How To Treat Poison Ivy

If you’ve been exposed to poison ivy and you act quickly, you may be able to avoid an outbreak. Pour rubbing alcohol on the area that came in contact with the plant, then rinse with cold running water.

Use soap and water to thoroughly wash the area. This might help prevent the outbreak. Scrub under your fingernails, and immediately remove and wash your clothes (and anything else that might have the plant’s oils on it) in hot water.

Be on the lookout for the symptoms, which appear between four and 48 hours after exposure. They can include redness, itching, swelling, and blisters. Although you won’t be able to cure the rash, you can help reduce the itching.

Once the outbreak has begun, use over-the-counter anti-itch products, like hydrocortisone cream, calamine lotion, and menthol creams (like Sarna). See which works best for you, and don’t scratch any blisters!

Applying cool compresses to the affected area can help relieve irritation. Also, instead of water, you can use an astringent solution with aluminum sulfate, like Domeboro.

Still suffering? Soak in a cool tub filled with water and a colloidal oatmeal treatment (like Aveeno).

Before bed, take an oral antihistamine, like Benadryl, to help with the symptoms and make you drowsy.

If the blisters begin to ooze pus, if you develop a fever above 100°, or if the outbreak doesn’t clear up within a few weeks, see a doctor. You may have caused a secondary infection by scratching and could need antibiotics.