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Do Itchy Rashes And Red Pimples On Body Indicate Poison Ivy?

Posted on Mon, 26 Oct 2015

Question: How do I tell if I have poison ivy? I itch all over but my rash looks like like little pimples and are red.
I went walking in a grassy wooded area with my dog today.

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (15 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Poison ivy

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for the query

Poison ivy symptoms are
1. Severe itching followed by redness around the area
2. Small bumps which later turn into pimples/blister
3. These blisters break and leak out

Treatment is simple and self care is sufficient most of the times. Here is how you should go about it

1. Make sure to keep the area dry and clean.
2. Do not pop the pimples
3. Tab Levocetrizine twice a day can help bring down the itching
4. Apply calamine lotion over it to have a soothing effect

I hope I was of help, if you have any further queries please get back to me

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (41 minutes later)

I have never in my life been allergic to any plant in the woods so I am confused as how this could happen to me suddenly in my old age. Is this possible?

How can I suddenly become allergic to poison ivy when I have never been allergic to it before? Seventy years and never had it.

How can I suddenly develop an allergy to something at age 70? I used to brag about how I could take a pee in a poison ivy patch and never get the allergy?

Can someone at age 70 develop an allergy to something I was never allergic to before? I have been exposed many times and never developed hives.

Can someone suddenly develop an allergy to something I have never allergic to before. I am 70 darn it and had plenty of exposure to the plants because I am an outdoor person who hikes, camps, fishes, hunts, etc. Never got poison ivy. Was this just luck?

Answered by Dr. Rakesh Madhyastha (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Could happen

Detailed Answer:
Hello

Thanks for getting back, I am sorry for the short delay in my reply there was a family emergency. It is possible to develop an allergy to something you have not been allergic before. It is more so after one ages. However in the case of poison ivy is not allergy but it is your body mounting a response to the poison called 'urushiol' present in it.

I hope it has improved, it usually takes about 3 weeks for it to completely resolve.
Please make sure to follow the above instructions carefully.

Please get back to me for any further queries, I am once again extremely sorry for the delay

Regards

Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D