Poison Ivy at home remedies that work?

Misty - posted on 02/16/2012

I have 4 kids and we live in the woods so there's no keeping them out of poison ivy. They are all very sensitive to it. There is a product that is called tecnu. If i put it on them within 2 hrs of getting into poison ivy it usually stops them from getting the rash. It kills the oil from the plant. Also you should give you child a shower instead of a bath after being exposed to poison ivy because the oil can get in the water and spread. If it is in your childs eye I would take him to the dr because that can cause infection in his eye.

Temper - posted on 06/05/2009

I tried using a Aveeno cream that was for poison ivy and sumac. That was ok but not fast enough by any means. My brother told me to take my son to the beach and let him play in the salt water and sure enough....the poison ivy has stated to dry out and clear up!!!! Now I just gotta make sure he doesn't reopen the itches my scratching again. Also, We know where the ivy is around my apartment home and they will be clearing it. Thanks for the help.

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

Thanks I will sure do that :0)

Toni - posted on 05/31/2009

this may be poisonivy, oak or sumac. I would talk to the apartment complex manager and let them know that there is something in their grounds that is causing this...they need to treat their grounds for poison ivy, oak, and sumac. I am sure you are not the only one with this problem. I would diffently get some Zanfel soap...it is a bar and does last a long time, but rather pricey. Have your son wash with it after being outside playing, everytime he has been outside...this will wash away the oils from the plant that causes the rash. Go on to a web site that shows picture of the plants (ivy, oak and sumac) show this to your son so he knows what to stay away from. Good luck finding poison ivy remedies that work!

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

We have acess to a pool and took him in there last night, it seemed ok until this morning when he woke up with a swelled eye. Our apartments have the typical bushes and some roses and hibiscus flowers. Other than that he was in the grass. I'm not sure which one thing is setting off this reaction. Thanks for your input!

Toni - posted on 05/31/2009

My two sons get poison ivy alot also. I would suggest you find out where the plant is that he is getting in to. If it is in your yard get rid of it...the more often he get into it the worse the rash will be, so he needs to avoid areas that have it! One of my sons is to the point that he only needs to breath the air around poison ivy and he breaks out. I think the most important thing to do is to try and avoid it all together. Make sure that he wears clothing to protect him when he is going into brushy areas and check your yard for the stuff. You can also find a soap that is for poison ivy that you use whenever one is exposed to the plant and it is suppost to prevent the break out. Our camp uses it often and it seems to work, It is called Zanfel and they have a web site: zanfel.com. It does seem to help. When my son does break out he usually soaks in a bath of dish soap with lots of oatmeal and baking soda. It is a strange slurry to soak in but he says it gives him releif. After the bath he uses Aloe Vera gel with lanacain in it. I get a large bottle of this from Wal-Mart in the sun care area. It is for sunburns but seems to give a cooling releif. We have also used alcohol on the blisters to help dry them up. There is a plant called jewelweed that helps, you can buy the extract and apply it to the effected area. My son also says that the swimming pool helps his alot....maybe the cholrine in it dries it up. You could try getting some cholrine tablets or granuals that you use in swimming pools and put that in the bath if you dont have a swimming pool available. Be careful with the eye area...my dad got some in his eyes and went blind for a couple of days. If he has it in the area if his eyes I would go to the doctor. Best of luck finding poison ivy remedies that work. I know this can be misserable.

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

I've never heard of that poison ivy remedy but I am up for most anything at this point. He catches poison ivy so often that it's getting expensive to keep going back and forth to the doctor for some pills. I will try anything to see what works best. Thanks for the input Marlene!

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

THANKS so much Jodi, My mom told me about a poison ivy remedy that works - mixing white vinegar with baking powder until it becomes a paste. My sons wearing that for now till I can see what the results are. The only thing is that his right eye is the most effected area right now. I really want to be careful not to make it worse. My poor son can't seem to go outside without getting poison ivy! Thanks again for the tips Jodi!

User - posted on 05/31/2009

i have a poison ivy remedy that works, it may sound gross but it does work....... use preparation H i find it takes the itch out not as itchy give it a try you be surprised

?? - posted on 05/31/2009

I can not remember for the life of me what the "myth" remedies are but they tested them on MythBusters I'm sure if you go to YouTube and search Myth Busters you might be able to find it... otherwise, poison ivy remedies that work are....



Apply rubbing alcohol to the infected area.

Rinse with water (any water).

Wash up with soap and warm water.



Oatmeal - Simply boil up the oatmeal in water as you normally would. Let it cool for a few minutes, then apply warm to the effected area, Ideally, the mixture should be applied until a thick layer forms. It will harden as it dries. Most sufferers swear by this treatment, which is sometimes combined with a tablespoon or two of baking soda for extra relief from itch and oozing.



Baking soda - This treatment has also become a classic homemade cure, made by mixing 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water until a thick paste forms. Apply to the rash and let dry. Another tried-and-true method for many poison ivy sufferers is full immersion in a soothing baking soda bath.



Vinegar - Just sprinkle liberally on rash or blisters for instant relief from itch. Typical rash & blistering caused by poison ivy. Although the smell may not be to everybody's liking, vinegar seems to help draw out the "poison" from poison ivy while it also helps healing. White distilled vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, seem to work best.





Banana peel - Touted by many as a homemade "miracle cure", the inside of a banana peel rubbed on poison ivy rashes seems to bring instant, cooling relief.



