Effective Treatment for Poison Ivy

All goes well for an outdoor trip until someone encounters poison ivy plants. Poison ivy plants are usually scattered around and are quite difficult to spot in areas and trails with lush and thick vegetation. When you come in contact with this plant, the skin becomes irritated and inflamed with rashes with blisters. There could me more serious consequences if the plant is ingested or its powdered form is inhaled. The patient might suffer from organ failure, anaphylactic shock, or even death. Luckily, treatment for poison ivy is not that difficult to access nowadays.

While it’s quite difficult to avoid this plant if you have an untrained eye, there could be several easily spotted visual cues that could help you identify the plant. These plants have leaves divided into three leaflets with the middle leaflet more protruded that the other two. These plants are vines with woody stems. Knowing these characteristics could help you avoid them or take action if these plants are found in highly exposed areas. Packing up on information and studying about these plants could help prevent any future accidents involving these plants. Prevention is better than cure.

But in cases where the damage has already been inflicted, treatment for poison ivy should be administered quickly. The first line of defense for poison ivy is the application of alcohol and water. The area should be doused quickly, but not washed with soap and water immediately. Washing with soap and water could worsen the situation by spreading the component in the poison ivy that causes the rashes. Avoid scratching the rashes because the possibility of a secondary injuries and infection is high. After dousing the areas with alcohol, it is best to get rid of the possible traces of the poison ivy irritant on their skin. The clothing and other objects that may have come in contact with the victim may have the irritant and so touching them would bring the allergic reaction.

There are several drugs which have surfaced in the market that promises to relieve and take out the discomfort caused by the irritation. These drugs often come in lotion form, but there are some which are already infused in wet wipes. Some come in the form of soft soap as washes. These treatments contain active ingredients that help get rid of the active component of poison ivy that causes the allergic reaction. These lotions also provide soothing relief as having these rashes could be such a pain. There are also natural methods to take care of poison ivy rashes. Applying aloe vera juice on the rash helps soothe the inflammation and speed up the healing. Taking vitamin C and zinc boosts the immune response, thus helping the body defend itself faster, making the rashes heal quickly.

Whatever treatment for poison ivy you perform, it is always best to be careful and be vigilant. Avoid these plants to avoid problems and complications. If possible, have them removed by a professional.