Community Corner
Poison Ivy Relief
Poison ivy is all over the place in the summer, and it's pretty hard to avoid if you love the outdoors.
If you plan on being outdoors a lot this summer, it’s pretty likely that you are going to see some poison ivy around your yard or garden. Some people don’t have much of an allergic reaction when they come into contact with the plant’s oils, known as urushiol, while others may develop lots of itchy hives as a result.
There has only been one time when I have had a reaction bad enough to warrant a trip to the doctor’s office, and that was pretty uncomfortable; most cases can be handled by applying some rubbing alcohol and Benadryl gel or Calamine lotion.
Whether you have mild reactions or serious ones, poison ivy can be a real pest in the garden, and it can be pretty tricky to get rid of without being exposed. When the oil from the plant comes into contact with exposed skin, it can cause a red, bumpy rash, or even fluid-filled blisters that itch like crazy.
You can be exposed to the plant oils directly, by touching the leaves or the vine of the plant, or indirectly by touching the oils of the plant that have rubbed off on your pet’s coat or your clothing.
If you know you have been exposed to poison ivy, wash the exposed areas with cool water and soap as quickly as possible to help prevent the oils from being absorbed into your skin. Sometimes a quick rinse can help prevent an allergic reaction if done within an hour or less of exposure.
Put any clothing that was exposed to the plant into the wash with detergent to eliminate future allergic reactions from indirect contact with the urushiol; the oils from the plant are stubborn and can remain on clothing and gardening tools for quite a while if they are not washed off.
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If you do develop a rash from poison ivy contact, rubbing alcohol may help cool and soothe the affected areas and cold compresses can help relieve some of the discomfort. Calamine lotion and Benadryl Itch Stopping Gel both relieve the constant itch, as well as dry out and shrink the rash.
If the rash becomes unbearable or covers a very large portion of your body, and is not relieved by home remedies at all, then you should consider seeing you doctor for a prescription. The doctor may prescribe Prednisone and possibly some topical cream to ease your symptoms quickly.
