What is the best way to treat poison ivy?!
Question:
What is the best way to treat poison ivy?
Is it true that you can spread poison ivy to other people by them touching the area affected with poison ivy or is that just a myth?
Answers:
yes, it is the oil of the plant that can get on another person. Washing immediate after being exposed to Poison Ivy is always a good idea.
Usually self-care at home is all that is needed for a reaction to these plants.
Self-Care at Home
If you are exposed to any of these plants or their oils, wash thoroughly with soap and water as soon as possible. An alternative is rubbing alcohol, which
can dissolve and remove the oils from your skin. If you can remove the oil within 10 minutes, you are unlikely to develop the rash.
Symptoms from a mild rash can sometimes be relieved by the following:
Cool compresses with water or milk
Calamine - A nonprescription lotion
Aveeno oatmeal bath - A product you put in the bath to relieve itching
Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) - Caution: these medications may make you too drowsy to drive a car or operate machinery safely. Nonsedating antihistamines are now available over the counter and include loratadine (Claritin).
More info below