How to Treat Poison Ivy Rashes at Home

• Rinse the affected area with rubbing alcohol or cool water as soon as possible.
• Wash the area with mild soap, then apply corticosteroid and cortisol cream up to 4 times a day.
• Wash your clothes, pets, or any other personal items to stop the spread of the poison ivy oil that causes the rash.
• If your genitals come into contact with poison ivy, the area might swell, itch, or turn bright red or pink. Treat this rash with antihistamines and cold compresses.

Recognizing a Poison Ivy Rash

Watch for an itchy red rash 12-48 hours after contact with poison ivy. The rash might appear earlier if you contact a lot of the urushiol oil. You'll only have a rash where the plant's oil touched your skin, so it often appears in a line that resembles small bug bites. In most cases, the rash disappears in 14-20 days untreated, but can fade faster with treatment. The rash may spread from scratching if you still have oil on your skin. Also check for poison oak rash or poison sumac rash, which are similar to poison ivy rashes and treated in the same manner.

Watch for blisters and swelling around the affected area. Blisters are typical symptoms of poison ivy rashes, and can vary from pin-sized to dime-sized. They usually develop within 1 to 14 days after contact with poison ivy. Your blisters may pop and release a clear fluid, but this is normal and won't spread the rash. You'll also have inflammation as a result of the rash, which can cause swelling. Resist the urge to pop the blisters; allow them to settle or break on their own to reduce irritation. Poison ivy rashes are often accompanied by more severe swelling than other rashes. If you notice pus on the affected skin, then your rash is likely infected. See a doctor as soon as possible for treatment.

Check for rash splotches if a contaminated pet or item touched you. The oil from a poison ivy plant can linger on your pet's fur or on clothing that came in contact with the plant. This lingering oil can also cause rashes. If you suspect your pet or personal items have contacted poison ivy, check yourself for splotchy areas where the items contacted your skin. Wash any clothes that came in contact with poison ivy immediately and separately. Handle them as little as possible. If your pets come into contact with poison ivy, wash them immediately with shampoo and water. Also wash anything you know they touched, as the irritating oil could remain on the surface. Dogs and other pets don’t typically show symptoms of poison ivy rash, but wash them anyway, and take them to a vet if they show signs of irritation, like licking or scratching.

Providing First Aid

Dab the area with rubbing alcohol to remove the oil, if possible. Rinse the affected skin with rubbing alcohol, or use a soaked cotton swab or an alcohol wipe. It's best to do this within 10 minutes of contacting the plant to avoid a rash, but you can do it later to remove any oil that's lingering on your skin. Don't rub the wipes on areas that didn't contact the oil. You don't want to accidentally spread it. After using gauze or a cotton swab, throw it away. Avoid applying any sort of alcohol to the area around your eyes to avoid irritation.

Rinse your affected skin with water as soon as you can. Run cool water over your affected skin for several minutes, but don't soak the area in still water. After thoroughly rinsing, wash the area with plain, mild soap (in the shower, if possible). Wash off the poison ivy oil as soon as you can to reduce your chances of developing a rash or having the oil spread across a larger area. If possible, use a clean washcloth to scrub the affected area to avoid passing oil between your hands. The water needs to be running in order to remove the oil. If you soak in water, the oil will mix with the water and affect more of your skin. Avoid using hot water, which opens your pores and could cause your skin to absorb more of the oil.

Apply crushed jewelweed to the rash if you're stuck outdoors. Jewelweed is often called nature's natural poison ivy remedy. It is a low-growing leafy bush that produces yellow and orange bell-shaped flowers. Mash up some jewelweed to make a paste, then apply it to your rash. Leave it on until it dries, then rinse it away with cool water. Jewelweed helps by countering the oil contained in the poison ivy. It can help you avoid a rash or reduce the intensity of your symptoms. Only use paste you made from the jewelweed itself. Don't rely on extracts and soaps made from jewelweed, which aren't as effective. Apply as much jewelweed sap as needed to relieve your symptoms.

Relieving Symptoms at Home

Use an over-the-counter corticosteroid cream for up to a week. Dab a small amount of the cream onto your rash using a cotton swab. Use only as much of the cream as is necessary to relieve your symptoms, as corticosteroid cream may cause side effects when used over a long period of time. Reapply the cream every 4 hours as needed. Stop using the cream after 1 week, after which it becomes less effective and may cause negative symptoms like thinning skin. Read the label and follow all of the instructions, and avoid use for pregnant people or very young children. Check with your doctor before using the product.

