Of course the best way to treat poison ivy is to prevent it in the first place. Sometimes, despite your best efforts, you develop the characteristic itching and rash associated with this irritating plant. The problem is this plant can be difficult to detect when you’re outside as it often hides underneath other plants. If you happen to have exposed skin and you brush against one of these hidden poison ivy plants, you may develop a full blown case of poison ivy dermatitis.If you develop symptoms, what’s the best poison ivy treatment?
If you think you’ve been exposed to the poison ivy plant, the first thing you should do is gently clean the area with cool water. Never used soap since this can spread the urushiol, the irritating oil from the poison ivy plant . Usually cleansing must be done within the first 15 minutes to give you any hope of avoiding a full blown case of poison ivy. Keep in mind that around 15% of Americans have a more serious allergic reaction to the poison ivy plant and may develop severe symptoms such as facial swelling and extreme blistering. If you fall into this category, see your doctor immediately.
The next step after exposure is removing the uroshiol from your shoes, clothing and anything else that came into contact with the poison ivy plant. You can use rubbing alcohol on a soft cloth to clean these items thoroughly. Be sure to use gloves. The good news is once you’ve removed the uroshiol completely, you won’t be at risk of spreading the rash since poison ivy dermatitis isn’t contagious.
What if you develop the poison ivy rash?
Even if you don’t initiate poison ivy treatment, the rash and symptoms will go away on their own within 2-3 weeks. During the time the rash is present, you may experience severe itching that requires treatment.To relieve the itch, ask your pharmacist for an oral antihistamine such as Benadryl. Poison Ivy dermatitis is associated with histamine release which causes much of the itching and discomfort you experience with poison ivy. Benadryl can counteract some of those effects. Be sure not to drive or operate machinery after taking this medication since it can cause drowsiness. You can also use a 1% hydrocortisone cream to reduce some of the itching and irritation, although this is generally not as effective as Benadryl. Apply cool compresses to the affected areas as often as possible.
If you rash is severe with extensive blistering or if it involve the face, you may want to see your doctor. He can give you a short course of oral prednisone which can work wonders for the inflammation and itch.
Hopefully, by using this poison ivy treatment plan, you’ll be itch free and back out in the sun shortly!
