How to Treat Poison Ivy

Guide Note

Just the thought of poison ivy can set some people scratching. How to Treat Poison Ivy will help you find relief for that incessant itch and teach you how to keep it from spreading and how to avoid it next time.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Step 1: Apply Topical Treatment
• Step 2: Additional Relief
• Step 3: Avoiding Future Reaction
• Conclusion
• References

Poison Ivy Tips

1. If you've been exposed to poison ivy, wash with soap and water immediately and be sure to get under nails to avoid spreading the oil that causes reactions.
2. Apply a topical treatment like Calamine lotion to relieve itching.
3. Also try using cold compresses or a dip in the ocean to temporarily quell the desire to scratch.
4. Learn to identify poison ivy so you can avoid it next time!
5. Don't let pets run free in woods known to contain poison ivy. They can transfer the oil to you via their fur.

Disclaimer

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your doctor before using the information presented here.

• by Tracy C.

Introduction

(Creative Commons photo by blmurch)

• If you think you've been exposed to poison ivy within the last day or two, and you've developed red, itchy, blistered or swollen patches on your skin, you may indeed be suffering from a common allergic reaction to the three-leaved menace.¹

• It's the oil inside poison ivy leaves that causes reactions that can range from mild to severe. The good news? Poison ivy is not contagious, and you can't spread it from one place on your body to another if you've released blister fluid by scratching. You can only transfer poison ivy if the original oil from the plant is still under your nails or on your hands. The other good news is that a host of products have cropped up over the years to relieve that incessant poison ivy itch.¹

Step 1: Clean and Apply Topical Treatment

(Creative Commons photo by Sarah Marriage)

• To avoid spreading poison ivy oil any further, be sure to wash the affected area and your hands thoroughly as soon as you realize you have been in contact with poison ivy.

1. If you catch it early, wash with soap and water and be sure to get under your nails to prevent poison ivy from spreading.²
2. If you're able to wash exposed skin within ten to fifteen minutes of contact with poison ivy, you could avoid a reaction altogether so get scrubbing!²
3. If it's been a while since you were exposed to poison ivy, you might try a stronger scrub specifically for poison ivy like TecnuScrub, which you can use in the shower.³
4. Wait until the area is dry, and then apply a topical hydrocortisone cream, which you can find over the counter at your local drugstore.³
5. Do not apply topical lotions to the skin that contain benzocaine or neomycin sulfate. And though oral antihistamines are generally recommended, topical antihistamines such as Benadryl spray can cause a further reaction.²

Drying Lotions

1. Calamine lotion is arguably the most popular drying lotion for poison ivy. Apply according to product specifications.⁴
2. You might also try using a homemade remedy. Items you may already have in your home like beer, baking soda paste, oatmeal, and Epsom salts are naturally drying.⁵
3. Try covering your poison ivy reaction with one of these remedies and soak for a half hour.⁵

Don't Scratch!

• Poison ivy should go away on its own in 1-3 weeks, but for that to happen, you'll want to try to leave it alone.¹

1. Avoid scratching to guard yourself against infection.²
2. You might try cutting fingernails so you are less able (and likely) to scratch excessively.²
3. A dip in the ocean can relieve itching temporarily and also help dry poison ivy, as will a swim in a chlorinated pool.⁵
4. A cold shower or an extremely hot one have also been known to relieve the desire to scratch.³

Step 2: Additional Relief

(Creative Commons photo by Dr Momentum)

• Oral antihistimines can be helpful when treating poison ivy, as can soaks and compresses.

1. You may wish to take an oral antihistimine like Benadryl to combat your allergic reaction. These may also help you sleep and avoid scratching in the middle of the night.¹
2. Also try applying a cold compress several times a day directly on the area to calm itching.¹
3. Some say using milk instead of water in your compress provides added relief. Or, try an ice compress.³
4. If your reaction is severe, you may require a prescription for a corticosteroid pill, which you'll take orally. See your doctor for more information on this medication.²

Step 3: Avoiding a Future Reaction

(Creative Commons photo by Katherine)

• Learning to prevent a poison ivy reaction will save you much unnecessary scratching.

1. Learn what poison ivy looks like so on your next trip to the outdoors, you'll know to avoid it. Learn more about how to identify poison ivy on WebMD's page about its habitat and description.¹
2. If you're hiking or camping, stick to the trails and camp in clear, open areas devoid of poisonous plants.²
3. Don't let pets run wild through areas known to have poisonous plants so that they don't become carriers of the oil that you're allergic to.²
4. Before going out in the woods or any area where poison ivy may be present, apply a barrier cream, like IvyBlock or Hydropel. Be sure to apply every few hours or more if you are hiking vigorously and working up a sweat.³
5. When hiking or walking in the woods, wear long-sleeves, long pants and socks to protect skin from poison ivy plants.¹
6. If you arrive home and think you might have come into contact with poison ivy, wash hands and underneath fingernails immediately, as well as any socks, clothes or shoes that may have been contaminated. If you wash off poison ivy oil fast enough, you may not get a reaction.²

Conclusion

• Particularly in summer, the time of year when you may be eager to take off in the woods for a long hike or a weekend of camping, poison ivy is a plant to be reckoned with, often causing weeks of discomfort. Learn to identify the three-leaved plant so you can avoid it and if you are exposed, try to wash with soap and water as soon as possible. With ever-growing poison ivy plants producing stronger oils than ever due to climate change, you'll want to be especially vigilant about protecting yourself from poison ivy and understanding the at-home treatments to keep scratching at bay.⁴ And sometimes, it's better to stay on the beaten path, at least in order to avoid poisonous plants.⁵

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References for How To Treat Poison Ivy

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} WebMD: Habitat and Description of Poison Ivy
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} MayoClinic.com: Poison Ivy Rash
3. ↑ Backpacker Magazine: How to Treat Poison Ivy
4. ↑ WebMD: Climate Change Brings Super Poison Ivy
5. ↑ MayoClinic.com: Poison Ivy Rash: Prevention

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