Suggest Treatment For Dermatitis Due To Contact With Poison Ivy

Question: I have a recent bout of dermatitis most likely due to contact with poison ivy. That was around Nov. 23, 2014. It resulted in weeping sores on two spots on my body. Did the steroid pills and creme, which stopped the weeping but did not clear up the rash. About a week or two later I was given a steroid shot and another round of pills, with steroid creme. This did mostly clear up the rash. Right when I thought I was over it, it resurged most likely due to urushoil oil from one set of clothes getting on other clothes. I have been fighting it since. It is unremitting. This is my third bout or so of PI. I've never had this reaction before. If I touch clothes that may have even remotely come into contact with the oil, I get an immediate flushed feeling of my skin, and a terrible burning tingle all over my body. If I drop or remove the article of clothing, typically the burning tingling immediately stops. Sometimes, however, it will continue for hours. Often, the rash will start to break out, though I can knock it back with benadryl and triamcinolone.

Some new symptoms as of yesterday. Clothes I have not worn in years, and new clothes never worn, cause severe burning tingling sensation. If not addressed by removing the clothes, my skin begins to break out in a rash. The only relief is a shower rinse followed by a bath soak. This seems to eventually calm the skin down. Yesterday, as I was in the soak, I rubbed my hands together in an attempt to reduce the burning tingle. Immediately, my palms turned a wine red and remained that way for several minutes. When I checked, the soles of me feet were also a deep red. So, the blood flushed to the surface after pressure was released and remained there. This repeated at least once more around eight hours later, and mildly this morning. I am wondering if I have developed a neuropathic condition.

Also, let me state the original problem manifested 11/25/2014. The symptoms now are sometimes a crawling or biting/pinprick type sensation, raised welts that do not itch, and the burning/tingling sensation with numbness in hands and fingers. I have begun using a skin hydrating lotion that seems to have improved things. However, the slightest touch of any material (cotton, blends, polyester) on my skin triggers the burning tingle and flushed/rash skin. I do not believe this is contact dermatitis due to poison ivy at this point.