I have poison ivy!

[Massagynist]

I am a new therapist (5 months working) and I work for a membership-based massage clinic. It is a very busy place and I know that when a therapist has to call out it interferes with everything. I am also accumulating a growing number of regular clients - many of whom I am scheduled to see throughout this upcoming week.

What started as a suspect rash turned out to be poison ivy and it is relatively mild but is spread throughout my forearms and wrists. I found it very difficult to work around and later on felt strongly about not working on people with a condition of this nature. To even realistically work I would have to keep it concealed (long sleeves) and I don't feel right about that. I've had it for 3-4 days and have taken off yesterday (Sat) and today (Sun). I work this upcoming Wed, Fri, Sat.

I've never had poison ivy so I don't know what to expect. I've been treating it consitently with different remedies but it seems unchanged. Is there a chance that a reputable massage clinic will expect me to work around poison ivy on the forearms and wrists? If I know that it is a complete contraindication than I will feel more confident if I have to take the days off.

It happens that those upcoming days are all booked with my highest number of rebooked sessions!

Thanks for any advice :-)

[Talenyn]

I would think that they would understand completely if the rash is still present. I would not massage with a rash like that.

Here's a link with some more information about poison ivy.

http://www.integrative-healthcare.org/m ... /post.html

I have it in my yard, but have been lucky so far even with removing the vines. I've been very lucky!

[squash_blsm]

I don't have any advice for your treatment - anything that you find that cuts the itch would be great - I use a generic anti-itch gel that I get at the drug store, and have tried various hydrocortisone creams which sometimes work - reapply often.

I work outside and we are in an area with poison ivy so I have learned to be very careful at all times.
Hopefully you know how/where you got it and will take steps in the future.
Even if you wear gloves, the oils will be on the gloves so be careful. If you have outside pets, they can give it to you from contact.

Other than when you first get it when the oils are fresh on the skin, poison ivy is not contagious from the rash itself.
I have worked on clients that have it and just avoid the area. I have also worked when I have had a small bit - I usually get it on the back of my hand or on my arm.
But if you have it on the front of your hands, between the fingers, and the part of your arm that touches client you are right to avoid work for several more days to avoid too much irritation.

Something weird that I recently learned is that after you have had direct contact it can be several days before the lesions and itch appear. Mine pops up in about 24 hours, but it can be much longer than that.

[tranquilspirit2006]

If you are aware when you are exposed to it, there is something you can get in drugstores called Tecnu. There is a wash and a gel. When you've been exposed to it, if you wash it with Tecnu, it will remove the oils and lessen or completely prevent an outbreak. My husband is highly allergic to poison ivy/oak/sumac and he uses it. Before we found this, he usually ended up having to go to the doc for steroids because he would get it horribly.

[JasonE]

Tecnu is great. Should clear it up in 3-5 days.

[JLWmassage]

Take a dip in the ocean if you can second best could be epsom salt bath

[TouchofGrace]

My husband worked in logging for years. He was highly allergic and kept poison ivy. He suffered for years and nothing helped until someone recommended Zyrtec. It worked like a charm for him but you have to start taking it early for best results.

[Timedess]

I agree that it would be best for you to wait it out before going back to work. Hopefully your employer will understand!

I have a few children who are very allergic to poison ivy, and I was thrilled beyond words when I found that a homeopathic remedy, Rhus Tox, is available. Worked very well for them. We haven't had a run-in with poison ivy in several years, so haven't had to use it. It is very inexpensive, too.

[Massagynist]

Thanks for the different remedy ideas. I am always looking for different things to try.

As for massaging while having poison ivy...I would think that the nature of the condition - weeping blisters - would be a complete contraindication. Some people wouldn't mind I'm sure but others could be turned off by the possibility that my weepage may get onto them. Not to mention it makes it impossible to use my forearms and one of my elbows. Today may be the day I need to call and talk to them because it isn't looking like it's going to clear up by Wednesday.

I just don't want my job to think I'm using the poison ivy as an excuse to not go into work...as if it is something that can be easily worked around.

[JasonE]

As an employer, I would be furious if one of our MTs showed up to work with poison ivy. Call and tell them you are treating it and will be back to work ASAP. Then call every day (at least once) to give updates on your progress. To be fair, let them know it will probably be another 3-5 days before you are able to work again. If they care about you and their clients, they'll work with that and not hold it against you. Taking some time off to treat this is the professional, ethical thing to do, even if you feel you could "work around it" - after all, you would refuse to work on a client that showed up with poison ivy, would you not? Why then should you continue doing massage when you have it yourself?

[softy515]

Since it is no longer contageous and you don't have it on your hands, I would probably continue to work. Yes, I would wear long sleeves to hide it and NOT use forearms/elbows. But tell your employers and see what their feelings are. Chances are, you aren't the first to have this problem.

When clients of mine come in with poison, I still give the massage but avoid the area's that are flared up looking. Only to avoid any irritation though, not because I think I am going to get it.

[pueppi]

When clients of mine come in with poison, I still give the massage but avoid the area's that are flared up looking. Only to avoid any irritation though, not because I think I am going to get it.

If I have a client who tells me they have poison ivy, I don't work on them. I can't chance contacting something like this. If I did, it would easily put me out of 2 weeks worth of work, not to mention there would be about 27-47 clients who would not be able to see me, due to something I could have easily avoided (just not seeing the one client). Nope, I wouldn't do it! I have myself and others to think about!