Wear protective clothing: Protect your skin by wearing long sleeves, pants, socks, and heavy gloves.Stay on cleared pathways and trails at all times to steer clear of poison ivy, which appears as a cluster of three almond-shaped leaves. Avoid poison ivy altogether: People commonly get a poison ivy rash from outdoor recreation and gardening, and the best way to avoid it is to avoid poison ivy, says Jelesko.You can prevent a poison ivy rash by doing the following: However, severe cases - when the rash spreads to your eyes, mouth, and genitals, you get an infection, or you develop a fever - require medical attention to avoid complications. Therefore, it's best to refrain from using any topical lotions or creams without consulting your doctor first.Ĭonsider seeing a doctor if symptoms disrupt your normal routine or you experience insomnia from incessant itching. It's important to note that, "there are over-the-counter products marketed for reducing poison ivy rash symptoms, but the effectiveness of these are rarely supported by well-controlled clinical trials," Jelesko says. "This is a decision that needs to be made in conjunction with your physician." Take prescription steroid medications: For severe cases, "oral steroid treatment is the gold standard for reducing and stopping and reversing poison ivy rash symptoms," says Jelesko.A poison ivy rash will eventually go away on its own in about two to three weeks. Let it run its course: "Once the rash symptoms begin, the treatment options become very limited," Jelesko says.According to Jelesko, washing within 15 minutes of initial contact can be effective in preventing and/or minimizing poison ivy rash symptoms later on. Wash your skin immediately: Wash your skin with copious amounts of soap and water as soon as possible.If you've been exposed to urushiol either from poison ivy, or another plant, you can do the following:
However, the part of poison ivy that causes allergic reactions can be spread on our skin or clothing, so it is important to rinse the skin well after contact with poison ivy and to wash clothing thoroughly," says Jeffrey Cohen, MD, a dermatologist at Yale Medicine and assistant professor of dermatology at the Yale School of Medicine. In rare cases, some people develop black spots or streaks instead of a reddish rash. Blisters that may ooze clear, watery fluid and eventually crust over.Red, swollen bumps that may grow in size.Intense and persistent itchiness that can wake you up from sleep.While symptoms generally differ from one individual to another, common signs of a poison ivy rash show up at the point of contact and include: You may develop a rash in about 12 to 48 hours if you touch any of these plants or anything that came into contact with them, such as unwashed clothing, pet fur, or gardening tools. Poison ivy, poison oak, and sumac all produce urushiol, an oily sap that causes an allergic reaction upon contact with the skin.