Recently I came down with my first case of poison ivy. And it's a doozy. A trip to the doctor last Monday has me on medication that's clearing it up quickly, though. I'll be happy to see it go away completely! Since this was my first case of the scratchy stuff, I did a little research online and discovered that a lot of the things I thought were facts about poison ivy turn out to be nothing but myths.

• Scratching will cause the rash to spread. Technically, this isn't true. The rash is caused by contact with urushiol oil from the poison ivy plant. If your skin still has traces of the oil and you scratch, you could transfer the oil to another part of your body. But, once the oil is gone, scratching will not spread the rash. However, take it from my personal experience, you don't want to scratch. I'm on a heavy-duty antibiotic to clear up the infection I have as a result of scratching.
  
• Poison ivy is contagious. Again, only contact with urushiol oil will cause the reaction. The rash itself is not contagious.
  
• Once allergic, always allergic to poison ivy. Not necessarily. Your sensitivity can change over time.

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There is a wooded area in a nearby community that's open to the public. Though it's smack-dab in the middle of a city, you really feel like you're escaping to the wilderness there. My son and I like to visit it for day hikes and he also likes to ride his bike on the trails. Though the trails are groomed and maintained for public use, off-trail it's a woods like any other. If you're not careful, you can definitely run across some of the poison plants -- poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. You can avoid the itch by recognizing the plants:

• Poison ivy. In some areas poison, ivy grows as a vine. In others it's more of a shrub. The identifying trait is it's three-leaf configuration.
• Poison oak. Poison oak is somewhat similar in appearance to poison ivy, but the leaves are shaped more like an oak tree's. The underside of the leaf is lighter than the top and is covered in hair.
• Poison sumac. Common in swampy areas, poison sumac is a woody shrub with leaves arranged in pairs and clusters of green berries.

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With all the snow and general coldness, winter has a lot of strikes against it, if you ask me. But one of the worst parts about the cold season is the fact that it's always accompanied by dry, itchy skin. Ugh!

What should you do if you have a case of the winter skin? eDiets has the following suggestions:

• Consider the cleanser. We usually don't think much about our cleanser, but it can be very drying. Consider switching to one that is gentler on skin, or even one that is designed for dry skin. If you skin feels tight half an hour after washing, you cleanser might be too harsh. And don't over-cleanse, even if you have zits.
  
• Switch to rich. Pick up a rich cleanser, possibly one that's specific to very dry skin.
  
• Exfoliate. Doing this two or three times a week will keep your skin supple.
  
• Embrace the mask. It might make you look like a cave monster, but a hydrating mask will do wonders for you.
  
• See a pro. Getting a facial will also help. They might be steep but they're worth it.
  

How do you keep you skin moisturized in winter?

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Omega-3s have the medically proven ability to reduce the amount of fat in your blood and help lower triglycerides. Triglycerides are a huge risk factor in heart attacks. Not only are they good for the heart but they help with depression, type 2 diabetes, fatigue, dry and itchy skin, brittle hair and nails, joint pain and other inflammation in the body, and the inability to concentrate. Here are some top 10 food sources for Omega-3s. Start a healthy habit by adding some of these items to your daily diet and remember to buy organic when available.

Flax Seeds
Dried Ground Cloves
Walnuts
Salmon, Halibut, Cod
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Dried Ground Oregano
Mustard Seeds
Brussel Sprouts
Cooked Soybeans

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Anyone who works on a computer for 2 hours or more per day is at risk of developing a disorder called computer vision syndrome (CVS), and with today's increasingly computer dependent society that applies to more people than ever before. Combine the time you spend at work on a computer with the time you spend at home surfing the net, playing around with photos, or paying bills and you've easily exceeded that 2 hours many times over.

Signs of CVS include many of the same symptoms as computer eye strain such as dry, itchy, watery eyes and difficulty focusing. But it also includes additional symptoms like fatigue, backache, headache, and muscle spasms. CVS is caused by the eyes having difficulty focusing on the many millions of pixels that make up a computer's screen and image -- the eye muscles literally get overworked trying to focus and refocus to keep the picture sharp and clear.

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It doesn't seem to matter how often I use lotion, or whether it's the scented stuff or the "extra intense" formula, during the winter I often end up with skin so dry I feel like that alligator in the moisturizer commercials on TV. So, for those of us who could use some pointers, here are some general but effective tips on dealing with and preventing dry skin this winter:

Try minimizing the time you take in the shower and when washing your hands, and try using more lukewarm water than hot. Hot water strips your skin of the natural oils that keep it supple, so reducing exposure should make a difference. And use moisturizer as quickly as possible after showering or washing your hands -- preferably while your skin is still a little damp so you can lock in that precious moisture.

Hydrate from the inside out by drinking more water! Need I say more?

Consider getting a humidifier. Colder air is naturally less humid -- add indoor artificial heating and things only get worse.

Finally, if you're still battling with dry, itchy, or flaky skin consider that it may be a product you're using or even something in your diet. Try switching soaps or moisturizers to something milder, and consider the fact that what you eat can have a huge impact on how healthy your skin is.

Bye bye alligator skin!

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