Severe Reaction to Poison Ivy

How about an antihistamine the week prior to them coming in cutting it? I would also seek the advice of an allergist

My son - who is now 17 - has a terrible allergy to poison ivy - every time he goes to the woods (or went) he'd come home with an ivy breakout the next day. This is going to sound silly and you can laugh if you want - but the pediatrician told us to bathe him in dish detergent - the liquid kind - doesn't matter what brand you use - but the alkali in the detergent neutralizes the oil in the ivy plant and no breakouts - he used to HATE taking baths the second he came in from outside - but once we started doing that his breakouts stopped - now if he forgets to wash his hands or take a shower with - we use lemon brite from Melaleuca - non toxic natural ingredients - but if he forgets to shower with it then he breaks out and ends up on steroids to stop the spread. It works - honestly - now - this won't stop it if he has inhaled it but if will neutralize the oil on his skin. Hope it helps.

Why don't you try seeing a child allergist? We did that and were told to keep our daughter on claritin daily to help the antibodies and keep the reaction at bay. Also, try some jewel weed spray and soap. It is homeopathic but works. I had to use it when i was pregnant.
Prednisone is SOOO bad for you- I am surprised the doc would prescribe it so often since it only cuts down the reaction by a few days than if left alone...

I haven't experienced anything like this, but I personally would ask the owners to chemically (which is really the only way to be sure) eradicate the poison ivy. Explain to them that the very act of mowing it is causing your child health problems. If they don't want to do it, ask if they mind if you or your husband takes care of it. I think it's just best to nip the problem in the bud. I'd also ask your doctor to tell you more about prednisone, my ex-father-in-law was on prednisone for years and it gave him osteoporosis. His doctors told him that he was supposed to have been on another medication as well to counteract the degenerative effects prednisone has on the bones but for some reason he'd never been prescribed that one. I know your son is only on it occasionally, so it shouldn't be a problem, but I'd talk to the doctor about it anyways.

All that being said, have you looked for another culprit? I'm from the Pacific Northwest and over there we had both poison ivy and poison oak and from everything I ever heard from outdoor school, park rangers and survivalists these two plants can only cause skin irritation if you physically come in contact with it. The rash is caused by specific oils from the plant contacting your skin. It spreads because the oils are nearly impossible to wash off and have to simply wear off over a few days. If your son isn't coming in contact with the plants or the mulch with plant particles in it, then maybe it's not the poison ivy but a reaction to something else. Just a suggestion, but I would be checking out anything else it might be too.

For many problems you have to look at alternative medicine. Conventional doctors have only been taught one approach. But there are many other approaches they know nothing about. I say that as a conventional physician who has gone elsewhere for answers and found them.

Jewelweed spray could be an answer. When you see the neighbor mowing, use the spray on your son. Then use the jewelweed soap or gel after the exposure. This might prevent his breaking out. He really doesn't need to be exposed to prednisone at this early age.

You can find jewelweed products as well as a host of other alternative information on my website:

www.sevenpillarstotalhealth.com

L. Cheek, MD

Hey S.,
First let me say that I know exactly what you are experiencing! When we first moved to our home, we cleared a pasture for my horses and let me tell ya, if poison ivy was a cash crop we'd be rich! I swear I had poison 'something' for two years strait have used every product (including pred.) on the market and some work fairly well and others do nothing. I agree with one of the other moms that you should look into alternative treatments and preventatives. She's right in the fact that most doctors are taught to treat only one way and rarely look outside of their realm. That being said, there is a product called Zanfel (it's bloody expensive!) that really does work to erradicate poison ivy. It's a scrub similar to the Tecnu product on the market that removes the urushiol oil on the skin. Remember also, that oil sticks to EVERYTHING and is incredibly difficult to remove. If you have pets that are indoor-outdoor and travel through that field after it has been mowed, bingo on how your son is repeatedly getting it. Or, if your son is that sensitive and allergic, it could just be that the plant oil is aerosolized after mowing. Either way, an allergist might not hurt either. If the owner of the field is willing to have the poison ivy removed, hopefully he plans on using chemicals since burning it releases more of the oils into the air which could be a catastrophic event for your son.
Hope some of this was helpful and I wish you all the best in your poison ivy adventures,
S.

