Treatment for Poison Ivy

It doesn't have to be summer to get poison ivy. It can be the dead of winter and if you just happen to touch some poison ivy that is exposed in the snow you can have it. When you touch poison ivy it is the oil from the plant that effects your skin and gives you the itchy rash. Poison ivy can be distinguished by the red itchy patches that form on your skin and if you suspect that you touched some poison ivy and you have a blotch of itchy skin it probably is poison ivy. Some people are more prone to getting poison ivy then other people and some people seem to be able to dance in it and nothing happens to them.

If you think you have touched poison ivy get yourself to some soap and water as soon as you can and wash the area well. The sooner you wash the effected area the less chance you will have of getting poison ivy. It is best to use warm water to wash poison ivy. Poison ivy is actually the oil from that plant as it gets on your skin it can create a rash. Poison ivy can be spread from surface to surface through the oil that is transferred.

If you get poison ivy you know the itch can be unbearably. There are some treatments out there that can help you handle the itch. If you are in the wilderness you can try to find a water source and wash it the best you can. If you find some jewelweed you can crush the leaves and put the juice on the poison ivy. Jewelweed is a impatient or a touch-me-not. You can often find jewelweed growing near poison ivy.

If you have soap you can put soap on the poison ivy and let it dry. Or if you have calamine lotion you can spread it on the poison ivy after you have washed the poison ivy well. Soap or calamine lotion will help to dry up the rash and remove any poison ivy oil that remains behind after washing.

If you have poison ivy drink milk and eat fruits that are high in vitamin C. Poison ivy can take a while to cure so be patient and keep it clean. If the itch gets unbearable you can wash the area in cold water to help relieve the itch.

Even if you are one of the people that never seem to get poison ivy it is best to stay away from poison ivy. You can be any age and get a case of poison ivy for the first time.