How to Treat a Poison Ivy Rash
Going out camping in the woods can sometimes be a painful and annoying experience, especially if you end up falling into poison ivy. Your skin will be infected with the plant’s toxic component, and you’ll end up with red, itchy and painful rashes. If you ever encounter this dilemma, here’s what you should do.
What You’ll Need
Rubbing alcohol
Water
Mild soap
Ice cubes
Antihistamine
Calamine lotion
Home remedies
Clean Your Skin As Soon As Possible
If you act quickly, you might be able to get off the urushiol, the toxic substance in the plant, off your skin before it starts penetrating. Get some rubbing alcohol, and clean your skin with it. Rinse using cold water, not hot, because hot water can draw the urushiol deeper. Put alcohol even on your fingernails, because you might have accidentally scratched off the toxic substance and you can spread it to other parts of your body.
When you’re done rinsing with water, use soap. Don’t use it until after you’re done rinsing, or the urushiol might be redeposited to other body areas.
Don’t Scratch
Poison ivy rash can appear within the next 48 hours, so watch out for the symptoms. Redness and itchiness is the first sign, followed by rashes in steaks of patches. Soon, these rashes will turn into oozing blisters or red bumps.
The first rule you should follow when rashes appear is don’t scratch your skin. Poison ivy rash isn’t contagious, but that doesn’t mean you can touch and scratch it. Avoid doing this, because scratching can damage your dermis, and cause germ infection. The rashes and blisters might take a longer time to heal.
Cool Off
You’ll get temporary relief by cooling off your skin. Take frequent cold showers or baths, at least twice or three times a day. Using an ice cube to massage your skin is also a good idea. When you’re not doing anything, apply a cold compress over the affected parts.
Use Medications
There are also medications that can help soothe the unpleasant rashes. These doesn’t make them go away though, only relieves the pain and itchiness they bring. Antihistamines are one popular option, reducing pain and swelling. You can buy some over-the-counter or have a doctor prescribe one for you. Hydrocortisone cream is also all right, but be wary when using this-some say it worsens the symptoms after some time.
Calamine lotion is also a good remedy for poison ivy rash. This product helps soothe your blistered skin and relieves itchiness. Apply it numerous times a day in liberal amounts. If your rashes look very bad, though, you might want to try advanced medications, such as products with diphenhydramine hydracholoride in them.
Try Home Remedies
There are many home remedies that are said to help treat poison ivy rash. Here are some examples.
Vinegar - Liberally sprinkle a few drops on your blisters or rashes to relieve itching.
Banana peel - Rub on your rashes for an instant, cooling effect.
Oatmeal - Boil some in water, let cool for several minutes, then put on the affected area. You can also add five cups to a cool bath. Soak in the water for a few hours to relieve itchiness.
Baking soda - Mix three teaspoons with a teaspoon of water to create a thick paste. Put on the rashes and allow it to dry.
Dishwashing liquid - Its anti-grease agent works great on poison ivy. Just use it like a liquid soap, then wash off with cool water.
Aloe vera gel - Put some of it all over the affected areas, to sooth itchiness and help heal the skin.
One last tip: wait. Poison ivy rashes will heal after a few weeks, so be patient. While you’re waiting for them to go away, though, you can try these remedies, so your skin will be comfy and itch-free.