Poison ivy home remedies and other natural treatments

There are many poison ivy home remedies which can help you to improve your condition but you should try them after talking with your doctor. Urushiol is a kind of poison which is a component of poison ivy. This plant has one of the most dangerous and deadliest poisons known as urushiol. When this kind of poison comes in a contact with our skin, then it causes us a poison ivy rash. When we have poison ivy rash, then we can feel pain, swelling, and blisters. Also, we will feel that our skin itch us a lot. Also when we rub this plant, then we can have irritation, intense sensation, and red bumps. The symptoms of this condition can last from a few hours to 7 or 10 days after we have the first contact with this plant. If you scratch the affected area, then the poison ivy rash can spread very quickly in the first three days. In most cases, this is a mild condition. If you left this condition untreated, then it can cause you great suffering.

16 poison ivy home remedy

Baking soda baths and pastes

Baking soda is one of the most effective natural poison ivy home remedies which you can use if you suffer from poison ivy. It can help you to rid of the itchiness which is caused by this condition [1]. In a bathtub filled with warm water, you should put ½ cup of baking soda. Also, you can make a paste from this remedy. You should mix one teaspoon of water with 3 teaspoons of baking soda and you should mix it until you make a paste from this poison ivy home remedy. You should apply this paste to the affected areas because this will give you relief from the irritation and itching which are associated with this condition.

Oatmeal paste

You should cook a small amount of oatmeal and then you should apply this remedy to your skin. You should apply this poison ivy home remedy to your skin as a paste. You need to cook this remedy in very thick form because in this way this kind of paste will stick to your skin. There are some studies in which is said that you need to apply this natural remedy when it is very warm. This means that the heat from this poison ivy home remedy will cool on your skin. You need to let dry your skin because it will give you relief from this condition. You should not apply this natural remedy when is too hot because it can burn your skin. Also, you can mix this natural poison ivy home remedy with one teaspoon of baking soda. This mixture will give you relief from the itching that is caused by the poison ivy. [2]

Organic apple cider vinegar

You should apply one teaspoon of organic apple cider vinegar to your affected skin. You need to apply this poison ivy home remedy directly on your skin. This natural remedy will rid of the toxins in your skin which mean that it will rid of the poison from your skin. Also, you can use a warm vinegar compress. You should apply it with a thin cotton towel on the affected skin. If you have seen that you need to reapply for this treatment, then you do it.

Aloe Vera gel

This is also a very effective natural poison ivy home remedy which you can use if you suffer from poison ivy rash. You can apply this natural remedy directly to your skin. This is a home remedy which has many health benefits for your skin. You can find it easily in many health–food stores. Also, you can buy the Aloe Vera plant, and then you should extract the gel from inner fresh leaves. Also, you can use Aloe Vera juice in an external way but this will not be effective as the Aloe Vera gel. [3]

Organic goldenseal

In a small amount of hot water, you should add a small amount of powdered goldenseal root. You should rub this poison ivy home remedy paste on your skin. This will reduce your chances of getting an infection. Also, you can take goldenseal supplements or you can drink goldenseal tea if you want to have the fastest results in a very short time. If you suffer from poison oak, then this is also a very effective natural poison ivy home remedy for this condition.

Himalayan crystal salt

When you have poison ivy, then this condition is making your skin red and wet. This is also a very effective poison ivy home remedy. This kind of salt needs to dry on your skin which means that it will pull the poison and the excess water from your skin. You should make a paste from Himalayan crystal salt and purified water. Also, you can take a warm bath with this kind of salt. You should put one cup of this kind of salt in a bathtub and then you should soak your body in this water for 20 minutes.

Organic witch hazel

You should dab a small amount of this natural remedy on the infected areas because it can give you relief from the itching and also it will clean you from this condition. This natural poison ivy home remedy can be easily found in drugstores all around the world. [4]

Banana peel

There are many studies in which is shown that the banana peel can help you to rid of this condition even if you think this is a strange natural poison ivy home remedy. You need to rub the inside area of the banana peel on your affected areas. The banana peel has a cooling effect which means that it can cool your rash.

