am using a cortisone cream. I dont see any progress. Maybe I am not itching as much.
What’s out there that I can buy at CVS that works to get rid of this?
At the beginning TENU works well. Not sure what you can use after a week. Doesn’t it go away after a week or two on its own?
At this point you probably need steroids.
In the future, if you think you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, oak, etc, immediately suds up the area with blue Dawn and wash with warm water…repeat.
calamine lotion- LOTS of it!
I have successfully used an oral antihistamine such as Benadryl for poison ivy.
You have my sympathies @dstark. This is probs TMI but on Fathers Day week-end we threw a BBQ and H was out on the terrace cleaning the grill. Stray weeds drive him crazy and he was pulling what he thought were a few weeds out of the pachysandra that surrounds the terrace. Honestly H would not know the difference between poison oak/ivy and a vintage rose bush. The BBQ came and went and we ended up having a “romantic” evening afterwards. The next morning H woke up with poison oak on his hands and lower arms. By evening I had the same in 3 really, really unfortunate places. It was dreadful.
I called my doctor and she said she gets these calls every summer. She basically proscribed the over the counter Cortisone 10 and an Aveeno Oatmeal bath which really did give me relief. She said that with poison oak if it is persistent the only other remedy is a steroid shot or prednisone. Mine seemed to linger for about 10 days.
One thing to keep in mind is that you have to make sure the oil from the poison oak plant is not still on your clothing, bedding or towels. Wash everything or you will perpetuate it.
At this point there is no way to “get rid” of it overnight because unless the oil is washed off your skin immediately upon exposure, the reaction will proceed apace. So, Benadryl (orally) and Calamine lotion (topically) until it goes away. My sympathies. When we moved into our house in 1999 the lot was overrun with poison oak and I didn’t even recognize it. I learned. Liberal application of RoundUp is the best preventative.
Be really careful to not scratch it and spread it. My husband had it so bad that it got into his blood stream, and had to have some sort of antibiotics.
@dstark …Ivy dry. It is soooooo very good. Better than anything else out there. Trust me on this. I have felt your pain. It is a miracle OTC drug. We used the spray.
^^
Looks like it’s available at Rite Aid. What is the topical analgesic ingredient?
edit…found it…
Active Ingredients
Benzyl Alcohol 10%
Camphor 0.5%
Menthol 0.25%
Zinc Acetate 2%
Purpose
External Analgesic
Poison Ivy, Oak, Sumac Protectant
Uses
dries the oozing and weeping of poison: ivy, oak, sumac
for the temporary relief of itching associated with insect bites and minor skin irritations
I have no idea but I would have gladly paid big money for this. I truly felt like a junkie when the can got low…need to get more…need to get more. Hahaha…really. It is that good.
I vote for #5 to win ‘Best Post of the Day’!
“Ivy-Dry Super is a drying agent containing four active ingredients to control itching; zinc acetate, benzyl alcohol, camphor and menthol. The Spray applicator disperses the product evenly on the skin eliminating physical contact with the wound, reducing the chance of spreading or recontamination.”
@HarvestMoon1 I missed the part about “3 unfortunate places”…ouch!
It was awful and poor H was absolutely mortified. Never seen him so guilt-ridden.
I don’t know how to respond to post number 5. May be a little too much information. I am glad to read HarvestMoon1 and her husband are getting along. 
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It was awful and poor H was absolutely mortified. Never seen him so guilt-ridden.
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Yes, you must have looked like you had been dusted for prints.
Clobetasol propionate 0.05% – requires prescription. It works much better than the over the counter topical cortisone creams
I did the same about 5 years ago…pulled weeds and got it all over my arms. I finally had to go to doc for steroid pack. Aveeno oatmeal baths were the only thing that gave me immediate relief, took about 3 per day…one right before bed. I was just miserable. There is some sort of soap on the market that if you wish with it immediately after you think you’ve come into contact with it, it washes it off. I really should find out what it is, just to wash whenever I feel the need to pull weeds.
A day at the beach. Swimming in the salt water and being in the sun always worked for me.