All of Susan N's information is critical to understand (especially the burning hazard!). But this seems like a public health matter. If your area is not rural and has zoning laws and requirements, I would strongly urge you to contact your County Health dept. It is unlikely you are alone with this problem and you and your son and other nearby residents should not have to suffer these consequences of the cyclic mowing. Is the field used for planting a crop? Have you spoken to the owner of the field about his taking irradication efforts at an appropriate season so as not to harm his seasonal plantings? If it is not under crop, even more status to ask for these efforts to be applied immediately and under the auspices of a County agriculture group that can handle it correctly. Good luck.

Have you taken him to an allergy specialist? They can find out exactly what he is allergic to and also prescribe the appropriate medication that may help prevent the outbreak!

Melaleuca's products are really great for treating poison ivy. That being said, I know you want to prevent a reaction in the first place! I have friends who swear by The Gold Bar. Bathing with The Gold Bar seems to neutralize the exposure, and prevent outbreaks. Happy to provide more info if you'd like to try this suggestion. Good luck! N.

S.,
You can approach this from a holistic viewpoint,which can address the symptoms as well as the underlying cause for your son.
Several people have mentioned jewelweed. It works well. It actually grows near the poison ivy, as do all antidotes to poisonous plants. I have found that taking a homeopathic remedy by mouth is what helps most significantly. You can use a single remedy- Rhus Tox, or a combination remedy for Poison Ivy which will have Rhus Tox in it.
Your son can take this before they mow the field. I'd suggest speaking with a naturpathic Dr. to avoid taking the steroids.
L. M

S.,

I've never heard of that type of reaction for poison ivy or poison oak. Like the first post, all the people that train you on the effects never have stated the type of reaction you describe. I'd highly recommend asking your doctor about seeing an allergist. Take care. God Bless.

I'm sorry your son is so very allergic to poison ivy. Are your neighbors aware of this situation? Perhaps they could get rid of the ivy. I know you can't burn poison ivy because that produces toxic fumes. Best solution I know is herbicide. We had a lot of it growing near our mail box and that's how we got rid of it. Prednisone is not a good medication to take frequently. It alters one's immune system and makes users get fat. AF

the poison ivy travels by air when they burn the fields.
I had the same problem with my son for alot of years.
I would give him benadryl daily before, during and
After the poison ivy was being burned. He would get
It in his throat and really bad. You also might want to
Cover his mouth with a scarf or something to prevent
It from getting ingested.

My yard, after 20 years of trying to get rid of it, still has a lot of poison ivy in it. I try to avoid it, but sometimes it can't be helped. And I get it bad. Since the oil stays in my garden gloves, I throw them out when I know I've had them in poison ivy.

Taking Claritin when I know I have been exposed helps immensely. I also wash off with Technu, and I have a supply of Zanfel on hand. But the Claritin reduces the reaction.

Getting poison ivy only by direct contact is a bunch of malarky. If poison ivy is burned, the urishiol is in the smoke and can get into your lungs. That happened to my mom once. I truly believe the oil can be aerosolized, because that has happened to me, and landscapers have had it happen to them when they use a string trimmer on a patch of poison ivy. And it happens when poison ivy is burned. So that is what I think happens to your son, so much urishiol gets into the air that he can't help getting the poison ivy. Try giving you son Clariton when you know the field has been mowed, it really could help. Of course, since his reaction is so bad, you should take him to an allergist, too. But in the meantime, before his appointment, try the Clariton, Zanfel, and other holistic products,

Poison ivy is our real curse for being kicked out of the Garden of Eden.