For the past few years my 5 yr old has experienced poisen ivy pretty bad. I've heard that there's a special bath soap for kids and I'm wondering if any other mother has experienced this. We're going to our lakehouse this weekend for the holiday and every time we go down there, he comes back with it. We've taken him to the doctor(in the past)to get a shot but it doesn't seem to help. He still gets it! He gets it at least 3 times in the summer, so bad that his face swells up. I can't tell him to stay outta the woods because that's where the lakehouse is and I want him to have fun. He hates wearing pants, he has to wear shorts (because it gets hot in the summer). Does anyone know a certain product that can help him? AND, just last night, I saw him scratching and he's got it!! Little bumps starting to come up!! We're not even close to packing everything up for the weekend and he's already got it...??? AAGGHH!!
Hi T.,
THere is a product called IVY BLOCK that works well for me. Also there is a type of non-invasive allergy treatments called NAET. I go to a practitioner named Karen Marshall in FIshers. Read about it on line aand then give her a call. I sense you'll be glad you did!
Her number is ###-###-####.
Good Luck!
S.
I've had poison ivy real bad and the doctor told me this, that you get it from the oil on the leaves. This oil can get on shoes, clothes, toys. It can last as long as 5 yrs. So if you have not washed everything that could have that oil on it, he can still get it. If you coat him with a good oil based sunscreen, this will help keep the poison ivy oil from touching his skin. Avon used to have a product called ivy block that you put on and it prevents you from getting it; they may still carry it.
Wash legs, arms and hands with a good grease fighting soap, like Dawn dish detergent to get any poison ivy oil off of him.
Good luck!
Several things: First, there is a product/scrub that you purchase in the pharmacy that you use when exposed, NOT after blisters form. Someone in any pharmacy should be able to help you with the name of it. I can't recall.
Secondly, spraying the poison ivy w/ hairspray will keep the itching down. The oxygen in the air is what makes it itch. The hairspray give it a "seal" and keeps it from itching so much.
AND.....as a "bonus", the alcohol in the hairspray helps dry up any open blisters.
Lastly, there is an herb called QUERCITIN that is used for allergies & asthma. Since poison ivy is an allergice reaction, I tried this one time and what an UNBELIEVEABLE difference!!! I didn't itch!! THEREFORE, it didn't spread. As SOON AS the dosage wore off, I KNEW IT! I began to itch again. What a WONDERFUL herb!!!
My husband gets poison ivy by just looking at it, I think! Luckily, I'm one that is not allergic to it so I've never had it. So far none of our children (ages 5, 2 and baby) have gotten it. We're very careful because we do have some growing near the creek at the back of our property and also in a couple patches at our lakehouse.
My husband uses Tecnu ALOT. The pharmacist has told us it's safe for the children to use as long as we rinse it thoroughly -- which you do anyways to remove the oils from the poison ivy.
A few things we've learned about poison ivy... the oil stays on things for a very long time. If you're allergic to it and touch the oil on something (garden tools, clothes, shoes, even the dog's fur if he's been near it) then you'll get it. It can stay on dead and/or dormant poison ivy plants for months, too. Many people get it during the winter without knowing because they touch a dead branch. Since there are no leaves, they can't tell. After being in an area of poison ivy, my husband uses technu to wash all the tools and shoes. He does a load of laundry with just those clothes and washes them with technu. He also takes a shower using technu. Since being so careful, he hasn't gotten it for 2 years.
As for the pants. I know it's hot, but there are special light-colored lightweight pants you can buy. Look at a specialty hiking/backpacking store. He should be wearing pants in the woods anyways because of ticks and the high threat of lyme disease in this part of the country. Anyways... hiking pants work great. A long sleeve shirt should be worn, too, if he's that allergic to poison ivy. REI has a big variety of that type of thing for children. Then just make sure he strips down and puts those clothes in the laundry as soon as he comes inside. And use a pair of shoes specifically for being in the woods and not worn at other times.
My suggestions will help if he gets it again... I had it really bad one year - it lasted for almost a month and was awful! The next time I got it, my grandmother suggested using vinegar on it. I soaked wash cloths in vinegar (either kind) and let them lay on the areas. I did this several times a day and it went away in just over 7 days without a visit to a doctor. A trick to help with the itching is to get in the shower and turn the water on as hot as you can stand it. The hot water is helps release the histamine and relieves the itching. It is wonderful. If you do this first thing in the morning and again later in the day, it will make him more comfortable.
There is a product called IVY BLOCK that I have used for myself.
Just as you would put on sunblock, you apply it 10 or 15 minutes before you go outside.
It would be worth a try.
You would be wise to make sure that you wash him well when he comes in and change his clothes right away because if he has rubbed against the plant the "oil" will be on his clothes.
You can get a nice laminated poison ivy poster somewhere from the Internet for free, which will help you and him identify the plants.
Sorry I don't know the website, but you probably Google "poison ivy".
