by Richard Serra

Created on: November 05, 2011

Ever wonder why some people are so lucky to escape the agony of what poison ivy causes for so many who are unfortunate enough to have come in contact with that dreaded weed? The urge for relief by scratching can be so great, that at times if you didn't do so, you'd think you would go crazy if you couldn't get some kind of relief.

For many who are not so lucky, there are some products that can help eliminate some of the discomfort, as well as promoting healing. The best remedy of course is to always be aware of your surroundings when in a wooded area, or even in your own back yard. Learning to recognize the plant can go a long way in preventing contact, thereby eliminating the possibility that you end up with the poison gracing your skin. However, should you do get the rash, you can always ask a pharmacist what he or she would recommend.

If you already have a product for the specific use of effectively removing the oils, then by all means use it. You'll need to scrub under your fingernails as well, using a brush so as to prevent the resin from spreading, as it has a tendency to do so on other parts of the body.

The resin needs to be removed from you shoes and clothing, so be sure to use hot soap and water to remove them. If the poison is on a pet, do the same for the pet as it's possible to have made contact with the poison as well.

To prevent a lot of itching, try to be in a cool room so as not to sweat, or if out doors, use damp wet compresses on your skin.
You can then use something like Calamine lotion, and hydrocortisone cream which is effective in reducing the itching or blistering.  Other possible remedies for itching would be to use a Zinc oxide ointment.

Note: for future problems associated with getting poison again, be prepared with having the proper treatments handy. One is a product called Tecnu for removing the resin oils from your skin when you first contact the poison. The quicker you use the product upon contact the better.

For added comfort, you can use a lukewarm bath along with an oatmeal bath product such as Aveeno colloidal oatmeal, which will help sooth the skin, and this is available in most drugstores. Another product which is used to help dry the rash is Aluminum acetate, which also will reduce the itching as well as the rash.

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