By some accounts, banana skins may even do the trick when all other poison ivy treatment fails.





Aloe Vera gel - A logical alternative, aloe vera is known to heal minor skin cuts and bring relief from sunburn, so apply liberally to effected areas to help sooth the itch and aid in healing.





Dishwashing liquid - Perhaps the most practical treatment of all, dishwashing liquid's anti-grease agents make it a common-sense remedy for poison ivy when applied liberally from the bottle at full strength. Simply wash off with cool water.



I hope one of these helps !

Toni - posted on 05/31/2009

this may be poisonivy, oak or sumac. I would talk to the apartment complex manager and let them know that there is something in their grounds that is causing this...they need to treat their grounds for poison ivy, oak, and sumac. I am sure you are not the only one with this problem. I would diffently get some Zanfel soap...it is a bar and does last a long time, but rather pricey. Have your son wash with it after being outside playing, everytime he has been outside...this will wash away the oils from the plant that causes the rash. Go on to a web site that shows picture of the plants (ivy, oak and sumac) show this to your son so he knows what to stay away from. Good luck finding poison ivy remedies that work!

Toni - posted on 05/31/2009

My two sons get poison ivy alot also. I would suggest you find out where the plant is that he is getting in to. If it is in your yard get rid of it...the more often he get into it the worse the rash will be, so he needs to avoid areas that have it! One of my sons is to the point that he only needs to breath the air around poison ivy and he breaks out. I think the most important thing to do is to try and avoid it all together. Make sure that he wears clothing to protect him when he is going into brushy areas and check your yard for the stuff. You can also find a soap that is for poison ivy that you use whenever one is exposed to the plant and it is suppost to prevent the break out. Our camp uses it often and it seems to work, It is called Zanfel and they have a web site: zanfel.com. It does seem to help. When my son does break out he usually soaks in a bath of dish soap with lots of oatmeal and baking soda. It is a strange slurry to soak in but he says it gives him releif. After the bath he uses Aloe Vera gel with lanacain in it. I get a large bottle of this from Wal-Mart in the sun care area. It is for sunburns but seems to give a cooling releif. We have also used alcohol on the blisters to help dry them up. There is a plant called jewelweed that helps, you can buy the extract and apply it to the effected area. My son also says that the swimming pool helps his alot....maybe the cholrine in it dries it up. You could try getting some cholrine tablets or granuals that you use in swimming pools and put that in the bath if you dont have a swimming pool available. Be careful with the eye area...my dad got some in his eyes and went blind for a couple of days. If he has it in the area if his eyes I would go to the doctor. Best of luck finding poison ivy remedies that work. I know this can be misserable.

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

I've never heard of that poison ivy remedy but I am up for most anything at this point. He catches poison ivy so often that it's getting expensive to keep going back and forth to the doctor for some pills. I will try anything to see what works best. Thanks for the input Marlene!

Temper - posted on 05/31/2009

THANKS so much Jodi, My mom told me about a poison ivy remedy that works - mixing white vinegar with baking powder until it becomes a paste. My sons wearing that for now till I can see what the results are. The only thing is that his right eye is the most effected area right now. I really want to be careful not to make it worse. My poor son can't seem to go outside without getting poison ivy! Thanks again for the tips Jodi!

User - posted on 05/31/2009

i have a poison ivy remedy that works, it may sound gross but it does work....... use preparation H i find it takes the itch out not as itchy give it a try you be surprised

?? - posted on 05/31/2009

I can not remember for the life of me what the "myth" remedies are but they tested them on MythBusters I'm sure if you go to YouTube and search Myth Busters you might be able to find it... otherwise, poison ivy remedies that work are....



Apply rubbing alcohol to the infected area.

Rinse with water (any water).

Wash up with soap and warm water.



Oatmeal - Simply boil up the oatmeal in water as you normally would. Let it cool for a few minutes, then apply warm to the effected area, Ideally, the mixture should be applied until a thick layer forms. It will harden as it dries. Most sufferers swear by this treatment, which is sometimes combined with a tablespoon or two of baking soda for extra relief from itch and oozing.



Baking soda - This treatment has also become a classic homemade cure, made by mixing 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1 teaspoon of water until a thick paste forms. Apply to the rash and let dry. Another tried-and-true method for many poison ivy sufferers is full immersion in a soothing baking soda bath.



Vinegar - Just sprinkle liberally on rash or blisters for instant relief from itch. Typical rash & blistering caused by poison ivy. Although the smell may not be to everybody's liking, vinegar seems to help draw out the "poison" from poison ivy while it also helps healing. White distilled vinegar, or apple cider vinegar, seem to work best.





Banana peel - Touted by many as a homemade "miracle cure", the inside of a banana peel rubbed on poison ivy rashes seems to bring instant, cooling relief.



By some accounts, banana skins may even do the trick when all other poison ivy treatment fails.





Aloe Vera gel - A logical alternative, aloe vera is known to heal minor skin cuts and bring relief from sunburn, so apply liberally to effected areas to help sooth the itch and aid in healing.





Dishwashing liquid - Perhaps the most practical treatment of all, dishwashing liquid's anti-grease agents make it a common-sense remedy for poison ivy when applied liberally from the bottle at full strength. Simply wash off with cool water.



I hope one of these helps !