The reasons for posting this thread here in "Discussions" were: 1. I thought controlling moths in imported rice was a major issue (for me at least) and germane to cooking. 2. I saw many threads talking about picnics, eating outdoors, cooking outdoors and I thought that insect control as well as itch control would be useful information. 3. I thought itch management without medication is a consideration for all, and critical for some and not too many would visit the "Conversations" section of this Forum. I am sorry, but not surprised, that my thinking turned out to be flawed. I thank those of you who are always so vigilant, and pointed this out to me. Thank goodness we have "Conversations". I hate eating moth eggs. I will skip later to "Conversations" to clarify one minor point regarding this topic. Please wait until I get there to continue this inappropriate "Conversation". See you there. dcarch

By the time you typed in all the text in this post you could have been to the Doctors. I hope this is very poor attempt at humour, if it's not I believe there is a website somewhere that will tell you how to do minor sub dermal surgery. Thank goodness for my national heath care. Had an MRI yesterday and was complaining that I had to pay 15 bucks for parking.

budge1, The doctor may have warned me about HC creams ... don't recall. At the time I was mostly listening for what was best to use and that's it. However, I have since been wondering what too much use of the cream can do which is why when I posted I indicated a bit of concern that I'd waded my way through three tubes! of the stuff. I do have awful red scarring now but went through a burn stage too although I must say I attributed it to the poison ivy itself. It does seem to have ameliorated now - no blisters and barely any itching! What a tremendous concept not to be burning from the inside out! :-) blsdgal, yes my "freckle" was a melanoma. I didn't suspect it at all, but my doctor happened to catch sight of it at my annual physical last year and told me to see a dermatologist for it asap. I thought she was just being an alarmist and put off going to one until this July. Well, surprise! Also, while I'd heard the general alarms about melanoma, I never really did dig deep enough or pay close enough attention to understand that this is a cancer - and the dangerous skin cancer to boot. As a doctor who I had to see while my doc was out and who has enviable bedside manners put it to me none too delicately: "what is there to say to you? It is the most dangerous form of [skin] cancer there is. Make an appointment to do the full excision asap.". Gee, thanks for the details, doc. Must say that although I took decent precautions in the sense that I use sunscreen on my face and neck, I figured I only really needed to worry about the more delicate parts of the body. I'm an active person and as its hard to go hiking or to do 30-40 mile bike rides after sunset, I was routinely outside during the day. I'm going to have to have a think about how to indulge my passions while protecting myself. Maybe get up at 4:00am to go on those bike rides in what is left of the summer? Well, after I can stand to put some weight on my foot again. This is the one thing about this cancer stuff: even the final excision which biopsied all clean, no residual cancer cells, is extremely painful. I've never gone through anything where even 13 days after the surgery, the wound is still painful and delicate. (So poison ivy on top of all that was so unfunny, you have no idea). Although, I will say that I think mine may be more uncomfortable and debilitating because it is right at a joint - think of the ankle joint right at the base of the shin bone - and therefore can't bear to take any weight OR to stand any deflections. And, being at an extremity, much slower to heal than otherwise. So three times the fun. Anyhow, that was all a very long winded way of saying that you should get your daughter in to see a doctor. It will all likely be precautionary, but better to get into the habit than have to deal with it for real!

I have the same thing with my left foot on my second piggie. It might be a year before it itches- sometimes weeks. Might itch for a few days or a couple of weeks. No rash,scaling, blisters- just a couple of very small dots which usually occur from me scratching. The best thing I have found to work is not to scratch (I know that is easier said than done) and apply a small ice pack for a minute or two when it starts itching. Blue star ointment seems to help better than any other topicals in between the icing. My doctor told me it was related to nerve damage either to the nail bed or the tip of the toe and would probably have episodes my entire life.