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Poison Ivy Rash Treatment

Rashes caused by poison ivy can be painful and infuriating. If you're ever afflicted with a bad case, there are a number of treatments for the itchy swelling and redness caused by this pesty plant.

  1. Confirming Youy Have Poison Ivy

    • Before you begin treatment, you first need to confirm that you have poison ivy. If you have poison ivy, you should see a redness with bumps or hives. You will feel incredibly itchy in the area with the bumps and may even have blisters that leak a clear fluid. If you're positive you came into direct contact with poison ivy in this area, odds are that's what it is.

      Of course, if you're ever unsure about whether you have poison ivy, consult a doctor and get a professional opinion. Chances are if you go to see a doctor, you'll be given advice or a medication to treat your rash and itch. You should also make sure to visit a doctor if you notice that your rash continues to grow after multiple treatments or refuses to go away over an extended period of time.

    Home Treatments and Remedies

    • Certain creams, such as calamine lotion, can be used to help suppress symptoms of poison ivy. Other methods of treatment involve using heat. You can take a hot shower or use a hair dryer to dry out the affected area, which in turn will help get rid of the poison.

      Using water and baking soda, you can also make a paste to coat the area. This works to dry the area, killing off the poison and providing relief.

    Medicaitons

    • Antihistamines such as Benadryl will help with the blisters and itching caused by poison ivy. Along with this, you can try corticosteroid pills, creams or shots to treat the annoying red rash that comes with the infection.

      If you're noticing you're having issues with scratching and are causing the affected area to bleed, you might want to consider using antibiotic creams to help prevent bacterial infection.

      Still, there are some things to remember when treating poison ivy with medication. According to WebMD, the following should not be used to treat poison ivy, as they may add complications since they are potential allergens: "antihistamines applied to the skin, anesthetics applied to the skin containing benzocaine, and antibiotics containing neomycin sulfate."

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