by superdope01
This post is about what to do to prevent the infection and spread of poison ivy. I am highly allergic to the stuff and all information on the subject is worth it’s weight in gold. It’s making me itch just writing about it. LOL
Poison Ivy grows around trees and bushes. Mostly in forest areas, but I’ve seen it in flower beds in the middle of cities, too. If you are allergic, it can be bad news to come in contact with. Causing rashes that itch profusely and spread if scratched.
If you’re allergic to it, stay the hell away from it, but sometimes you don’t have a choice in the matter. If you know or suspect you’ve been around it, getting cleaned up is first priority. Here are some tips from my buddy Buckshot to keep it from breaking out and spreading.
Use ivory soap — Ivory is a mild soap, using a harsh soap could aggravate the skin and let the poison oil in –
The only way to prevent it is to stay out of it – wear layers to keep the oil from contacting your skin. Once the oil of the plant hits your skin it spreads out (think of an oil spill and how much it covers). Wash it as soon as you notice (and if you don’t notice wash anyway). Wipe down any surfaces you think came into contact with a plant. Wash your hands after coming home to change (or right away, when done working) and wash your clothes after every time you wear them out to work near the ivy (it can be in the air!). Put them in a bag to seperate them from your other clothes (the oil will spread, no shit).
Don’t rub your eyes, or scratch your ….anything…
Don’t use warm water to make the itch stop – yes it feels great to kill your pain receptors [momentarily] but this coumpounds the problem by irritating the skin and promoting the spread of the poison oil (that now will not wash off with ANY soap).
If it gets this bad and your skin is blistering you need steroids – you begin with a shot, followed by a 10 day regiment of pills (prednisone).
This is by no means a comprehensive list of precautions or a guarantee that you won’t break out. These are just things you can do to increase your odds. If you have a tip or suggestion that I’ve left out, feel free to leave it in the comments.