[pct-l] Poison Oak Recovery

[Heather]

Marion, despite the medical recommendation, I have had excellent success with jewel-weed. I found a jewel-weed soap at the health food store that has served me very well. 
Best of luck!

Heather

> On Mar 23, 2014, at 1:00 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
> 
> Message: 13
> Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2014 14:40:46 -0700
> From: Marion Davison <mardav at charter.net>
> Subject: [pct-l] questions about poison oak recovery
> To: Pct-L at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <532E035E.7060204 at charter.net>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
> 
> I'm hoping to find some experts-due-to-experience here.
> Two weeks ago I attended PCTA chain saw certification class at Mt. 
> Palomar.  I was wearing full personal protection clothing, but managed 
> to come in contact with poison oak.  Apparently it hadn't leafed out yet 
> so I didn't see it when I was out grubbing out the areas where we were 
> cutting logs.
> I ended up with large areas of blistered rash, mostly on my legs.
> It has been two weeks now, and I am left with a large area (about 6" by 
> 8" on the back of one leg that is scabbed where all the blisters were. 
> The skin is very dry and the crease on the back/inside of my knee is 
> extremely sore.  The doctor says I should only wash with betadine and 
> not use any lotions or soaps on it. He prescibed a course of oral 
> medications--motrin, claritin, an antibiotic and prednisone. A nurse 
> suggested I apply cold wet cloths to it several times a day to hydrate 
> the skin.
> I am having a very hard time walking because of this.  My leg does not 
> want to bend because of all the dry, cracked, scabbed skin.
> Can anyone suggest anything I can do to promote healing and improve my 
> recovery?  I also have large areas of red rash without blisters and 
> other large areas of  pink, itchy dry skin.