There are innumerable plants around us which can cause skin rashes due to over exposure and one such plant is poison ivy. Belonging to the vine family known as Anacardiaceae, the plant toxins contained by the vine can cause skin rash.
Found in the U.S. exposure to poison ivy van cause rash within 24 hours. Other symptoms of the rash that are common occurrence are blisters, skin inflammation, and itching.
7 Effective Home Remedies For Poison Ivy
The vines contain urushiol, a poisonous oil that can penetrate into the skin can cause inflammation and other skin problems such as rashes and itching. Though prevention is the best form of treatment, there are a few homemade solutions for poison ivy that can help you treat it once you have been exposed to it.
Oatmeal
Another ingredient that helps in reducing the effects of poison ivy is oatmeal. An oatmeal bath soothes the itchy skin and reduces pain, if any. Also, oatmeal can also reduce skin inflammation that is caused by poison ivy oil.
Honey
Probably one of the oldest remedies to treat skin problems and wounds, honey can be applied directly to the skin rash caused by the vine. Even if the skin is broken, one can apply honey directly and view the positive results within a short span of time.
Aloe Vera
Using the freshly extracted gel from the aloe vera plants can soothe the skin. So at the first instance of a breakout of the rashes due to poison ivy, one can extract gel from the plant leaves and apply on the affected area for immediate treatment.
Baking Soda
Treatment of poison ivy is also possible with baking soda. This can reduce the itchiness and the swelling of the skin. For best results, make a paste using baking soda and water and apply on the affected area. Alternatively, one can also add it to a lukewarm bath and wash off the poisonous oil. Do not use hot water as this can aggravate the swelling and rashes.
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Soap And Water
Best and most popular mode of poison ivy treatment is to wash it with soap and water. This promptly removes the oils from the skin, thereby preventing any spread of contamination. Also, wash anything that has come in contact with the poisonous vine. This is necessary as the poisonous oil can remain active for months and can affect you and your loved ones anytime. So washing off things along with having instant bath is important. A bath within 30 minutes of contact can prevent the poisonous oil from penetrating further into the skin.
Wet Compresses
One can also apply wet compresses on the swelling and rashes to reduce it. For the compress, use lukewarm water instead of hot water to avoid aggravating the rashes. Instead use ice packs for wet compresses.
Avoid Scratching
Poison ivy rashes can spread if one itches and scratches it regularly. The oil of poison ivy can cause continued rashes and breakouts, so avoid scratching and itching. Instead use wet compress to control the spread of rashes.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
