Poison Ivy Remedies

One of the easiest ways to ruin any outing- whether it is camping, hiking, or other activities- is to get in contact with poison ivy. Poison ivy is a type of vine typically found east of the Rocky Mountains. The plant secretes a very toxic oil, which, when in contact with the skin, can cause severe rash and even sickness. While it may be difficult or impossible to get rid of poison ivy immediately upon contact, there are several ways in which you can speed up the recovery process to make everything slightly more bearable! The time for the infection to subside is about seven to ten days, so any contacted areas should be treated as soon as possible. Immediate treatment will also help to prevent the rash from spreading to other parts of the body.

The first remedy to use after getting in contact with poison ivy is taking Vitamin C in any supplement available. Typically, Vitamin C tablets can be purchased at nearly any supermarket or drug store, and provide up to more than a days worth of the recommended supplement. Vitamin C helps to boost the immune system, which will help reduce both the swelling and spread of the rash.

To help repair the skin, zinc is another great thing to take. Like Vitamin C, these can also be purchased in high concentration tablets. It is often a good idea to take these tablets periodically after the infection starts.

To help reduce the itching while making the area itself feel much better, natural poison ivy remedies such as Aloe Vera relieve any itchiness and pain wonderfully. Not only that, but they also provide a cooling sensation. Aloe Vera can also be found in bottles, which means that you will not need to purchase an entire plant!

Other treatments include both Calendula and Calamine lotions, which both help to reduce the spread of the rash, along with speeding up the healing time.

So, even though getting in contact with poison ivy is certainly not enjoyable, there are plenty of remedies available today that can make everything slightly more bearable.

For other takes on the subject, see the Poison Ivy remedy articles below.