We all know what poison ivy is, but for those of you who are not familiar with this plant, let me explain. It is a climbing plant with an irritant oil present in its leaves that causes allergic reactions when touched. These allergic reactions usually result in rashes.
The poison ivy rashes often look like a straight line because of the way the plant brushes onto your skin. Whether or not the rash is severe, it simply depends on your contact with the plant.
So if you’ve already gotten in contact with this bad boy, what should you do, you might ask? We have some tips for you written below that are guaranteed to provide you with the faster healing results and ease the itching and the pain caused by the rash.
1. Oatmeal Bath
What you need:
- 1 cup of powdered oatmeal
- Bathwater
Instructions:
- Fill up your tub and add a cup of powdered oatmeal.
- Stay in the tub for 20-30 minutes.
How often?
Once a day
What’s the secret behind this?
Oatmeal is rich in antioxidants and it has quite a lot of anti-inflammatory properties. These are the ones responsible for relieving the itching and inflammation caused by the poison ivy.
2. Baking Soda
What you need:
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 2 glasses of water
- Sterile gauze
Instructions:
- Mix 2 tsps of baking soda in 2 glasses of water.
- Soak the gauzes in the solution.
- Put the soaked gauzes over the rashes and let them sit for 10 minutes.
- Remove them and wash the area.
How often?
3 to 4 times a day
What’s the secret behind this?
Baking soda is alkaline and has pH neutralizing properties that are going to help in the process of restoring the pH balance of your skin. Its antibacterial properties won’t allow the skin to suffer from further infection.
3. ACV
What you need:
- 2 tbsps of ACV
- 1-2 glasses of water
- Sterile gauzes
Instructions:
- Mix the vinegar and the water.
- Soak a few gauzes in the solution and place them over the rashes.
- Leave them on for 10 minutes.
- Take the gauzes off and wash the area.
How often?
2 to 3 times a day.
What’s the secret behind this?
ACV is one of the best ways to treat a rash caused by a poison ivy because of its acidic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, .
4. Bleach
What you need:
- 1/4 cup of household bleach
- Bathwater
Instructions:
- Add the bleach to your bathwater and mix well.
- Soak in it for 20 to 30 minutes.
How often?
As soon as you come in contact with the poison ivy.
What’s the secret behind this?
Bleach contains chlorine, and as we all know by now, chlorine is a natural disinfectant – that’s why they’re putting it in swimming pools too. It also tends to dry out your skin, which will soothe the itch and speed up the healing process.
Caution
Don’t do this if you have sensitive skin as you can damage it.
5. Jewelweed
What you need:
Crushed jewelweed plant
Instructions:
- Form a paste of the crushed stems of the jewelweed plant.
- Apply the paste on the rashes.
- Let it dry and rinse off with water.
How often?
Two times per day
What’s the secret behind this?
Jewelweed contains saponins, which are found to be very helpful in the process of drying the liquid-filled blisters and soothe the itching and inflammation.
Sources:
www.readersdigest.ca
www.healthline.com
www.goodhousekeeping.com