Table of Contents
Overview
There have been reported that approximately 10 – 50 million people in US have been impacted by poison ivy every year. It is rather common that people will get this problem on the trips of nature outings. As the matter of fact, it is considered the most common trigger for allergic reactions [1].
What is Poison Ivy?
Poison Ivy is a shrub that can cause severe skin irritation (contact dermatitis). The allergic reaction occurs due to a resin called “urushiol” presented in the leaves, stems and roots. Affected skin may be dry, red or burn blisters. If the trees are burned, the smoke come from burned trees can affect your lungs [2].
What are the symptoms of Poison Ivy?
The main symptoms of poison ivy are skin rash, burning blisters and rashes. Symptoms usually last for several days or even weeks. Other symptoms include itching and mild pain. In addition, you’ll have trouble breathing if inhaled poisonous fumes from the poison ivy burned [3].
What causes Poison Ivy?
Contact with any parts of the tree or with its oil (resin) can cause allergies. The direct contact can include touching the plant or indirectly touching the sticky sap organisms as pets. Sticky sap on clothing, furs…can remain toxic for a long time and can lead to rashes [4].
You will have a high risk of poison ivy if you’re doing the following jobs:
- Farmer
- Rangers
- Gardener
- Fireman
- Builder
- Employees installing cable or phone line.
Also, if you go camping, fishing or traveling to the strange area, you also have a high risk of poison ivy.
Here are the top 10 most recommended home remedies for how to treat poison ivy that you can consider applying in case of having this problem as well as prevent any severe reactions and discomfort.
1. Cucumber
Cucumber is considered one of the simplest home remedies for how to treat poison ivy. It will speed up the poison ivy rash treatment very effectively [5].
Slice a cucumber into several small and thin slides then apply them onto the affected areas.
Another way is that you can mash them up to get cucumber paste and then place the paste on the affected skin.
As you apply either of these methods, the skin will be soothed and you will get reliefs soon.
2. Banana Peel
It is wonderful that both all part of a banana can be used. Banana is a kind of fruit that is very good for your health and its peel can be used to help you on how to treat poison ivy thanks to its cooling qualities [6].
You can eat the banana and take its peel to rub on the poison ivy skin. Remember to apply the inside face of the banana peel.
In alternative, you can apply watermelon rinds if banana peel is not available.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is one of the most powerful home remedies for how to treat poison ivy as it can kill the poison [7] [8] [9]. It is used to treat many other poisonous problems, such as oral thrush. You can find more at Home Remedies for Oral Thrush.
- To apply this method, you can take a brown paper bag and dip it into apple cider vinegar thoroughly.
- After that, apply the soaked paper bag onto the skin surface that is affected by ivy poison.
- Keep it for several minutes and the apple cider vinegar can help draw out the toxins effectively.
4. Baking Soda
Baking soda is considered as another powerful tip on how to treat poison ivy [10] [11].
This ingredient can help draw out toxins as well as speed up the poison ivy rash treatment. That is the reason why baking soda is well known as a natural pimple treatment. In addition, baking soda is one of Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus.
- Take 3 teaspoons of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of water then mix them together to get a thick paste.
- After that, apply the paste to the affected areas.
- Wait until the paste become dry naturally then remove.
Alternatively, you can prepare a cool bath with 1 cup of baking soda mixing in water, and then soak your body, especially the affected areas into the bath. The improvement will come as soon as you apply either of these home remedies.
5. Oatmeal
Oatmeal can be really helpful for how to treat poison ivy as it can significantly relieve the level of itching caused a poison ivy [12].
- Take a cup of oatmeal and grind them to get the powder form.
- Prepare a bath filled with lukewarm water and pour the powder into it.
- Mix them well so that the powder can be dissolved.
- Then, soak your body into the bath for about 20 minutes.
- Finally, rinse off with clean water and dry your body thoroughly.
You also can apply directly the oatmeal pouch to the affected areas to get more reliefs.
6. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera is a wonderful natural soother that will help you get relief soon from the burn caused by poison ivy [13] [14] [15]. Thanks to this quality, it is made use of to treat many other problems, such as ringworm. You can read more at Home Remedies for Ringworm.
All you need to do is just take a fresh leaf of an Aloe Vera plant then cut it haft and extract the gel inside the leaf. Apply the gel directly on the affected skin and wait until it become dry naturally.
If the fresh leaf is not available, you also can choose to buy some products that available on many stores.
7. Alcohol
Alcohol is well known for its antifungal and antibacterial properties. Therefore, it can help on how to treat poison ivy rash [16].
If you have to go to some areas that might be exposure to poison ivy, it is better to use alcohol. Take an enough amount and then immediately apply it directly to the affected areas.
Alcohol can help prevent spreading and minimize the discomfort as well as bring about some reliefs from poison ivy soon.
8. Lemon Juice
Lemon juice contains a kind of natural acid which is considered as natural astringent or eliminating oil. That is the reason why it often be used for myriad home and beauty uses. In the situation of poison ivy, lemon juice can help as it cuts through toxic oils.
Cut half a lemon and squeeze to get the juice. Apply the juice directly on the affected areas immediately after you contact with the irritating leaf to prevent the risk that the plant’s oil absorbs into the skin.
9. Water
Cool water is very helpful to remove the toxic from the skin whenever you have just expose to the poison ivy.
After contacting to poison ivy, you should immediately wash the affected body parts in cool running water so that the developing rash can be curbed and minimized. Remember to avoid hot water or it can open the pores and let toxic oils easily enter into your skin.
In another way, you can dilute some salt into bath water and soak your boy into it to draw excess body moisture to the surface.
10. Cold Compress
Cold compresses will be helpful on how to treat poison ivy rash. This is because they can tame the itchiness and protect you from scratching.
Alternatively, you can use a witch hazel to reduce the rash. Use a cotton balls to take witch hazel and apply it directly to the affected areas. Also you can try strongly brewed tea by dipping a cotton ball into the tea and place it on the affected areas. Wait until it become dry naturally then remove.
Some Other Advice for Getting Rid of Poison Ivy
1. Dress to Protect Yourself
If you have to work in some places that have high risk of contact to poison ivy, it is necessary to dress clothes that can cover your body as much as possible. Suitable clothes should include long-sleeved shirts, pants, hats, heavy rubber gloves, socks, and closed-toe shoes. They can help limit the risk and protect your body from poison ivy well.
2. Wash Clothes and Everything that Might Have the Oil on Its Surface
After working and contacting with poison ivy plants, you should wash off all things that you have used, including clothes and tools for the work. This step is to make sure that all the oil from the trees that stand on the surface of clothes and tools will be removed completely.
3. Do not Scratch
This is an important principle that should be done seriously. Scratching can hurt your skin and allow the poison ivy oil easily enters into your skin, causing unexpected consequences. If you want to get rid of poison ivy fast, do not scratch.
4. Take Lukewarm Bath
Take a bath with oatmeal or baking soda as mentioned above to ease the itch. This can clean off your body, remove the oil that may stand on your body and prevent the risk of poison ivy as well. It is a very simple tip on how to treat poison ivy, right?
5. Consider Taking Antihistamine Pills
If you understand what is poison ivy, but are still unlucky to get it, it is considerable to think about an antihistamine pills supplement. It can help reduce the level of itching and accelerate the poison ivy rash treatment but it should be used with caution.
These natural home remedies for poison ivy are worth to try and follow because they would either protect you from poison ivy or provide you some reliefs without getting into the medicine cabinet.
Tags: how to treat poison ivy, home remedies for poison ivy, poison ivy rash treatment, get rid of poison ivy, what is poison ivy.
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“Draw out toxins”? What toxins? Poison Zico has an irritating oil. Once you wash the oil off, no more spreading and you just get relief from the symptoms. There aren’t any toxins to get out. Please make it clear!