Beware the Leaves of Three!

Beware the Leaves of Three!

Topic Author: Melissa Brunner

Posted: 2:48 PM Jun 30, 2009

Replies Posted: 7 comments

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I did a health story on the topic a couple weeks back, but as I itch a new bumpy patch of skin, I guess it bears repeating!

It seems there is a bumper crop of poison ivy this year, and local health workers tell me the reactions people are having to it are particularly stubborn. At one point, Cotton-O'Neil Express Care locations each were seeing one to two patients a day come in with a poison ivy rash. Many of them didn't respond to the first round of treatment and had to come back for more.

In our yard, we've seen poison ivy pop up everywhere. It's climbing on trees, popping up in the grass and creeping across our paths. And it's leaves are HUGE this year!! Try as I might, I seem to be a magnet for the stuff. Fortunately, though, I've only had a few minor reactions.

The best advice to prevent the itch of poison ivy is to avoid it. Wear longs sleeves and long pants if you know you'll be an area that might have it (guess wearing a tank top, shorts and sandals walking the dogs is a bad idea!). If you do come in contact with poison ivy, immediately wash the area to get the oils off and change clothes so you don't get any oil that's on the clothing onto your skin. If the oil remains on your skin, expect the itchy bumps to surface 24 to 48 hours later.

For more information, check out the following article from WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/allergies/tc/poison-ivy-oak-or-sumac-topic-overview. Meantime, beware the "leaves of three!"

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

by Candace Location: Topeka on Jul 1, 2009 at 02:02 PM

OH! How I can relate to you!! One year I had the nasty stuff 3, yes 3 times! You would think I would of learned, but I guess not! It ran up both my arms and even got on my neck and face! EWWW! It was so ugly, I was afraid to let any one see me. This year, I don't know if I'm just avoiding it better(my husband lets me know where it is in the yard)or I'm just tp afraid to dig in my flowers! Good luck! Hope you are done itching soon!!

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by Lois Location: Topeka on Jul 1, 2009 at 10:15 AM

I'd guess that keeping your pets away from it too might be a good idea. It would seem to me that if the oil of it gets onto them and you then rub against that area, it could transfer onto you. I am not acknowleged on poison ivy, but that would seem reasonable to me. Good luck!!!!

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by Barb Location: Topeka on Jun 30, 2009 at 09:48 PM

I try to stay 10 feet away from it, I swear it finds me by osmosis, as a child I had it so bad my eyes swelled shut and I itched everywhere,its miserable. Caladryl lotion helps with the itching, dab it on with cotton balls and throw them away after each small area, wear gloves to apply. It has benadryl init to relieve the itching. Hope you get rid of it soon.

REPONSE: Thanks - all this talk about it has me itching my arm tonight!

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by vicki Location: topeka on Jun 30, 2009 at 05:37 PM

I have tons in my yard and the worst part for me is my lawn mower blows grasses all over me with small pieces of this stuff! we have sprayed in a couple places but its growing up the trees now...huge groupings!...I was using yard cutters to stop it then I find out the oils will stay on those cutters, I'm fighting it in my yard but I live in the country so my dog can walk in the woods and bring some home on her coat...exasperation!!

RESPONSE: Oh, I know! I love hugging my furry friends - but I always am careful after they've been romping in the woods.

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by J Location: Topeka on Jun 30, 2009 at 05:26 PM

VERY nasty stuff!! I've never had poison ivy in my life, even walking through it, but last year, I got it over nearly every region of my body after accidently lying down in it with no shirt on, watching a fireworks display. The doctor told me that washing with soap and water is a bad thing to do as the ivy chemicals are not neutralized by soap, and it will only serve to spread it. You must use special soaps designed to neutralize the ivy if you know you've come in contact with it, and the doctor said that its NOT contagious, contrary to everyone's opinions and beliefs about poison ivy. YUCK!!!!

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by Jan Location: Manhattan/Quilter on Jun 30, 2009 at 03:52 PM

Nasty Stuff. I am highly allergic to the stuff. I will also use rubbing alcohol on skin that as been exposed after washing with soap and water just to be sure I got it all. I have scars from the nasy leaves of three.

RESPONSE: I feel like I need to wear big mittens so I don't scratch!

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by Grace Location: Emporia on Jun 30, 2009 at 03:00 PM

To truly scare you, Melissa, when we bought our house we were totally overrun with poison ivy. We had a vine up a fence that was the size of a small tree! We have pictures to prove it. It was like 6 feet tall and the vine was several inches across and self supporting. It's been so wet this spring I've not got my usual spraying done. Brush-b-gone works well on poison ivy. You may have to do it twice to really kill it off, though. We use dish soap to wash to be sure to get the oil off skin. Seems to work. Or we're not sensitive to it.

RESPONSE: I should be so lucky to be insensitive to it - I get it all the time!

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