Me + Poison Ivy

On a recent walk through the woods, one portion of the path was badly overgrown. The smart thing to do would have been to turn around and go back the way I came. Unfortunately, I didn't do the smart thing. I just continued walking, brushing vines out of my way as I went. 

A little while later, at home, my face starting itching. Must be a bug bite, I thought. Until I looked in the bathroom mirror and realized I had a rash that looked an awful lot like poison ivy. Spoiler alert: it was poison ivy. 

Bummer. 

Thankfully the internet was here to save me with all kinds of recommendations (and provide me with frightening photographs - never google pictures of rashes). 

I started out with some home based remedies (aloe and honey both reduced the itching), but eventually I branched out to the heavy hitters - medicated scrub and calamine lotion. 
It took about a week, but everything cleared up, and my face and arms look normal again. Plus I can now identify poison ivy like a pro. (yay!) But I'll be sticking to the sidewalk for a while. 

Have you ever had poison ivy?

Comments

  1. Unfortunately, I did google it (before the bit about not googling!) It looks *awful*. I really hope you didn't have the worst effects (big blisters.)

    We don't have poison ivy here but we still use Calamine lotion for ant bites. Calamine is the best!

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    1. I'm sorry - should've put the warning at the beginning! :) Mine wasn't a terrible case; my blisters were about the size of a mole or so. I didn't know calamine worked on ant bites. Good to know!

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  2. Oh no! I'm glad you're feeling better now. I've never had poison ivy either, but it always sounded horrible in books!

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  3. So our bush might be full of deadly snakes and spiders, but at least we don't have poisonous plants!

    I'm itching in sympathy!

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  4. Actually, when I went to Cairns, I discovered there's this heart shaped leaf on a plant, that has a horrible stinging effect, more or less for ever - certainly a long time, and no known cure! Seriously!! So whilst Australia doesn't have poison ivy, and I haven't experienced it like all your other Aussie commenters, this vine scared the heck out of us... even if a leaf falls on you!

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    1. What?! That's a crazy plant! I'd be scared of it too (just like I should've been with the poison ivy!).

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  5. Luckily we don't have poison ivy here although I was always careful to avoid it when I lived in Massachusetts. Owww!

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    1. Yes! I definitely learned my lesson and plan to be more cautious in the future!

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  6. yikes! that does not sound fun. My husband had a similar recent incident. he was trimming the shrubs in our front yard and while it was not poison ivy he ended up developing a rash on both his arms, neck and legs.. thank god it wasn't itchy but it was red and not fun.

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    1. Not being able to scratch it drove me crazy!

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  7. Yikes! I've had poison ivy twice. NOT FUN! So happy it cleared up quickly for you. Calamine is the best stuff ever :)

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    1. Me too! Agreed, the calamine felt so nice going on :)

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