Poison Ivy Rash Treatment

The oil or sap of the Poison Ivy plant is generally invisible to the naked eye and may be difficult to detect. One of the most glaring signs that you have come in contact with a Poison Ivy plant is the appearance of streaks of rashes on your skin. Normally the initial rashes signify where your skin came in contact with the plant. Until this happens it is virtually impossible to apply Poison Ivy rash treatment unless you are already aware of the contact. In case you know that you inadvertently came in contact with the plant, probably the best Poison Ivy rash treatment even before it starts is to rinse using plenty of cold water or that from a garden hose whichever is most accessible. This first aid measure must be done as soon as possible or within the first hour that you came in contact with the Poison Ivy plant.

For some reason taking a shower as a Poison Ivy rash treatment is discouraged. What is recommended however is when the streaks of rashes begin making their appearance, taking hot showers can help to ease some of the itchiness you may feel. In some journals it is even recommended to use alcohol in washing as a Poison Ivy rash treatment. Supposedly the alcohol can help to remove the oil before it seeps into the skin. According to experts this can be done up to six hours after the encounter with the Poison Ivy plant. Some medical experts however contend that there is a possibility that the Poison Ivy oil may get into the skin in as fast as half an hour after contact.

The use of alcohol or water as Poison Ivy rash treatment can be done in an attempt to stop the absorption of the oil into the skin. But what can you do once rashes have already started to appear and the itchiness begins? As mentioned earlier, taking a hot shower (using the hottest temperature you can take) is one remedy. If the heat seems to lessen the rashes, another alternative Poison Ivy rash treatment is to use a hair dryer. The warm air blown out by the device can help to reduce the amount of rashes you are experiencing. Take caution though not to burn yourself in the process.

Another possible Poison Ivy rash treatment is to use a deodorant which has an aluminum component. Spray (preferably not the roll on type because the contact may irritate your skin and worsen the rashes) the deodorant on the affected areas and wait until it takes effect. Usually when the skin begins to absorb the aluminum component of the deodorant the rashes begin to disappear. Mashing Jewelweed and applying it to the affected areas is also said to be an acceptable and supposedly effective practice. Since this is an organic treatment it is presumed that no adverse reaction will be experienced by the person. In extreme cases though, make sure that you consult a doctor immediately to receive the necessary medical attention.