How to Prevent a Poison Ivy Rash

When it comes to avoiding a poison ivy rash, a little common sense can go a long way. The first step of prevention is knowing how to identify the poison ivy plant correctly, followed by taking a few precautions to protect your skin while hiking through wooded areas.

Things You'll Need

• Deodorant
• Protective clothing such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants
• Water
• Soap

Instructions

1. Learn how to identify poison ivy correctly, and how to differentiate it from similar-looking plants such as kudzu, boxelder maple and even raspberry and blackberry vines. Poison ivy is characterized by the fact that its almond-shaped leaved occur in clusters of three. In addition, the clusters alternate along the vine, instead of opposite of each other, as in other plants.

2. Be aware of the natural habitat of the poison ivy plant. Poison ivy is generally found in the eastern half of the United States, in heavily wooded areas such as forests. Poison ivy is also known for creeping along the edges of roads and pathways, or climbing up the trunks of trees.

3. Wear protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts, boots and long pants, if you know you are going to be in an area where poison ivy is found. If your clothes come in contact with poison ivy, you will need to remove the items carefully and wash them in hot water and soap immediately.

4. Spray deodorant on exposed areas of your skin in order to prevent a poison ivy rash from occurring. Many aerosol deodorants have an active ingredient that may counteract the effects of urushiol, the oil that causes skin irritation. While studies have yet to prove a link between deodorants and poison ivy treatment, many wilderness experts can vouch for their effectiveness.

5. Wash your skin immediately with cold water and soap if you believe you have come in contact with poison ivy. While it may be impossible to prevent the rash from occurring completely, you may be able to reduce the intensity of the rash significantly if you are able to rinse off the urushiol within a few minutes after contact. Avoid using hot water to wash the affected areas, since that will cause the pores of your skin to open and allow more of the urushiol to penetrate.

Tips & Warnings

• Urushiol, the ingredient on poison ivy leaves that causes the skin rash, can remain active and potent for years. Therefore, it is important to wash urushiol immediately from clothing, shoes, tools and equipment to prevent another rash.