Treatments for Poison Ivy?

Jenn - posted on 08/10/2011

Well, when a person is exposed to poison ivy, they have about 20 minutes to wash the Urushial Oil off their skin. Poison ivy doesn't spread from the sores but anything worn during the time of exposure will still have oils on it and should be washed in soap and hot water.

Very often, the more often a person is exposed to poison ivy, the MORE allergic they are to it (like me!). I have to get a steroid shot everytime now because it becomes systemic..I itch from head to toe miserably!

Apple cider vinegar is great on poison ivy. Dabbing ACV directly on the affected area will help dry it up without killing the skin tissue around the area.

Also:

Any of the following MAY help:
- Use a body powder (baby powder, Gold Bond Medicated, shower-to-shower, etc.)
- Take an antihistamine (such as Benedryl - tablets or liquid, not topical cream)
- Soak in chlorine water (or salt water) for 20-30 minutes/day
- Apply Zanfel or similar product to infected areas.
- Disinfect all objects you use or touch (steering wheel, door handles, toys, chairs, etc)
- Use heat or hot water (only hot as is bearable) to sway the desire to itch. This is only temporary relief, of course.
OR...
- Go to doctor and get a cortisone shot.

A friend of mine's 7 year old was at his grandparent's farm, peed and got poison oak on his penis! OMG...the poor little guy!

~Jennifer - posted on 08/10/2011

There is a poison ivy wash called Zanfel....is actually removes the urishol oils from the skin, stops the itch within 15 seconds. It's about 30 bucks a tube, but it'll stop it from spreading any further than it already has. Any drug store should have it.
Trust me....best stuff ever.

Casey - posted on 08/10/2011

Thank you all for commenting. We do the cold showers because we tried the hot showers. It was almost gone and came back worse. I would love to give the kids an oatmeal back but we dont have a bath tub. only a shower. I will try the cortisone cream though. the kids are goin to the DR. its just to bad to treat on out own. They have it all over the upper bodies and faces. I hope this gets over with soon. Thanks again everyone

Kate CP - posted on 08/10/2011

When you wash you should use an oil-cutting soap like Dawn on your hands so you're not spreading the oils around. Actually, hot showers (as hot as you can stand it) followed up with cortisone cream and a Benadryl all right before bed is best. The hot showers bring the histamines to the surface and kind of over-load the nerve endings so it doesn't itch so bad. The cortisone will reduce swelling and itching and the Benadryl will reduce the histamines in the blood (lesson the allergic reaction) and knock people out so they can sleep and not itch all night long.

If it's REALLY bad, you'll need a steroid shot.

Jennifer - posted on 08/10/2011

Soak in a bath with baking soda, or oatmeal bath, it will help dry it up. Also, make sure you are washing sheets daily, so to stop it from spreading.