Organic cucumber

Organic cucumber has also a cooling effect. You should make a paste from organic cucumber. Then, you should apply this paste to your skin because it can help you to get soothing relief from the heated itching. If you have easy itching, then you should slice a piece of cucumber. Put on your skin and let it dry on your skin. It will give you relief from this symptom of the poison ivy rash. [5]

Watermelon rind

Watermelon has similar effects to the cucumber which means that both natural remedies are having cooling effects. This natural poison ivy home remedy will also cool your skin and it will give you relief from the itching that is caused by the poison ivy rash.

Alcohol

If you have poison ivy rash, then you should use rubbing alcohol. You should put it on your skin after the contact with this plant. This means that it can help you to minimize the discomfort which is caused by the urushiol.

Lemon juice

Lemon juice has natural astringent properties which can help you to rid of the poison ivy rash [6]. You should apply this natural poison ivy home remedy as soon as possible after your first contact with the poison ivy. This will prevent the urushiol to get fully into your skin.

Running water

You should wash your affected areas with running cool water. Also, you can use hand soap in a combination with the running cool water. You should do this natural poison ivy home remedy treatment in the first moments after you have been in touch with this plant. This natural remedy will minimize the severity and size of the developing poison ivy rash. You should not use hot water because it can irritate your skin and just make you worse.

Cold compress

If you have poison ivy rash, then the cold compress is one of the best natural poison ivy home remedies for this condition. This natural remedy will prevent you from scratching and also it will reduce the itchiness. If you have sharp nails and you are scratching your rash, then this can open your blisters which lead to infection.

Also, you can use witch hazel because it can help you to reduce the effects of the rash. You should soak a cotton ball in the witch hazel and then you should pat this cotton ball on your skin. If you have a weepy poison ivy rash, then you should use strongly brewed tea because it will help you to rid of this condition. You need to dip a cotton ball in this kind of tea, then you should dab the cotton ball on the affected areas. You need to let this poison ivy home remedy dry in the air. You should repeat this treatment as much as you need till you feel that you have improvements in your skin.

Cold coffee

Chlorogenic acid is a component of coffee which has anti-inflammatory properties. This natural poison ivy home remedy will keep the swelling down. You should apply coffee to your skin. You should apply it with a cotton ball. When you are done applying you need to throw this cotton ball because the urushiol can cling to this cotton and in this case, you will just spread your rashes.

Tea tree oil

When your poison ivy rash has stopped oozing, then you can apply tea tree oil because it can heal your condition. In the first period, you may see that you do not have any improvements but you must continue with doing this treatment. In the first period, it may sting you but you should not be worried because this feeling will disappear. You can apply undiluted tea tree oil on your skin because it is safe but if it stings, then you should apply just a few drops of this poison ivy home remedy. [7]

References:

[1] Milstone LM. Scaly skin and bath pH: Rediscovering baking soda. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;62(5):885-6.

[2] Reynertson KA, Garay M, Nebus J, et al. Anti-inflammatory activities of colloidal oatmeal (Avena sativa) contribute to the effectiveness of oats in treatment of itch associated with dry, irritated skin. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2015;14(1):43-8.

[3] Hekmatpou D, Mehrabi F, Rahzani K, Aminiyan A. The effect of aloe vera clinical trials on prevention and healing of skin wound: A systematic review. Iranian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2019;44(1):1-9.

[4] Thring TSA, Hili P, Naughton DP. Antioxidant and potential anti-inflammatory activity of extracts and formulations of white tea, rose, and witch hazel on primary human dermal fibroblast cells. Journal of Inflammation. 2011;8:27.

[5] Tabassum N, Hamdani M. Plants used to treat skin diseases. Pharmacognosy Review. 2014;8(15):52-60.

[6] Dhanavade MJ, Jalkute CB, Ghosh J, Sonawane KD. Study antimicrobial activity of lemon (Citrus lemon L.) peel extract. British Journal of Pharmacology and Toxicology. 2011;2(3):119-122.

[7] Carson CF, Hammer KA, Riley TV. Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil: a review of antimicrobial and other medicinal properties. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2006;19(1):50-62.