I have a 'contact dermatitus' rash that appears to be from Poison Ivy (no idea when I was in poison ivy so not really sure what it is). I developed a fairly severe reaction/ rash and went to urgent care (swelling face as well as large rash area). I was prescribed predisone, and given a cortisone injection. 4 days later the rash had not dissipated so went back to urgent care and got another cortisone shot and floucinolone cream. My face swelling dissipdated and the first part of rash is fading quite nicely, but here is is more than a week after the second shot and I am stlll itching, and seem to be developing new little spot rashes over my legs and arms. I have washed everything and I am no longer in the area of the country where I developed it.
My question is should I give the meds a few more days, or should I assume I am having continued histimine reactions and go back in?
How long does it generally take for the predisone and creams to resolve poison ivy? (I am on day 11 of 14 of the predisone, and 8 days of cream. 11 days after first cortisone shot, and 8 days after second one.)
How long does it take for Predisone to work on Poison Ivy?
Question posted by KAB11 on 13 June 2010
Last updated on 26 October 2021 by davegm
I am going back in tomorrow to a dermatologist. The rash is getting worse and I am on the end of the predisone (single pill days). Also the florinocide cream that I have used for only 8 days seems to have cause skin thinning already. I was fine yesterday morning but when I got home the skin all around ther ethe rash had originated on my face was red and spider veiny - classic skin thinning. I am pretty upset about that since I was not abusing or overusing the cream at all.
Answers
The doctors I have been to don't all agree. One yahoo said to take 20mg for 7 days. No. My poison ivy allergy (also fabric softener and hair rinse) lasts about 3 weeks. I take 30-45 mg of Prednisone the first day. I then take 20mg and cut to 10-15 depending on need. The 45 mg makes me feel sick. I also use 1 Benadryl during the day and 2 at night along with that cream and hydrocortisone. I have read about eating more oranges and grapefruit. I am wondering about drinking aloe vera juice etc too. Anything to work this crap through my blood faster would be a God send. I hope this helps people.
What is odd is that different poison ivy even from 30 miles away hsa different effects. It has swelled up my ear once, and another time my eye. Before learning about Prednisone, my welps would get huge, a couple inches long and 1/16" high. in a daze, I would scratch hoping to tear the skin off thus relieving the itching. I took high levels of Benadryl to help me sleep. I think any mor ethan two, does not help the itching any more.
Poison ivy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to an oily resin called urushiol. This oil is in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac.
The resin is very sticky, so it easily attaches to your skin, clothing, tools, equipment and pet's fur. A poison ivy rash can occur when there resin comes into contact with your skin. The skin reaction starts with redness and itching and may develop into pale bumps (hives) or blisters. The severity of the rash depends on the amount of urushiol contacting the skin and the sensitivity of the individual.
Steroids such as Prednisone can reduce the symptoms of a poison ivy rash (allergic contact dermatitis) and sometimes reduce the severity and shorten the length of a rash. Prednisone helps decrease itching and inflammation. It is usually used for more severe cases of the rash, such as when it covers about 10% of the body's skin or when the face, hands, and genitals are affected.
Prednisone is usually taken until the symptoms are gone. How effective it is often depends on how soon you seek help after the rash appears.
Visit the site below for more information:
https://www.drugs.com/cg/poison-ivy.html
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