Best Treatment Of Poison Ivy and Poison Oak.

Many enjoyable nature outings have sent people home with a rather unpleasant souvenir. Some 10 to 50 million people in the United States are affected by poison ivy each year. In fact, this poisonous plant constitutes the single most common cause of allergic reactions.

When you come in contact with the toxic leaves, stems, or roots of a poison ivy plant, it can give you an unbearable itchy rash.

Other common symptoms include blisters and pain, and occasionally there may be intense burning, inflammation, and fever. You must try hard not to itch the rash as it can irritate the reacting skin and potentially lead to infection. It’s also important to keep the affected areas clean.

A poison ivy rash will eventually go away on its own, but the itching can drive a person absolutely mad. There are several home remedies that effectively alleviate the various symptoms of poison ivy.

Causes a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash?
Exposure to all of these plants can produce a rash, which is caused by sensitivity to an oily resin found in these plants called urushiol. This substance can be found on the leaves, stems, flowers, and roots of these plants. Interestingly, it can remain active even after the plant has died.

The rash (an allergic contact dermatitis) can be caused by direct contact with urushiol by touching the plants or by indirect contact with the plant oil that may have contaminated a pet's fur, tools, clothing, or other surfaces. Airborne contact is also possible if these plants are burned and the urushiol particles land on the skin, and it can affect the lungs as well if the urushiol is inhaled. In the United States, Toxicodendron dermatitis is the most common cause of contact dermatitis.

Sensitivity to urushiol occurs when individuals come into contact with it. The first time a person is exposed, they may not develop a rash. However, with repeated exposure, sensitivity develops that ultimately leads to the development of the characteristic rash. Most people (about 85%) will develop sensitivity, while a small percentage of individuals (about 15%) never develop an allergic reaction to urushiol.

Risk factors for poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash?
Any individual who comes into contact with these plants is at risk for developing the rash. However, people who spend more time outdoors in geographic areas where these plants are known to grow are at higher risk. This may include certain occupations associated with outdoor work in these areas, such as gardeners, groundskeepers, farmers, forestry workers, and construction workers. Hiking enthusiasts may also be at higher risk if they venture into areas where these plants are present.

Symptoms and signs of a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash?
*Redness of the skin
*Swelling of the skin
*Itching of the skin
An outbreak of small or large blisters
The rash may appear bumpy, streaky, linear or patchy, and it will affect the areas that have come into contact with the oil resin. Areas that have been exposed to a larger amount of urushiol may develop the rash more quickly, and the rash may appear more severe. In some instances, new lesions may continue to appear for up to two to three weeks. You can spread the rash to other parts of your body if your contaminated hands (with the oil resin) touch other areas.

The fluid that sometimes oozes from the blisters does not contain urushiol and therefore does not spread the rash, and other individuals who touch this fluid will not develop the rash. In order to spread the rash to someone else, they must directly come into contact with the oil resin. Generally speaking, the rash slowly improves and disappears after one to three weeks in most individuals. Overall, the symptoms may range from mild to severe. Rarely, in extreme cases, an anaphylactic reaction can develop.

What is the treatment for a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash?
The initial treatment for someone who has recently been exposed to any of these plants includes rinsing the affected area with copious amounts of water within 20-30 minutes of exposure to remove the oily plant resin. The effectiveness of rinsing decreases with the passage of time. Some authorities recommend rinsing with rubbing alcohol or using commercially available poisonous plant washes. It is also important to scrub under your fingernails to remove any remnants of the plant resin. In addition, thoroughly clean clothing or any objects that may have come into contact with these plants.

Is it possible to prevent a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash?
Wear protective clothing that covers your skin, including gloves, long sleeves, long pants, and boots if you are in a high-risk area.
If the possibility of contact with these plants exists, you can apply commercially available barrier creams to your skin, which may help prevent or lessen the exposure to the toxic plant oils. These products usually contain bentoquatam (IvyBlock) and should be applied before going outdoors.
Do not burn these plants, as this can release urushiol into the air.
Carefully remove these plants if they are growing near your home. Be sure to wear protective clothing and gloves.
Thoroughly wash clothing or any other objects that may have come into contact with these plants, as they can retain the plant oil and cause a rash if worn or touched.
If your pet has been exposed to these plants, wear protective gloves and give them a bath.

Home remedies for poison ivy.

1. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a solvent containing 70 percent isopropyl or absolute alcohol and is used as a topical application. It has disinfectant, soothing and cooling properties that can help get rid of the symptoms of poison ivy. It also sterilizes the affected skin and helps prevent infection.

