What is the best home remedy for poison ivy? I am pregnant, so there is a lot I can’t take – medicine wise.
Treating Poison Ivy Exposures
If you are exposed, according to the FDA, you should quickly (within 10 minutes):
first, cleanse exposed areas with rubbing alcohol.
next, wash the exposed areas with water only (no soap yet, since soap can move the urushiol, which is the oil from the poison ivy that triggers the rash, around your body and actually make the reaction worse).
now, take a shower with soap and warm water.
lastly, put gloves on and wipe everything you had with you, including shoes, tools, and your clothes, with rubbing alcohol and water.
Unfortunately, if you wait more than 10 minutes, the urushiol will likely stay on your skin and trigger the poison ivy rash. You may not be able to stop it on your skin, but you might still scrub your nails and wipe off your shoes, etc., so that you don’t spread the urushiol to new areas.
Commercial products, like Zanfel, Ivy Cleanse Towelettes, and Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub, are also available over-the-counter, if you don’t want to use rubbing alcohol.
Remember that poison ivy isn’t contagious though, so touching the rash won’t actually spread it.
Since your kids get poison ivy a lot, having a ‘poison ivy action kit’ ready, with rubbing alcohol, a large bottle of water, and some soap, might be a good idea. Since rubbing alcohol can be poisonous, children should be supervised with it though and it is not something you should send off into the woods with them.
Preventing Poison Ivy
In addition to getting rid of poison ivy when you find it, you can avoid poison ivy by:
wearing long pants and a shirt with long sleeves, boots and gloves when your kids will be most at risk, especially when playing in wooden areas, around lakes, or going on hikes
apply Ivy-Block to exposed areas
Looking for safe and non-toxic topical gel for poison ivy, oak or sumac treatment? Get your Poison Ivy healing gel today!
Home Remedy for Poison Ivy?
Dealing with Poison Ivy
Our family just moved to Thomasville GA from Miami and found our property filled with Poison Ivy. Before ewe get into our weeding…is there a home remedy for controlling poison ivy and the itching it will bring?
Anything good for acne helps poison ivy. There are many good over-the-counter treatments now, but the best thing is the prescription stuff. You will have to see the doctor to get it, and if the rash is real bad, then steroid pills and/or shots.
Poison Ivy Home Remedies
Use lots of soap on it, a lye soap or something harsh. Wash often and scrub good. Don’t use hot water, use cool. Also can put ice or cool on it when it is itching.
Avoid exposure as much as possible, there’s an over the counter protectant being sold now. Drier skin soaks up the poison which is an oil (Urushiol), so if you have a sunscreen or bug repellant, use an oily one. When exposed, you have 3 (THREE) minutes to wash it off or you’ll get the itch! So I take a bottle of dish or liquid soap and some water with me. After 3 minutes, you still need to wash, it will help and also stop the spread. Alcohol can also wash the poison off, but will leave skin extra dry so only use if you won’t be re-exposed.
Animals carry the oil on their fur, but I’ve heard they never get the itchy rash. Tools will carry the poison, I’ve read it will last as long as 5 years! Wash clothes in hot water and rinse well. Wash chairs, shoes, everything that might have oil on it. Some of that maybe use alcohol on.
How are you going to get rid of it on your property?
I read recently that poison ivy loves extra carbon dioxide and pollution plus global warming is causing the plants to take over and spread like crazy. They said it was also having a stronger poison and causing worse rashes.
To weed, here’s a trick-put a plastic bag over your hand and up your arm. Grab the weed, pull and cover with the bag, without ever touching it. (Doesn’t work if it’s too big.) Also goats, they will eat it all!
Learn More with Additional Poison Ivy Resources
- Recognizing Poison Ivy Plants
- Look Out For Poison Ivy
- Poison Ivy Identifying Characteristics
- Safe and Non Toxic Poison Ivy Treatment
- Poison Ivy Facts
Best Poison Ivy Treatment
Poison Ivy Healing Gel penetrates deep into the skin to remove the Urushiol oil responsible for the itching, burning, rashes, blisters, and oozing. This helps to soothe the itchiness and burning, as well as attack any bacteria, viruses and fungus providing long-lasting relief! The Non-Toxic gel can also be used as a hand and skin cleanser, stopping 99% of bacteria on-contact.
It’s also effective against skin irritations and minor cuts, scrapes, scratches, and burns, and the convenient travel size makes it perfect to throw in a purse, pocket or backpack to provide instant poison ivy relief where ever you go.
What to Do if You’ve Been Exposed to Poison Ivy
Dealing with Poison Ivy
If you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, finding the right home remedy for poison ivy is essential. Immediately flush the area with COLD water. Don’t use warm or hot water as this will allow pores to open and cause the urushiol to seep in deeper for Poison Ivy. Since urushiol is an oil, use as 
harsh a soap as you can, dish soap works good to wash the area. Alcohol may be effective for removing the oil as well, however opinions vary. Getting the oil off quickly will save you from the majority of the rash. Whatever you use, it is important to get the urushiol off as soon as possible, after much more than an hour, it’s too late.
Since the rash from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are allergic reactions; the rashes can vary widely from one person to another. Some people have no reaction at all while others react so severely they require immediate medical attention due to Poison Ivy. The rash will generally show up 24 to 48 hours after exposure, however some people who have severe reactions, will break out in a serious blistered rash and swell up within a couple of hours. This can be a life threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. This will require a trip to the emergency room.
If you do break out in a rash there are a number of things you can try, some may work better than others and it will take a little trial and error to find some relief.
Resources of Interest: Poison Ivy
- Poison Ivy Plant Description
- Symptoms of Poison Ivy Rash
- Specially Formulated Poison Ivy Treatment
- Poison Ivy Fast Facts
- Poison Ivy Overview
There are several methods you can use to treat the itch, such as hydrocortisone creams, antihistamine pills, and aloe vera. However, these treatments only provide marginal relief to the surface itch, and do nothing to remove the oil deep within the skin, and stop the itching at the root of the problem. For a truly effective treatment, use one that can penetrate deep into the skin, and bond with the urushiol oil, to completely remove the irritant from your body. One such product is Poison Ivy, Oak, & Sumac Healing Gel, by All Stop™.
Never scratch the rash, no matter how much it itches! It can lead to serious scarring and you will end up in a vicious itch/scratch cycle. Once you start scratching, you’ll cause more irritation to the skin, and the more you irritate the skin the more it will itch due to Poison Ivy.
Most Effective Poison Ivy Treatment Kit
Antimicrobial – Antiseptic – Urishol Oil remover
Your Complete Kit will wash away the Poison Ivy Urishol Oil off your skin and out of your pores quickly and easy, while the Poison Ivy Gel will stop the itch, soothe and heal the skin. Prevents secondary bacterial infections. Heals the skin.
Walk away knowing you have reduced or eliminated your poison ivy outbreak any time you come in contact with poison ivy with our Citrus Exfoliating Scrub.
First Aid Gel to help protect against the risk of skin infection in minor cuts, scrapes, and burns.
