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Clough · Sep 21, 2009, 02:43 PM

Hi, All!

I've always wondered if a person should pop/drain the blisters or not, that they've gotten from coming into contact with a poisonous plant.

I've also gotten conflicting views about that...

What's the straight dope on this, please?

Thanks!

tickle · Sep 21, 2009, 03:05 PM

No, you shouldn't touch the postules, clough, that is spreading them to other areas of your body. DO NOT SCRATCH. That is why you use a lotion(calamine) to stop itching, so they go away without spreading.

Tick

ballengerb1 · Sep 21, 2009, 03:10 PM

I agree, don't pop them. Poping will also open you up to a higher risk of infection. Never pop any type of blister even ones from gardening too much or hammering too much. The blister is your bodies way of creating an isolation area for a wound.

Catsmine · Sep 21, 2009, 03:16 PM

Blisters are blisters, regardless of where they come from. Popping/breaking them will produce an entry point for all kinds of infections.

I've heard the tales that fluid from the blisters will spread the rash, but unless the oils are still on the surface of your skin I can't see how. Warm water, detergent cleanser, and drying the rash are still the fastest ways to get rid of it. That's why Calamine is so good, it dries the rash out. Caladryl helps with the itch, too.

Clough · Sep 21, 2009, 03:18 PM

Hi, All!

When I was a kid though, I used to pop them. It seemed to me that they didn't scar up when I did that.

I'm always open for advice...

Thanks!

KISS · Sep 21, 2009, 03:47 PM

At first sign of exposure, was with Octagon soap. Calamine lotion is also a good remedy.

J_9 · Sep 21, 2009, 03:50 PM

Best stuff I have found for it is a prescription called Mometasone furoate. Dries it right up. My daughter had poison ivy covering almost her entire body earlier this summer. Gone in a day!

Catsmine · Sep 21, 2009, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

Best stuff I have found for it is a prescription called Mometasone furoate. Dries it right up. My daughter had poison ivy covering almost her entire body earlier this summer. Gone in a day!!

Is that OTC? I'll get some if 'tis.

KISS · Sep 21, 2009, 07:00 PM

J_9 said prescription only: http://www.perrigo.com/uploadedFiles.../5D800RCJ1.pdf

Looks like it comes in a cream, ointment and a solution and pretty cheap based on prices at drugstore.com Online Pharmacy - Prescription Drugs, Health and Beauty, plus more

It might be similar to the active ingredient as in Nasonex nasal spray: http://www.spfiles.com/pinasonex.pdf

J_9
What version was prescribed?

Clough · Sep 21, 2009, 09:17 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

Best stuff I have found for it is a prescription called Mometasone furoate. Dries it right up. My daughter had poison ivy covering almost her entire body earlier this summer. Gone in a day!!

Hi, J_9!

So, was that stuff used without opening up the blisters, please?

Thanks!

J_9 · Sep 22, 2009, 05:38 AM

The cream was prescribed.

That stuff was just rubbed over where the patches of the poison ivy are, no blisters were opened or popped.

Clough · Sep 22, 2009, 11:35 PM

Hi again, J_9!

No blisters opened or popped? I wonder how such a cream works then..

Thanks!

J_9 · Sep 23, 2009, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by Clough

Hi again, J_9!

No blisters opened or popped? I wonder how such a cream works then...?

Thanks!

It's a cortisone based cream, so it dries it right up.

Clough · Sep 23, 2009, 12:40 PM

Hi again, J_9!

So, does it work the same way that a poultice might work? Please excuse my ignorance/lack of knowledge here! I'm just trying to find out information...

Thanks!

twinkiedooter · Sep 24, 2009, 08:01 PM

Ok, here's the skinny on poison ivy. I was the happy victim of poison ivy from my garden (again) this year. Got it on my left wrist. I used 91% alcohol on it as I was too lazy to use calamine lotion. Since I sleep on my left side and have my left wrist touching my right shoulder I got poison ivy on my right shoulder. It wasn't until I went out to the store and bought some fresh calamine lotion and slathered it on my left wrist and my right shoulder did the poison ivy go away. It does not matter if you pop the blisters or not as the poison ivy will infect another part of your skin if the infected part of your skin is touching an uninfected part. I'm living proof of being too stupid to buy fresh calamine lotion. When I did look at the bottle it had expired 7/03. Goes to show you how long I had that bottle!

Don't pop the blisters ever!!

Clough · Sep 24, 2009, 08:20 PM

Hi, twinkiedooter!

I can understand not popping the blisters due the possible spread of the infection. What I don't understand is if popping the blisters or not will cause scaring.

Thanks!

ohsohappy · Sep 24, 2009, 08:28 PM

Haha this is off topic, but did you really say "what's the straight dope on this?" HAHAH You realize that not even young kids say that right Clough? :)
I hope you were just being silly. :)

Clough · Sep 24, 2009, 08:53 PM

No, I didn't realize that young kids don't say that sort of thing anynore.

And no, I wasn't trying to be silly!

Thanks!

twinkiedooter · Sep 24, 2009, 09:03 PM

Clough - just FYI I didn't pop my blisters but I still had scarring on my wrist and my shoulder!

ohsohappy · Sep 24, 2009, 09:48 PM

Originally Posted by Clough

No, I didn't realize that young kids don't say that sort of thing anynore.

And no, I wasn't trying to be silly!

Thanks!

I think when someone says "straight dope" it's the same as "wack" as in "ridiculous" or "bulls****"
:)

Twinkie said "here's the skinny" That's the phrase I think you want to use, in that context.

A bit of an urban dictionary lesson. :)

Although, I don't really use slang.

Haha that made my day Clough. :)