Useful Poison Ivy Remedies

Many people have been victimized in the past with the irritating effects of poison ivy rash. While the rash itself is rarely a serious one, the feeling of having it on your skin can be quite uncomfortable as it tends to be very itchy – this can be frustrating especially for very young children who are prone to scratching and are likely to be more sensitive to discomfort. However, there are some handy poison ivy remedies that can help you feel a bit more relaxed as you wait until the rash passes.

Obviously, emergency treatment involves disinfecting the area within ten minutes of coming into contact with the plant. This means that you have to rinse and wash the infected area with rubbing alcohol, warm water, and mild soap. Of course, once the window of time has passed, doing this after will not prevent the rash from forming as it would have already been embedded underneath your skin.

The rash can stay up to three weeks on your skin, depending on the severity of the infection. The standard protocol is that if you notice the rash not healing, and continuing to itch and make you feel uncomfortable, as well as infect other areas such as your throat, then you should involve your doctor. Go for a consultation and ask him about the best way to treat your condition, as well as ask for a prescription – remember that no matter how generic some medicines are, a prescription is always safer as it comes from the recommendation of the doctor.

Herbal Poison Ivy Remedies You Can Try

However, there are also some herbal poison ivy remedies that several people go for it they decide to treat the infection au naturale. The main form of herbal treatment for poison ivy rash is jewelweed, which is generally known for its ability to heal any skin infection. It is a plant that grows shiny leaves, and is popular for having remedied skin ailments such as eczema, sores, and insect bites.

To use jewelweed to heal your rash, simply use the sap found in its stem (the jewelweed must be picked fresh) and apply it to the infected area, or make a tea enriched with any part of the plant. Do any of these two at least thrice a day.

Another herb that people use is plantain. The same method follows – extract the sap of the plant and then apply directly to the rash at a maximum of four applications in one day.

In summary, there are many different poison ivy remedies that you can use – from prescriptions to herbal treatments. At the end of the day, the most important thing is consistency. Once it is too late to perform emergency treatment, regularly apply your chosen form of treatment to the infection. This is not a good time to stay lax and remain idle – your skin will not be cleared of the infection unless you are vigilant in making sure that you are doing everything that is necessary to cure it.