Spread rubbing alcohol over the affected area and wrap it with gauze.
Do this several times a day for two to three days.
If you apply rubbing alcohol immediately after coming in contact with the poisonous plant, it can help slow down and minimize the extent of the rash as well as your discomfort.

2. Banana Peel
Banana peel can also come to your rescue due to its soothing and cooling properties. This remedy is very helpful if you have blisters that have broken open.

Peel the skin off a ripe banana.
Rub the inside of the peel on the irritated skin area for instant cooling relief.
Repeat the process two or three times a day.

3. Oatmeal
The avenanthramides and phenols present in oatmeal contain anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce inflammation caused by the skin’s reaction to urushiol, the substance in the poison ivy plant that irritates the skin.

Boil oatmeal in water, allow it to cool for a few minutes, and then apply it to the affected area while it is still warm. Let it dry on its own and then wash it off with lukewarm water. This simple remedy will give you relief from itching.
Alternatively, add a few tablespoons of oatmeal powder to warm bath water and soak the affected skin area in the water for about 30 minutes. This helps dry out a rash that has started to blister, and also relieves the itching. It will also soften and moisturize your skin, which helps lock in moisture and protect skin from exterior irritants.

4. White Vinegar
White vinegar’s acid content can help prevent a poison ivy rash from spreading. A cold vinegar compress will dry out the rash as well as reduce itching.

Mix one-half cup of white vinegar with one and one-half cups of water. Chill the solution in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
Moisten a cloth in the solution and press it onto the affected skin area for two minutes. Wait a few minutes and then repeat.
Do this for several minutes once daily for a week or two.

5. Baking Soda
Another classic homemade cure for poison ivy is baking soda. Baking soda is a good drying agent and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the itching and inflammation associated with poison ivy.

Mix three teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water to make a thick paste. Apply this paste to the rash and allow it to dry. Then rinse it off with cold water. Do this three times daily to speed up the healing process.
Another option is to take a soothing baking soda bath. Simply pour a cup of baking soda into lukewarm bathwater and stir it gently. Soak in the bath to relieve your symptoms.

6. Watermelon
Watermelon rind acts as a cold compress, and the juice helps dry out blisters.

Gently rub chilled watermelon rind over the rash. Let it dry on its own. Do this three or four times a day until you notice improvement.
Alternatively, mash some watermelon along with the rind and chill it in the refrigerator for one hour. Apply the paste to the skin and let it dry naturally for soothing relief. Do this several times a day.

7. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties can help reduce poison ivy symptoms. Simply slice a leaf of a fresh aloe vera plant, extract the gel and apply it to the affected areas several times a day. This will give you instant relief from pain and itching.

If you do not have an aloe vera plant at home, you can buy a bottle of the gel from the store. Make sure it is at least 90 percent real aloe vera.

8. Acorns
Acorns have antiviral and antiseptic properties that can be used to treat skin rashes and irritations, minor burns, cuts and abrasions as well as poison ivy.

*Boil some fresh cracked acorns in water for several minutes. Strain out the nuts and allow the tannic water to cool.
*Dip a cotton ball in the solution and apply it on your rash.
*Do this two or three times a day.
Note: You can also freeze the tannic water in ice cube trays and use the cubes as cold compresses on the affected area.

9. Buttermilk
The high protein content in buttermilk will help draw out fluid from blisters. It also has soothing properties that will give you relief from itching.

Mix equal parts of buttermilk, vinegar and salt. Rub this mixture on the affected skin area. Although it is a little painful, this remedy will help dry up the rash quickly. Also, it will help stop itching and soothe the skin.
Alternatively, you can add some buttermilk to warm water and then use it to wash the affected skin area. This can be very soothing on itchy skin. Do this once daily.

10. Cold Water
Using cold compresses immediately after coming in contact with the poisonous plant can help minimize the size and severity of the developing rash. They also will reduce itchiness.

*Simply dip a cotton ball in very cold water, dab it on the affected area, and let it air dry. Repeat as needed.
*You can also wrap some ice cubes or a bag of frozen vegetables in a towel and apply it to the affected area for a few hours. Repeat again after two hours. Never apply ice directly on your skin.
*You can also keep the affected area under cold running water for 10 to 15 minutes.

Try these remedies at home to get relief. But if you are in extreme discomfort, or you develop blisters along with swelling or redness on the affected skin area, seek medical attention.