Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment worked extremely well to stop the horrendous itching that I experienced when I came across a patch of poison ivy while I was doing some outdoor work. As soon as my skin started itching and felt like it was on fire, I knew I was trouble. As I searched around the shrubbery to see what kind of noxious plants I might find that caused this irritation, I found it! – Poison Ivy. I immediately ran for the garden hose and starting rinsing.
When I got in the house, I remembered that we had a tube of Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment left over from an allergic skin reaction that I got from some lotion that I used. I was so relieved to find the Cortizone 10, because I remembered it worked so well for my other dermatological problem. Hydrocortisone is commonly used for rashes and to stop itching. It is routinely prescribed for the patients that I care for as a nurse.
I knew that Cortizone 10 was indicated for the relief of poison ivy, but I read the label and directions just to be on the safe side. Sure enough the label stated that Cortizone 10 temporarily relieves itching associated with minor skin irritations, (I would have to say that my skin irritation was a little more than minor, but I digress), inflammation and rashes due to eczema, psoriasis and poison ivy. I quickly applied the Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment to my arm and hoped that it would relieve the intense itching and burning that I was experiencing due the poison ivy contact. Within minutes, the intense itching and burning began to subside. I don’t know if the Cortizone 10 ointment routinely works this fast, or if I was just experiencing a placebo affect. It doesn’t matter, because the relief I got was more than welcome.
I was concerned that after the Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment began to wear off, my volatile itching and burning would return with more fury than ever. But as I thought about it and recalled my days of sitting in a pharmacology class in nursing school, I realized that hyrdocortisone, the active ingredient in Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment works by actually decreases inflammation that leads to the itching and irritation, rather than just masking it temporarily. I was now confident that the Cortizone 10 was working in such a way that little by little it would begin to alleviate the itch rather than simply mask it like a topical analgesic might do. Anyway, as it started to wear off, I noticed that the itch and redness were still there, but much less intense. I did reapply the product two more times that day, and then the following day, I used it 3 more times. The label directs that you should not use it more that 3 to 4 times per day. After the second day, I did not need to use this wonderful product any longer.
The itching and even the redness subsided dramatically after using Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment for 2 days. The ointment itself has no discernible smell to it and it goes on smoothly. It reminded me of Vaseline. To my surprise the inactive ingredient listed on the label is petrolatum which is also what Vaseline Petroleum Jelly is made from. The 1 ounce tube was not too expensive as I recall. It cost approximately $6.50 when I purchased it. I highly recommend Cortizone 10 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Ointment for itching or poison ivy. As always, I recommend that you consult your doctor or healthcare provider before using any medications, even over the counter medication.
