is this poison ivy???? (photos included)

I have a rash on my legs, its starting to spread and its absolutely driving me crazy - Jake wants to take me to the doctor but I wanted to make sure it is warranted - here are some pics:





Is this poison ivy? There are lots of little bumps all the way up to my thighs and its starting on my arms now. its just absolutely driving me crazy - NZ doesnt have poison ivy and so I wouldnt know how to identify it if it hit me on the head - but a friend of ours says it is. Please excuse my hairy legs, I cant shave them if its actually poison ivy.

Help!

Might I suggest that you contact a doctor ASAP? That looks like contact dermatitis. You may need some antibiotic for it, as I see you have broken the skin.

My fiance just got over poison ivy and it didn't look like that..... I think you should definately see the doctor since some have broken the skin.

You really do need to have it checked out. The doctor might only give you calamine lotion but its better to be safe than end up with an infection. Sorry I hope you feel better.

thanks for your replies...im gonna go to the doctor this afternoon...will keep youse updated

My sister had a really bad case of poison ivy last spring and it didn't look like that!!
Good luck at the doc's officce.

My brother got poison ivy so much, he eventually became immuned to it, most of the time, and that doesn't look like poison ivy.

Kiwi, nice pics of your legs, but post some of the plant and we can tell you quick what it is. Sorry you are uncomfortable. It isn't a bit of fun. Leonard

Leonard - I believe it came from the new sunscreen I bought - the rash is only on my legs and arms, where I applied the sunscreen. Grrr. I never thought it was poison ivy in the first place, which is why I asked. I have sensitive skin, so it could be the sunscreen - its a botanical one. Mmm..

Oh no Kellye! ....hope at this hour you be all right! .....

Originally Posted by Kiwideus

Leonard - I believe it came from the new sunscreen I bought - the rash is only on my legs and arms, where I applied the sunscreen. Grrr. I never thought it was poison ivy in the first place, which is why I asked. I have sensitive skin, so it could be the sunscreen - its a botanical one. Mmm..

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Sounds like you're on the right track. Poision Ivy will arrive in small oil blisters that come in a line (usually 3 blisters at first). It itches constantly and if you break the blisters or take a bath it will spread pretty much immediately. Also, usually it takes 1-4 days for poision ivy to show on your skin. Best thing for it is hydrocortizone cream.
It does look like a skin reaction though, trust me I know, I'm allergic to just about everything and I don't get sniffles, I get HIVES all over my body. Taking some antihistamine and cold compresses/calimine lotion will help with the itch temporarily, but I suggest getting your legs to a doctor so she can give you what you need to get rid of it for good.
Hope the itch goes down. Try to keep cool and do something to distract yourself. Much luck at the doctors

My fiance has a horrible reaction to Skin So Soft sun block and it looks kind of like that. It might be sun poisoning as well. My poison ivy reactions have never looked like that.. usually blisters in a straight line with lots of redness.

are you sure no animals are eating you?
i am attracting loads of spiders, beez, wasps, and little flies and they wont get off!
and yes ive had a shower

I don't know how I missed the rest of the responses! Thanks guys!

Well, lets say, I love steriods and not because of what they are doing to baseball players! I am indeed having an allergic reaction to something and my suspicion is the new sunblock lotion I was using. Well, does anyone want a free brand new tube of Banana Boat Botanicals spf 30? After the steroids, the rash is already starting to clear up and I have hydrocortisone cream also. Yay! I am itching less already - which is a big relief - I don't have the patience!

Thanks again!

YAY! I know what a relief it can be Enjoy the itch free-ness!

Glad to hear you're on the mend. Someone mentioned hydrocortizone - man that's fabulous stuff. I suffer with pomfolics (when I'm stressed out) - they're very tiny oil blisters on the sole of my right foot and occasionally on my hands, that itch like the blazes and come up in broken skin a bit like yours looked like in that pic. The doctor prescribed me the hydro cream. These days it's rare I get the blisters at all now, because my stress levels have been reduced significantly, but the hydro cream works on pretty much everything that itches. Bites, stings, you name it.

Enjoy being itchfree!!

OUCH!!! I'm glad to hear you're feeling better though. Yes, steroids do work rather nicely for reactions like that.

I agree hydrocortisone cream is a great thing - why I didnt think of using it before, I don't know! Doh!

That looks awful...and the itch must be killer with the open sores. I've been suffering from chronic hives since the 1st week in Jan 05. Its just so weird. I have had allergy tests, blood work, i've seen specialists at the University of Pennsylvania.. and nothing, they can't find a reason for it. In the beginning they put me on prednisone (a steriod) and at first they went away for a few days, then they popped back up towards the end of the prescription. After the 25 days of steriods, I gained 20lbs and barely slept the entire month and..... still had hives everywhere!

Moral of the story.... be careful on the steriods, they have some bad side effects.

Oh Kellye. Glad you are on the mend.