I just suffered through a horrendous case of poison ivy.  Horrendous!  I would show you pictures, but Thip won’t let me sully the site with such awful visuals.  Suffice it to say, that I had it on both arms, both legs, part of my waist, and even a few specks on my cheeks and eyelid.

I would love to write a funny post about how I survived it, but there has literally been nothing funny about it.  So, instead, here are a few tips for you to avoid a similar fate.

1.       Buy extra-long gardening gloves!  I was wearing gloves, but they were just regular ones.

2.       Wear long sleeves and long pants.

3.       If you feel itchy while you are weeding, stop.  Wash the affected areas with Dawn dishwashing liquid immediately.  Apparently, the oils need to be on your skin for approximately 20 minutes, so washing them off immediately will help.  You need to be sure to use an effective soap, so the oils get broken down and you don’t inadvertently spread them instead.

4.       If you know you are weeding a poisonous plant, take extra precautions, and be prepared to throw out soiled gloves or coveralls, if necessary.  Had I realized I was weeding poison ivy, I would have thrown out everything I was wearing because I am majorly sensitive to it.

5.       Clean infected gardening tools.  Don’t let the oil from the poisonous plant contaminate the rest of your gardening accessories.

6.       Shower after gardening!  I washed my arms and hands, but I did not take a full shower.  That was a mistake.

7.       If you do develop a rash, get to the dermatologist as soon as possible to see if you are a candidate for a prescription medication.

8.       During this experience, I discovered ice packs and a cold garden hose were my friends.  Otherwise, it was important for me to stay out of the heat, and apply cooling lotions and gels.

9.       There are lots of homeopathic treatments recommended online, including apple cider vinegar, and soothing essential oils.  In my case, I opted for the prescription medication because I was in bad shape, but you have to find the treatment that works best for you.

Now, I have to get over my newfound fear of weeding, so I can get back into my garden.  And, at some point, I will have to tackle the remaining poison ivy in my yard.  Now that I know where it is and have ordered my extra-long gloves, I will hopefully be better prepared.