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Poison Ivy Allergy
by David Cowley |
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If you are allergic to poison ivy
then you suffer from allergies Type 4 or delayed allergies. Up
to 90 percent of people are allergic to the urushiol oil that
causes the poison ivy rash. Over half of the population will
experience a rash with the first contact of the poison ivy plant
and is considered the most common allergy in the country.
Symptoms of poison ivy allergy is a severe itching of the skin
that later develop into an inflammation of the skin. Red oozing
sores or blisters can develop in sever cases and the fluid will
have a slight yellowish color.
Some of us can roll in poison ivy and come out without any problems,
while others can merely brush up against a few leaves of the
stuff and they are scratching for weeks. In most cases, allergies
are more annoying that debilitating but to the extreme allergy
suffers life can be pure misery or even death. |
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Just because you do not develop
systems the first few times you come into contact with poison
ivy does not mean that you are immune. It may take several exposures
to poison ivy before symptoms develop. The more times you are
exposed to the usushiol the more likely it is that you will break
out in a rash. Symptoms usually occur within 2 to 3 days.
It only take 1 billionth of a gram to cause the rash. 1/4 of
an ounce of urushiol is all that is needed to cause a rash in
every person on earth.
The usushiol oil can still be found on dead poison ivy plants
for up to five years. Direct contact is the most common way of
catching poison ivy however, you can catch poison ivy by just
being close to the plants if the urushiol oil becomes airborne
due to the plants are being burned, like in a forest fire, or
because of the actions of a lawnmower or weed trimmer.
Scratching or rubbing the rashes will not spread the poison ivy
rash unless you still have the urushiol oil on your hands. This
also means that poison ivy is not contagious and you will not
be able to give it to another person. Scratching can lead to
scaring and infection of the affected area so it is not recommended.
Over the years I have developed poison ivy rash numerous times
and I have tried many different treatments and I have found only
two treatments that work for me. The first is with my Doctor
giving me a steroid shot of Prednisone. Symptoms usually start
to improve within 24 hours.
The second treatment is one that I have never found documented
anyplace else. Back in the early 60s an old country doctor told
me of this treatment. Go to your pharmacy and get a solution
of 5 percent carbolic acid in olive oil. Rub the solution on
the rash. Within minutes you will see a yellowish fluid appearing
on top of the red sores or blisters. Mop up the fluid and when
no more fluid develops after several minutes reapply the carbolic
acid in olive oil solution. This treatment will start to relieve
the symptoms with an hour or two but will take 1 to 2 weeks to
cure the poison ivy rash. The carbolic acid in olive oil solution
seems to act as some type of drawing agent and I have successfully
used it on bee stings and insect bites.
Avoidance is the best advice for Posion Ivy Allergy. Leave of
three then let them be.
Always consult your doctor before using this information.
This Article is nutritional in nature and is not to be construed
as medical advice. |
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Author: |
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David Cowley has created numerous
articles on allergies. He has also created a Web Site dedicated
to allergies and how to treat them. Visit http://www.allergies-team.com |
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Article Source: www.isnare.com |
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Article Posted: November 4, 2009 |
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