I have already touch poison ivy before but did not have a reaction. I thought that I was party of the 10% minority that do not react. Unfortunately I was wrong. Sensitivity to the toxic oil urushiol, increases with subsequential exposure. I must have developed quite the sensitivity. The sad thing that I did not even see any poison oak poison ivy or poison sumac! (All 3 species are in the same genus Toxidendron.) My forearms are covered with small wart-like blisters that ooze lymph and itch like the dickens.
Below is my right knee. The degree of inflammation is not completely visible. The underside of my knee is so inflamed that it is difficult to bend my knee completely. My foreleg is covered with oozing blisters that itch and hurt at the same time.
Monday morning, I first noticed a few very small breakout on my left arm and leg. They were quite small and only gave minor irritation. By Monday night they were alarmingly larger. By Tuesday afternoon they were covering large sections of my left forearm and leg. By Wednesday morning the right arm and leg were breaking out and the left side of my face broke out. By Thursday morning the leg from the knee down and the left forearm were completely covered. The individual bumps were so close together they formed large inflamed bumps of skin that were raised above the rest of the skin by 5mm.
Breakouts continued on Friday when the small isolated patches on my right leg became nearly as large and grotesque as the left leg. Also affected skin appeared above both knees covering both thighs. My right forearm is now partially covered. Also a few small outbreaks appeared on my stomach and hands.
I am using calamine lotion, which gives some relief, but does not take away the itch and pain completely. I take benedryl to help the itching (does not really work).
At work a visiting professor in Puerto Rico where I may do some field work gave me some ideas to help and even carry some of them out. She put baking soda paste all over my legs and covered my legs with paper towels. It did seem to help, but it sure looked odd. She also told me to put an infusion of chamomile and impatiens flowers on the affected skin. They are helpful as anti-puritic remedies. (Now I just have to find some impatients.) The last suggestion that she gave was a "failsafe" remedy for poison ivy. She said that I need to get some soil and pee on it then paste that all over my legs and arms. I'll look for some impatiens flowers, but I think that I'll pass on her miracle cure for poison ivy. Her suggestion was more a miracle cure for getting rid of people than healing my skin.
I did not know that there was poison ivy/oak in Colorado as the field guides do not states that it exists there. However, it must because it broke out bad on me.
So the moral of the story is watch out for poison ivy!
Monday morning, I first noticed a few very small breakout on my left arm and leg. They were quite small and only gave minor irritation. By Monday night they were alarmingly larger. By Tuesday afternoon they were covering large sections of my left forearm and leg. By Wednesday morning the right arm and leg were breaking out and the left side of my face broke out. By Thursday morning the leg from the knee down and the left forearm were completely covered. The individual bumps were so close together they formed large inflamed bumps of skin that were raised above the rest of the skin by 5mm.Breakouts continued on Friday when the small isolated patches on my right leg became nearly as large and grotesque as the left leg. Also affected skin appeared above both knees covering both thighs. My right forearm is now partially covered. Also a few small outbreaks appeared on my stomach and hands.
I am using calamine lotion, which gives some relief, but does not take away the itch and pain completely. I take benedryl to help the itching (does not really work).
At work a visiting professor in Puerto Rico where I may do some field work gave me some ideas to help and even carry some of them out. She put baking soda paste all over my legs and covered my legs with paper towels. It did seem to help, but it sure looked odd. She also told me to put an infusion of chamomile and impatiens flowers on the affected skin. They are helpful as anti-puritic remedies. (Now I just have to find some impatients.) The last suggestion that she gave was a "failsafe" remedy for poison ivy. She said that I need to get some soil and pee on it then paste that all over my legs and arms. I'll look for some impatiens flowers, but I think that I'll pass on her miracle cure for poison ivy. Her suggestion was more a miracle cure for getting rid of people than healing my skin.
I did not know that there was poison ivy/oak in Colorado as the field guides do not states that it exists there. However, it must because it broke out bad on me.
So the moral of the story is watch out for poison ivy!
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