How to Get Rid of Poison Ivy Rash

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a shrub-like plant and is widely spread. It belongs to the cashew family and produces a chemical called urushiol . This chemical urushiol is what causes the rashes, when the plant comes in contact with the skin. Urushiol is present in almost all the parts of the poison ivy plant. Other plants that produce urushiol are, poison oak and poison sumac and they develop similar types of rashes. Preventing contact with poison ivy is the best way to avoid these troublesome rashes. Some people are immune to these plants and do not develop rashes when they come in contact with the plant. However, people who get affected due to urushiol, develop skin rashes with red bumps, blisters and itchy rashes that cause too much of discomfort. Here are some of the treatments for poison ivy that one should follow, on getting exposed to the plant.

How to Treat Poison Ivy Rash

Immediate treatment after coming in contact with poison ivy will surely help you get rid of those irritant rashes. The very first thing that one should do when he/she comes in contact with poison ivy is, washing the affected area thoroughly. This is necessary for avoiding the absorption of urushiol by the skin. Once urushiol enters the skin, it is difficult to get rid of poison ivy rashes quickly. Thus, one should try to clean away the urushiol from the skin surface, as mush as possible. Here are some first aid steps that you should follow on exposure to poison ivy. If you follow these primary steps, the chances of developing serious skin rashes reduce.

• With the help of rubbing alcohol, clean the affected area.
• Remove all the outfits you wore during the contact with the plant and clean them with the help of gloves. The outfits may contain some amount of urushiol and hence, they need to be cleaned to get rid of the chemical.
• Bathe with lukewarm water and soap.
• Apply lotions like calamine, this will reduce the skin irritation.
• Use commercial products that will absorb urushiol, thereby preventing it from getting into your skin.

Home/Natural Remedies for Poison Ivy Rashes

There are plenty of home remedies that can help you get rid of poison ivy rashes, along with reducing the itching caused. Let's have a look at few of them.

Oatmeal Bath: This is said to be the best cure for poison ivy rash. All you have to do is to prepare an oatmeal as you usually prepare it for your breakfast and allow it to cool down. Later apply it to the affected area and leave it to dry.

Banana Peel: Rub the inner side of the peeled banana over the affected skin. This is one of the effective treatments for poison ivy rashes.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera, which is a home remedy for many of the skin irritations, is also useful for poison ivy rashes. Apply the aloe vera gel to the affected area and leave it to dry and wash it later on.

Honey: This is the best healer for poison ivy rash. Applying honey to the rash will not only relieve the burning sensation but also the itching caused due to the rashes.

A few other natural remedies are as follows:

• Vinegar
• Jewel weed
• Watermelon
• Potato
• Garlic Juice
• Baking Soda

Even after using the natural and home remedies for poison ivy, if you are unable to get rid of the rashes, you should consult a dermatologist. Few creams and medicines have been proved useful in relieving the symptoms of these rashes. But before you take any of these medications, it is always better to consult a doctor.

The best solution to get rid of poison ivy rash is to identify the plant and avoid the contact with it. Now, when you are aware of how to get rid of poison ivy rash, use the simple treatments listed above, in case you suffer from these rashes.