Few things are as painful, ugly and persistent as a poison ivy rash, or a similar rash produced by poison ivy's cousins, poison oak and poison sumac. Poison ivy rash results from a severe allergic skin reaction to urushiol, a sticky plant oil that can adhere to skin, clothing, tools and pet hair. The good news is that several holistic treatments are available to sooth red, blistering itchy skin and to promote healing.
Washing
According to the National Institutes of Health, urushiol enters the skin within 30 minutes, so rapid washing can reduce the severity of poison ivy rash. The Centers for Disease Control advises people who've been exposed to immediately rinse skin with rubbing alcohol and plain water, along with soap. The CDC recommends frequent rinsing to prevent water and soap containing urushiol drying on the skin, and scrubbing thoroughly under the nails with a brush to prevent spreading of the toxic oil.
Clothing and Pets
Preventing re-exposure to urushiol will also reduce the severity of the poison ivy rash, according to the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control. Wash clothing, shoes, tools and pets with soap and water. According to the CDC, urushiol can remain on tools and shoes for up to a year if it is not removed by thorough washing. Rubbing alcohol can also remove the oil from hard surfaces like tools and shoes, the CDC says.
Natural Lotions
Calamine lotion is a traditional, effective remedy to relieve itching and sooth broken, inflamed skin, recommended by the Mayo Clinic, University of Maryland Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health. Other natural lotions containing camphor, chamomile, eucalyptus, peppermint and menthol sooth and cool burning, itching skin, according to the Mayo Clinic and University of Maryland Medical Center. The Mayo Clinic reports that topical chamomile lotion is as effective as a 0.25 percent solution of hydrocortisone in relieving itching.
Bathing and Compresses
The Centers for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic recommend cool, soothing baths with a colloidal oatmeal solution like Aveeno to relieve itching and to dry out weeping skin. The National Institutes of Health also recommends bathing or compresses made with an aluminum acetate or Domeboro solution, available at drugstores, to sooth itching and to help heal the rash. A peppermint tea compress may also relieve itching, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
References
- Centers for Disease Control; NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics; Poisonous Plants; August 2010
- Mayo Clinic; Poison Ivy Rash; Causes; April 2010
- Merck Home Health Handbook; Itching and Noninfectious Rashes; Peter Schalock; December 2006
- Mayo Clinic; Dermatitis; Alternative Medicine; December 2009
- National Institutes of Health; Poison Ivy - Oak - Sumac Rash; May 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Peppermint; Stephen Ehrlich; March 2009
