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A slight itching, then the rashes

On a sunny May afternoon, dressed for the heat in shorts and a T-shirt, I yanked stubborn vines from long-ignored trees and shrubs, making way for a new flower bed.

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On a sunny May afternoon, dressed for the heat in shorts and a T-shirt, I yanked stubborn vines from long-ignored trees and shrubs, making way for a new flower bed.

After four hours of effort, I felt pretty pleased with the result. Those good feelings, however, didn't last.

About 85 percent of the population is allergic to poison ivy, and 10 percent to 15 percent are extremely allergic, according to the American Skin Association.

I learned that I fell squarely in the second camp.

What makes poison ivy such a menace is urushiol, found in the sap of bruised plants. Sticky, colorless, and odorless, the resin, which does not evaporate, can travel through clothing and shoes. Direct contact with the plant is not needed for an allergic reaction: It can be carried on the fur of animals, on tools, or on sports equipment.

It took several days before small red dots appeared on my legs. A day later, a slight itching started. Then came more rashes.

About a week later, the onslaught arrived.

How to describe the itch? Unbearable is not a strong enough word.

Intense, overwhelming, insatiable. And ugly. Blisters and scrapes and occasional bleeding - I couldn't stop scratching.

A colleague told me of his sister, who, beset by the rash, called out: "No one will ever love me!"

Now, that's a good description.

Tecnu, an exfoliating wash that scrubs off the urushiol, offered some relief, but I came to it too late - it should be used directly after exposure. Calamine lotion didn't touch the itch. Oatmeal baths were supposed to offer brief solace, but the idea of getting into a lumpy colloidal bath was too depressing. Benadryl in high doses helped, as did Pepcid, an antacid that also is supposed to suppress an itch. Cold compresses and standing in a shower under scalding hot water helped - temporarily.

On Memorial Day, I went to the emergency room.

"Wow," the doctor said.

As I surreptitiously scratched, avoiding his disapproving glare, he scribbled a prescription for two weeks of prednisone, a steroid that helps calm the inflammation.

That helped. Some.

In 2007, a study by the U.S. Department of Agriculture said that, thanks to climate change, poison ivy weeds were on the rise. Blame higher temperatures and more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

"Temperature . . . allows poison ivy to expand its range (although the rate of expansion has not been well quantified), and CO2 . . . results in more, and potentially more virulent, poison ivy," said Lewis Ziska, lead researcher on the study.

"There are some people who have a stronger reaction to poison ivy," said Joya Sahu, a professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, "while others have no reaction at all."

After talking to dermatologists, I learned I did almost everything wrong. For one, the moment I came inside from gardening, I should have washed off with soap and water and scrubbed with Tecnu from the get-go. Washing clothes outside with a garden hose is also a good idea.

My reaction was a severe one, landing me in bed for 10 days. Prednisone is no picnic. It has to be delivered in descending dosages and must be taken according to doctor's orders, or there is the risk of a rebound flare-up of the reaction. And it has side effects, including raising blood sugars - not good for a type 2 diabetic like me - and high blood pressure. It can also cause insomnia and manic behavior.

Three weeks later and, save for some fading scars, I was healed. Suffice it to say that for this summer, that planned flower bed is on hold.

Poison Ivy Tips

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Allergic reactions to poison ivy, sumac, and oak are the most common in the U.S., affecting as many as 50 million Americans a year. Don't assume you are immune.

Wear long pants and long sleeves when you are in an area where poison ivy is growing. Use rubber bands at ankles and wrists for extra protection.

Scrub off. "After exposure, wash your clothes, and shampoo your pets," says Joya Sahu, a professor of medicine at Thomas Jefferson University. "Use lukewarm, soapy water or Tecnu on your skin.''

Use bentoquatam before exposure. This over-the-counter lotion protects the skin from poison ivy oils. It needs to be applied 15 minutes before exposure and reapplied every four hours.

Don't fear contagion. "Many people think the rash is contagious, but it's not," says Bruce A. Brod, codirector of the Occupational and Contact Dermatitis Clinic at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. "And it doesn't really travel through the air unless it is burned with leaves."

Try to avoid scratching. Hydrocortisone cream - a dermatologist can prescribe a higher dosage than you can get over the counter - and cool showers can help.

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