how long does it take

Prednisone is supposed to make it dry up faster... I typically notice results within 24hrs, but I also receive a shot in addition to oral meds since I'm the type of person who gets it everywhere just by looking at it wrong.

PI stops spreading once whatever brought you into contact with the oils goes away. If you have PI oil on say, shoe laces, your hands can keep catching it until the shoes/laces are washed (oils can stay there up to a year). Same thing for other clothing, blankets, etc. People can also get it from pets who wandered into a PI patch, then rub up against their humans. Doesn't go away until pets are bathed. Fun huh?

Contrary to popular belief, the liquid oozing out does NOT spread it. It's the same interstitial fluid that oozes out when you scrape your knee and scabs don't spread...

It only seems to spread via oozing because the areas that came into light contact will develop later than ones that had greater contact.

PS. I've heard wonderful things about an OTC product called "Zanfel", not cheap though. Shot + meds are less expensive for me, so I go that route.

I think my shoes may be the culprit. And I'll give Deuce, Francie and Penny another bath. I'm wondering if they weren't back in the PI patch again....

My husband swears that he made the mistake of walking around without socks etc.. and that caused it to spread.

He also kept getting "new spots" for two or three weeks, but he also didn't get on the meds until about 1 and 1/2 weeks into it.

Good luck!

Predisone's main action with cases of contact dermatitis is to reduce inflammation and relieve the itching.

You want to wash anything that you suspect may have come into direct and indirect contact from the oil of the poison ivy. I hear the oil is pernicious, so use hot soapy water.

A friend used to work for a Christmas tree farm in the summers, pruning trees and clearing brush. The management made them rinse off with Clorox after work as a deterrent for poison ivy.

I've never had it, but I've been covered in hives before and I've seen friends with p.i. and you have my sympathies. Feel better soon!

Hey Woo!!! Where ya been??? I miss you!! :) Mommy's taking FiFi on a road trip tomorrow and I have to stay home. Hmmmpf. Gotcha Day treats coming home with Micki though on Sunday and I get to play with my cousin puggles, Buster and Baby, while she's gone. Give Carolina and your new baby a kiss on the whisker from me :) xoxo Cherie

Good advice from these comments! Good luck = the prednisone is the best thing to take for it and you'll get well a lot faster. We'll be thinking of you, Sweetie xoxo Diane

I'm so sorry that your covered in PI. I've never had it so unfortuneatly I have no advice for releif. My Mom and sister get it horribly evey year and our yard sprouted a bumper crop of PI this spring. I did some research and posted asking what I can use to kill it. The response was to use distilled vinegar. This only kills the leaves on the first application but even after 3 or 4 apps. it's still not going to hurt Deuce and co. Get well soon!

OMG, that sounds awful! I'm a Girl Scout, I've never had it. Did you go camping or something? Haven't been on here in a while.

http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/kitchen.html

Some suggestions for you, in case you haven't already been to this site. I hope you are better soon!

Baby/Handi-wipes, the kind with alcohol in them, also helps reduce the break out severity if used soon after suspected contact occurs.

I keep a container handy to clean up with after every mtb ride and it's really helped cut down on my trips to the Dr for relief.

Thanks everyone. Today it seems to be better. And I've been doing laudry like you wouldn't believe. And using disinfecting wipes and alcohol on cotton balls on everything I've touched....

Got it from the dogs nosing around in some weeds, I guess. It's still a mystery to me how I made it to 40 w/o ever having had poison ivy. I feel so lucky now to have experienced it. I think I'd rather go through colonoscopy prep for a week instead of having poison ivy....

I know nothing about fixing your poison ivy but LOVE your new avatar. You're so stinkin' cute that if you weren't my friend that I love, I would totally hate you and your cute self:-) Hope you feel better soon!

I don't know anything about PI, either. I've never had it (knock on wood)... You're new avatar is so cute! Not fair..

My new man/boy toy took this picture of me at the Colts game last weekend. It's the only one that turned out halfway decent. I believe I'm one of the least photogenic people on the face of the earth....

But thanks for thinking it's cute and you too Monica. You girls crack me up. :-)

I second that! Your new avatar is supercute!!!

Hubba! Hubba! Very cute, Kris!