Poison Ivy On Penis With Swelling. Using Benadryl And Calamine Lotion. How To Treat This?

Posted on Sat, 16 Mar 2013

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 Answered on

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 Last reviewed on

Question : My 13 yr old son has poison ivy and it is on his penis which is swollen now. How can he treat this. I've been giving him benedryl and calamine lotion

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (34 minutes later)

Hello XXXXXXX,
Poison ivy causes irritant contact dermatitis.
Application of calamine and Benadryl wont help much.
Please apply hydrocorisone cream twice daily, also give him tablet avil (anti histamine)
This will control the allergy.
To decrease the swelling, dip a piece of cotton in normal saline and apply over his penis let it be there for 15 min. Do this three times in a day, he will get relief.

Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (26 minutes later)

What about also Epsom salt baths? Also can this spread on me because I applied calamine on him with my hands and also washed the clothes he was wearing and I now have a rash on my arm and back of my leg.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Rahul Kumar (25 minutes later)

Hello,
Epsom salt bath can be given.
Ya it can spread, as I mentioned It is a contact dermatitis, but it should only affect your fingers with which you touched, anyhow to be on safer side, it will be better that you too take an anti histamine tablet.
Thank you

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar