Treat Poison Ivy and Poison Oak

If you ever get into poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, you'll do anything to get rid of the itching. All three plants contain an oily resin called urushiol that yields an irritating rash. It's all over the plant (leaves, stems, and roots), can be transferred onto objects and then onto skin, and can even be inhaled if the plants are burned.

The Poison Oak & Poison Ivy Survival Guide

Steps

 * 1) Stay inside. If you know you've been exposed, avoid going outdoors so you can prevent the spreading of urushiol.
 * 2) Clean your skin immediately. If you do this within 10 minutes, you may be able to get the urushiol off before it penetrates your skin. Clean the skin with rubbing alcohol first, then rinse thoroughly with cold water.
 * 3) *Don't scrub or use hot water on your skin. This can draw the urushiol deeper into your pores.
 * 4) *Don't use soap until after you've rinsed off your skin with just water. Soap can pick up the urushiol and move it around to other parts of your body.
 * 5) *Don't go anywhere near urushiol-containing plants that day; the alcohol will make your skin extra vulnerable to it.
 * 6) *Don't forget to clean under your fingernails; you may have scratched off some urushiol and could redeposit it on other objects or areas of your skin by accident.
 * 7) *Since urushiol is an oily resin, it binds to proteins in the skin and, after this process is complete, is nearly impossible to remove.
 * 8) Recognize the symptoms. If you didn't get the urushiol off in time, an allergic reaction may follow within 48 hours. First, your skin gets red and itchy. Then a rash follows, usually in a pattern of streaks of patches. Eventually the rash turns into red bumps or large oozing blisters. The rash will appear wherever you came in contact with urushiol, although it may take longer for the rash to appear on parts of your body where your skin is thicker. It doesn't spread, however, because there's no urushiol in the blisters.  Once the urushiol is gone, the rash will go away.
 * 9) Stop scratching! Even though the rash is not contagious, it's best to avoid damaging the skin, or else you run the risk of getting an infection from germs.
 * 10) Wash clothes and anything else that may have come in contact with a poisonous plant (gardening tools, pets, sports equipment, sheets). Don't underestimate the power of urushiol; it can remain active for over a year.
 * 11) Cool off. Take cold baths or cold showers, apply cold compresses, and/or massage the affected area with an ice cube. The cooling sensation will provide temporary relief.
 * 12) Dry off. Always let the area air dry--this reduces the itching and oozing of blisters.
 * 13) Antihistamines are not effective for the type of itch sensation at work in Toxicodendron dermatitis (i.e. poison ivy rash). It is a type IV delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, which is mediated by the action of T cells.  It is simply not a histamine-related issue, as is anaphylaxis.  However, because histamine is involved in alertness in the brain, using antihistamines can help to sleep at night, and minimize night-time scratching.  This is the ONLY valid reason to use antihistamines in toxicodendron dermatitis.
 * 14) *Apply calamine lotion. As the Coasters said in their immortal song Poison Ivy, "You’re gonna need an ocean / of calamine lotion."  Calamine lotion can ease the itching and soothe blistered skin.  Apply regularly and liberally.
 * 15) *Although calamine lotion is soothing and will help to "dry out the rash", topical and oral steroids are much more effective in actually treating the cause of the rash. Of course, the best thing is to avoid contact in the first place, or remove the urushiol prior to it binding with skin proteins, but once this takes place, there is no effective way to remove it.  If you already have the rash, the damage is done and you can no longer remove the resin (though you may have had reexposure since the initial exposure, so attempting removal with an agent like Tecnu may be worthwile).  Once protein binding has taken place, the only way to decrease the duration of the rash is with something that will interfere with the type IV hypersensitivity reaction--most commonly oral or topical steroids.  Hydrocortisone is one example of these, but it is the weakest type and generally is not potent enough to make much of a difference.  Talk with your dermatologist--he or she will decide what is best for you.  Oral steroids should be reserved for moderate to severe cases.  Mild cases can usually be managed with topical treatments.
 * 16)  Of note, because Toxicodendron dermatitis can lead to weeping, topical steroids that moisturize (creams and ointments) tend to be uncomfortable.  Lotions or liquid solutions are more drying, and thus more suited to this rash.  One (expensive) agent that works really well is Clobex spray--this requires a prescription.
 * 1)  Of note, because Toxicodendron dermatitis can lead to weeping, topical steroids that moisturize (creams and ointments) tend to be uncomfortable.  Lotions or liquid solutions are more drying, and thus more suited to this rash.  One (expensive) agent that works really well is Clobex spray--this requires a prescription.

Tips

 * Poison ivy blisters are NOT contagious. The only way you can contract more or spread the poison ivy rash is by coming into contact with urushiol.   As long as the skin is thoroughly cleaned so that none of this oil remains, there is no danger of spreading the poison ivy reaction to other parts of the body or to other people. However, if there is urushiol on something around the house (gardening equipment, hiking boots, pet's fur) you might be re-exposed and experience a reaction again. And again, until the urushiol gets cleaned up.
 * Prevent a poison ivy reaction. Read Prevent Getting Poison Ivy for tips on how to avoid poison ivy and how to wash it off if you’ve just had contact with it.
 * If a child gets into poison ivy, oak, or sumac, cut his or her fingernails very short to minimize skin damage from scratching.
 * A quick internet search (or a conversation with your friends and neighbors) can yield a ton of home remedies: aloe, vinegar, salt water, and vitamins, to name just a few. Sometimes these work, and sometimes they don’t.  If the steps above aren’t working for you, however, you may want to experiment with some of these:
 * Swimming in a pool with chlorine may assist. The chlorine may clean and disinfect the rash. At the same time, you'll be exposed to more bacteria if you go to a public pool, and that could lead to an infection through your broken skin.
 * Surprisingly, poison ivy and oak are related to the mango tree and its fragrant, succulent fruit. In locations where mangoes grow (e.g. Hawaii), travelers with a history of poison ivy or poison oak dermatitis will often develop the same rash on their hands, extremities, or corners of their mouth if they are exposed to the skin (from peeling the mango skin with their teeth), or contact sticky mango sap (while picking from a tree).  If you have a history of poison ivy/oak rashes, let someone else pick the mangoes and prepare them - then you can enjoy the flesh without an itchy, weeping red rash.
 * Order some good movies/buy some good books and cancel all exercise plans within the next two-three weeks. A poison ivy rash (regardless of the severity) takes a lot of your energy. And sweating can cause the rash to become irritated and potentially cause more spreading.

Warnings

 * Visit a physician if you experience severe symptoms or if you have a rash on any mucous membranes (eyes, nose, mouth, genitals). A doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, but don’t wait too long, as this treatment is most effective if taken soon after exposure.  If you experience a fever, swelling of the mouth and nose, difficulty breathing or swallowing, or tightness in the chest, you should seek emergency medical care.
 * Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the advice of your doctor or pharmacist when using prescription or non-prescription medications.
 * Use common sense when trying home remedies. Some of the suggestions you may hear or read about may actually be harmful, so exercise caution and ask your doctor’s advice before trying anything questionable.

Related Tips and Steps

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