How to Treat Poison Ivy , Poison Oak or Poison Sumac, Stop the itch & rash

If you ever get into poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac you'll do aslmost anything to get rid of the itching.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Soap & cool water
• topical hydrocortisone cream
• calamine lotions

1. DO NOT SCRATCH THE AFFECTED AREA , it will only make it worse & may spread the problem.

2. If you are exposed to any of these plants , As soon as you can rinse the area with cool running water , , DO NOT rub or scrub the area , Just let the water run over it for 5 to 10 minutes.
   Rubbing can spread the toxic oils in these plants to other areas of your skin & make the rash worse in the long run.

3. Apply a strong over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream . It relieve the itching and swelling, used in the early days of a reaction.
   DO NOT GET IT IN YOUR EYES

4. Calamine lotion can soothe blisters and ease the itching.
   Apply it liberally to all effected areas.
   DO NOT GET IT IN YOUR EYES

5. Apply cool compresses. Moisten a washcloth with cool water and apply to skin. Let it sit for several minutes.
   
   DO NOT soak in a bath tub for long periods of time. If you still have any of the toxic oils from the plant on your skin , it will float to the top of the water & affect other parts of your body
   
   COOL & HOT SHOWERS are the best to get some releif , start with cool water & then turn the tempeture up for a short time & then back to cold. Do this for about 15 minutes. I have found this helps with the itching

6. Take Benadryl to help you sleep. Antihistamines, such as Benadryl, offer only mild relief from the symptoms of poison ivy, but when taken before you go to bed, their combination of anti-allergy and drowsiness-inducing effects can help you get some rest.

7. In extreme cases go to your doctor for a cortizone shot & he will give you other medications that he beleives will help you.

Tips & Warnings

• when your child is effected by poison ivy, oak, or sumac, cut thier fingernails short to minimize skin damage , Because no matter how much you tell them not to scratch they will do it when you are not watching
• Aloe, Vinegar, Salt Water can sometimes offer some releife
• Spending time in Swimming pool with chlorine may assist. The chlorine cleans and disinfects the effected area. Try at least 3-4 hours in the pool.This will really help with the itching.
• Keep open sores clean ,If infection does appear, contact your doctor.

[grimsleygl]

on 5/10/2009 I'm on a hunt! Going to find out how to get rid of this antagonizing itching and fast spreading poison ivy on my body. Thanks for the article! I'm off to get some Benedryl 5*'s

[pianistic]

on 8/6/2008 Great tips.