In order to know how to get rid of Poison Ivy, you first of all need to learn exactly what Poison Ivy is, what the Poison Ivy rash looks like in orderthat you can apply the proper and most affective treatment so that you can get rid of it quickly.
What is Poison Ivy?
The Poison Ivy plant, along with its equally treacherous relatives Poison Oak and Poison Sumac, is a leafy plant found in wooded areas of the countryside. Unfortunately, the leaves contain a poisonous oil known as Urushiol.
If the oil comes into contact with the skin of humans who are allergic to it, they will come out in a red-coloured, itchy rash at the affected area which, if not treated promptly, will cause a burning- like itch along with weeping in the contaminated area and possible extending to the cracking and breaking of the skin.
It is critical that when the presence of Poison Ivy along with its nasty rash is detected on the skin, immediate steps be taken to completely remove the poisonous Urushiol from the contaminated area. This minimises the painful reaction that would follow during the ensuing two to three weeks, if the normal poisoning course of events was allowed to continue untreated.
How to treat the Poison Ivy rash naturally
There is one known over-the-counter medication which contains which contains these leaves, called Tecnu, that not only removes the prime cause of the infection but also prevents the spread of the Urushiol to other areas of the skin. But alas, this medication can be very difficult to locate.
Therefore, in order to get rid of poison ivy and the painful rash that goes along with it, it is usually more practical to quickly apply one of several home remedies to the affected area in order to start the healing process. One of the quickest and most effective ways on how to get rid of poison ivy is to immediately apply the home remedy to get rid of a poison ivy rash.
Quick treatment is necessary to get rid of Poison Ivy
There are many people who can pick up the infections of Poison Ivy, particularly during the summer months, and not be anywhere near a wooded area at the time. The poisonous pores from the plant can travel very easily through the air and therefore some distance from where the original plant is growing in a wooded area.
No matter how the infection is picked up, it is essential that on feeling the the first signs of its infection, steps immediately be taken to start to treat and remove the Poison Ivy as soon as possible, normally when the first tell-tale tingles are felt on the skin.
The first reaction of most people on discovering they have been affected is to scratch the contaminated skin area. Whilst this in itself will not spread the poison, it will help the poison to “burrow” deeper into the skin and need more prolonged treatment to get rid of it.
Make no mistake, Poison Ivy can be very painful and develop into a nasty rash that can leave a scar on your skin that will never disappear. So if you feel an itchiness on your skin and you are not sure where it has come from, run warm or cold water over the area before you do anything else.
This helps remove any of the surplus Urushiol poison that has not already penetrated the skin. If you use hot water, this opens the pores of the skin allowing the poison to penetrate, whereas cold/warm water closes the pores and stops any further poison entering the skin. This will help relieve the itching and therefore the need to scratch.
Some more effective remedies
Now not all of the ingredients previously used are available at the time of infection and therefore you may have to use one of several alternative “emergency” remedies.
One of the home remedies that also seems to be very helpful is ordinary Apple Cider Vinegar. Simply wash the itchy area with cold/warm water as previously described and then, using a paper towel, apply the Apple Cider Vinegar on the area and let it remain there for around 30 minutes.
The affected area may well burn for a short while but it will quickly form a scab on the area and within a few hours, the itchiness will stop and the scab will heal, without leaving a scar.
Many women use facial clay masks to help tone-up the condition of their facial skin. The same clay can be used to get rid of Poison Ivy as well. When the tell-tale signs of being affected by Poison Ivy appear, either in the form of itchiness or red blisters starting to appear on the skin, once more, clean the affected area with cold or warm water and then apply the facial clay to the same area.
Allow the clay to remain for around 30 minutes and then remove it with warm water. This will quickly control the itchiness and hence any scratching of the skin.
The clay will also cool the skin thus minimising the presence of a rash and by using the treatment several times over a 36-48 hour period, the affects of the Poison Ivy may be quickly removed with no long lasting damage to the skin.
Whilst Apple Cider Vinegar seems to be the most effective domicile ingredient when trying to get rid of Poison Ivy, not every household may have it available. If nothing else is available at the time, it is possible to get rid of Poison Ivy by using white Distilled Vinegar instead of the Apple Cider variety. This is not quite as effective and may well take a longer time to cool down the itching.
Similarly, by firstly washing the contaminated area with cold or warm water then apply liquid dish-washing soapand rubbing it up into a nice thick lather, it will once more cool the affected area and thus minimise any itching and at the same time, start a very slow healing process.
Let’s sum it up!
How to get rid of Poison Ivy can be simple but action needs to be taken quickly.
- First, wash with cold or warm water to remove the Urushiol poison
- If available, apply Tecnu liquid containing crushed jewel-weed leaves
- Alternatively, apply any of the home remedies mentioned above
- Try not to scratch as this may bring about a long-term scar
- Early immediate treatment is essential to stop itching and thus any scarring.
Yes, Poison Ivy can be painful and, if not treated properly, can leave scarring but it does not have to be like this. If you remember how to get rid of Poison Ivy and do become affected by its spores, there may be discomfort for say 24 hours but then it will disappear with no long lasting after effects if you quickly apply any of the remedies outlined in this report.
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