I woke up to find that I grew another face. The right side of my face doubled in size, and while it somewhat smoothed the wrinkles on that side, the other half seems more haggard and fallen. It’s rather itchy, red, swollen and somewhat comical so no photos included. I will however, share comments from my own supportive family:
- My hostage daughter called me double-faced
- Tony called me a chipmunk on several occasions
- My hostage son-in-law , normally a considerate guy, who perhaps finds me intimidating under regular circumstances, suggested that I can easily befriend the chipmunks now. Clearly I am losing the mother-in-law edge.
I think chipmunks are cute, so I don’t really mind, but double-faced?
This reaction happened a few times in the past decade or two. Once it was a reaction to a wasp sting and the others are unknown – potentially poison Ivy.
I am going with the assumption that it is a reaction to poison Ivy even though there are no visible plants yet. I may have been exposed to the plant’s roots as I was digging in the forest with my bare hands looking for wild garlic. Did I adjust my glasses afterwards and got the oil on my face? Very possible.
Washing your hands with soap and water does not wash the poisonous oil (called urushiol) off. There is a product called Tecnu that will do the trick. I scrubbed my hands, my face, and my glasses and hopefully stopped the spread of this very annoying infection.
https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Health/aftercareinformation/pages/conditions.aspx?hwid=uf8400
Mayo Clinic has a helpful slide show of the different kinds of rashes if you are looking for a quick ID
The American Academy of Dermatology has good information about exposure to the plant and how to treat it.
There are also articles about treating poison Ivy with essential oils such as Camomile, Eucalyptus, Lavender, oregano and special clays. Do let me know if you have had any experience with any of them.
In this time of COVID-19 digilance we certainly seem to get our share of everything but. I sure hope we can keep it this way, but enough with the plagues already!
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It’s always out there! I’ve had a couple of little spots because out lovely dogs have been running through the area where it grows. But digging by hand in the forest?🤦♀️
Yeah…I should know better, right?
Ah poison ivy. See vines pop up in my yard in many places – all the time. It loves to make me swell up and bust out in blisters. The roots are just as bad as the leaves. No one should call you names when you are suffering. Guess wearing plastic gloves when you dig in the dirt would keep you safe from poison ivy. Hope your face is better soon.
Thanks, Peggy, I really should be more careful! Oh, and names are just in good fun and made me laugh 🙂
I remember poison ivy from the days of living in Maryland. Here in California, poison oak is our most common rash-spreading plant.
The hostage son-in-law? Now that’s a rough gig.🤣 I hope you get some relief soon.
Thanks, Pete!
Hey I’m in the middle of reading the Poisonwood Bible. Think you might enjoy it
I have copy! Never got around to reading it. I’ll give it a try. I’m in the middle of the Goldfinch. Love it!
Don’t forget. Two Face is a Batman Criminal . . . and so is Poison Ivy! I wonder if they’re trying to say something?!
Haha, very possibly!