How to Treat poison ivy and poison oak

Nothing can spoil your summer faster than getting a nasty, itchy rash. And yet, if you spend any time outdoors just about anywhere in the US, it can be hard to avoid running into the itchy stuff unless you always wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and who wants to do that when it's 90 degrees out? No matter how hard you try to look for those "leaves of three" to "leave them be," chances are you may spend a certain amount of time this summer itching like a madman. If it's any comfort, know that an estimated 50 percent of all people are sensitive to urushiol, the oil in both poison ivy and poison oak, so at least you'll have plenty of company in your misery. A rash from any of these plants usually lasts about three weeks and while there is no cure, there are certain steps you can take to ease your discomfort.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Laundry detergent
• Ice
• Oral and topical antihistamines
• Colloidal oatmeal
• Prescription steroids (oral or topical)

1. Shower as soon as possible if you suspect you may have come into contact with poison oak or ivy. Use plenty of soap, but do not scrub too hard and don't use really hot water. Hot water and vigorous scrubbing may open your pores so the urushiol is able to penetrate your skin instead of washing off.

2. Wash all of your clothes and wash your shoes off, too. Use plenty of soap and hot water on these--hot is okay, as they have no pores to open and absorb the urushiol. You just want to get it off the surface. If you picked up poison ivy in your yard or outdoors where you were walking your dog, be sure to give him a bath, too. You do not want your rash to spread (either to other parts of your body or to other people) via your clothes or your pet.

3. Soak your itchy parts in cold water or rub them with an ice cube. After the cool treatment, allow your skin to air dry--this will reduce the itching and oozing.

4. Use an oral antihistamines such as Benadryl to help reduce the itching. Topical antihistamines such as calamine lotion can also help, as can bathing in colloidal oatmeal.

5. Seek medical attention if your poison ivy reaction is extreme. If you have a rash around your eyes or in your genital region, if the oil may have entered a cut or lesion or if you have inhaled burning poison ivy, you may well be in serious pain or discomfort. A doctor can prescribe oral steroids or steroid creams that can help you to a far greater extent than can any over-the-counter medication.