3 year old and poison ivy

[lmw]

I've lived in the woods for 12 years, always had dogs, never got poison ivy. My little explorer developed some itchy bumps and I'm thinking it's poison ivy. It's just on his toes, fingers, and back right now. Any tips to make it not spread? I haven't seen it yet, my Ma called me at work to tell me about my itchy child He's 3, will be 4 in November.

I always got it so bad when I was a kid, I'm dreading what's to come.

 

[abide]

I've lived in the woods for 12 years, always had dogs, never got poison ivy. My little explorer developed some itchy bumps and I'm thinking it's poison ivy. It's just on his toes, fingers, and back right now. Any tips to make it not spread? I haven't seen it yet, my Ma called me at work to tell me about my itchy child He's 3, will be 4 in November.

I always got it so bad when I was a kid, I'm dreading what's to come.

Why not check with a doctor to be on the safe side

 

[Christ_empowered]

When I was a kid, my parents just covered my poison ivy spots with calamine lotion. I think there's a new version that's clear and less messy. That might be better than the old, bright pink stuff.

 

[lmw]

Im not quite sure what it is yet. Just itchy patches, I can barely see them, he says they are itchy. Not spreading yet. We go on hikes in the woods, I stay on the path and he stays right along with me, but through the trees. And there's this spot just off the patio in the woods that goes down a little hill with little places in the dirt he likes to sit amongst the trees... well he goes down there with shoes, but his shoes don't always return. Still missing one shoe to a pair

 

[tim-from-pa]

Usually poison does not spread so-to-speak once it took hold. The reason why it "spreads" is because one came in contact in all those areas and then the lesser exposures come out later making look that way. I think the only time the oil spreads is at first contact, e.g., getting on ones hands and then touching another area. In my case, I suspect coming in contact and then spreading by sweating a lot --- often times I see streaks. But within a few days once it breaks out completely it will not "spread" any more.

BTW, the oil from poison ivy, etc is not an oil as we think of oil. My understanding is it dries like a hard resin which is why it's hard to wash off only after a few minutes of exposure. Then the body does not know what to do with it, and needless to say is very irritating. You have your your work cut out for you as your little guy's rash will last probably up to 4 weeks. In the meantime, although I don't usually recommend drugs, antihistamine taken internally, and topical ointments for it will help relieve the symptoms until the body heals itself. Some swear by natural remedies such as oatmeal. But it has to run its course. Again, any medications whether medical types or natural just relieve the symptoms.