Apply calamine lotion as needed to stop itching. Calamine lotion is a common over-the-counter itch reliever. Use a cotton swab to dab the calamine lotion onto your rash, then let it dry. Reapply it every 3-4 hours as desired. Follow all of the instructions on the label. It's best to check with your doctor before applying any over-the-counter medications. Keep in mind that calamine lotion may stain clothing and sheets if it gets on them. Avoid applying the lotion to the face or genitals.

Take an oral antihistamine daily as directed by a doctor. Opt for diphenhydramine (Benadryl), cetirizine (Zyrtec), loratadine (Claritin), or fexofenadine (Allegra). An antihistamine will reduce your body's response to the rash, helping to control your symptoms. Talk to your doctor before you take an antihistamine, even if it's sold over-the-counter. Check the label to see how often you should take your antihistamine. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) is often taken every 4 hours, while others are taken just once a day. Check the label on your product to see if it causes drowsiness, and note that alcohol will intensify this effect. If it does, avoid activities like driving or operating machinery.

Reduce itching with a cool oatmeal bath. Run a cool bath, then mix in a colloidal oatmeal bath product, which is known to soothe skin irritation. Add about 1 cup (85 g) of oatmeal product to your bath. Soak for 20 minutes, then rinse off the oatmeal with clean water before drying off. Alternatively, grind traditional rolled oats in a grinder or blender to create your own oatmeal bath blend.

Use a cool, wet compress for 15 to 30 mins to reduce swelling. Soak a clean rag in cool water and press it onto the affected area. Use a cold compress several times a day—be sure to use a clean rag each time. Alternatively, soak the rag in an astringent liquid, such as chilled black tea or a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and water. Some people find more relief with these options. If using vinegar, test it on a small area of your skin first to see if you are sensitive to it. Wash the rag separately from other clothing.

Use baking soda as a paste or a soak to treat itching. Mix 2 parts of baking soda with 1 part of water to make a paste, or add about 1 cup (128 g) of baking soda to a bath. Baking soda may draw out the poison and soothe your rash for hours at a time. If you're using a paste, wait until it dries, then rinse it off with cool water. Reapply the baking soda a few times a day, if you like. Baking soda paste also makes an ideal ointment for treating poison ivy blisters.

Apply aloe vera to your rash to help with itching. Aloe vera gel has proven soothing effects for itching or irritated areas. Rub over-the-counter gel on the affected area as often as needed. Or, harvest your own gel by breaking open an aloe leaf and scraping the gel out of the inside. If you're buying the gel, make sure the product you choose doesn't have any added ingredients, which may irritate the rash.

Treat rashes on the genitals with antihistamines and cold compresses. If you experience symptoms on your genitals, wash the area with soap and cool water. Then take an over-the-counter antihistamine like Zyrtec according to the instructions on the packaging. In addition, wet a washcloth with cold water and press it to the area to relieve swelling and itching, and apply it as often as needed. Additionally, apply a topical hydrocortisone cream to the area twice a day. First, dab a small amount on the area and wait 15 minutes, to test for negative reactions. A rash on this part of the body is best treated by a professional doctor, who will most likely prescribe oral corticosteroids.

Getting Medical Treatment

Seek emergency medical care for severe symptoms or a persistent rash. In most cases, you don't need to see a doctor for poison ivy. It's okay to treat it at home! That said, visit a doctor if your rash covers a large area, the symptoms interfere with your daily life, or the rash doesn't go away after 2-3 weeks. For example, a “large area” might mean your entire calf or forearm. See a doctor if the rash is on your face or genitals.

Ask your doctor about an oral corticosteroid for severe itching. Your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, such as Prednisone, if you're experiencing extreme itching. It might also be an option if your rash covers a lot of your body. However, this medication isn't right for everyone, so your doctor might recommend sticking to over-the-counter options. Oral corticosteroids can cause side effects, so only use them as needed. The most common side effects with short-term use include sleeping issues, appetite changes, and mood issues. Follow your doctor's directions closely when taking prescribed medications.

Take a prescribed antibiotic in the case of an infection. You likely won't need an antibiotic, but the doctor may prescribe one if your rash becomes infected. This often occurs if the skin breaks or comes into contact with bacteria. Consult a doctor immediately if you notice pus or discoloration beyond redness on the rash. Scratching increases your risk of developing an infection, since you can break the skin. Resist the urge!