Poison ivy rash - Diagnosis and treatment (2024)

FAQs

Poison ivy rash - Diagnosis and treatment? ›

You probably won't need medical treatment for a poison ivy rash unless it spreads widely, persists for more than a few weeks or becomes infected. If you're concerned, you'll probably first see your primary care doctor. He or she might refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

A poison ivy rash on your skin usually looks like red, itchy bumps. Some people can develop black spots or streaks on their skin instead of the telltale red rash (this is rare). If you have black-spot poison-ivy dermatitis, you'll have very little or no swelling or redness.

Applying topical OTC skin protectants, such as zinc acetate, zinc carbonate, zinc oxide, and calamine dry the oozing and weeping of poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Protectants such as baking soda or colloidal oatmeal relieve minor irritation and itching.

When applied directly to a poison ivy rash, baking soda can help with itching. Make a paste by mixing three parts baking soda with one part water and spread the paste over the rash. Oatmeal baths. Colloidal oatmeal has been used for centuries to ease the inflammation and itch of poison ivy.

Poison oak and poison sumac cause a similar rash that can be treated in the same way as poison ivy.

Using commercial herbicides (weed killers) will be the fastest solution to killing poison ivy.

If you can, use liquid dish soap or a mild soap and very warm running water. Do not scrub hard when you wash. Scrubbing too hard can irritate the skin. Also, be careful to clean under the fingernails, where the oil can collect and spread easily.

Do not use rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide as poison ivy treatments. These will irritate the skin rather than sooth it. The rash will usually develop within 12-48 hours after exposure and can last up to two or three weeks.

Do not use rubbing alcohol, bleach, or hydrogen peroxide as a treatment for poison ivy. These items will irritate the rash more than soothe symptoms.

What day is poison ivy rash the worst? ›

The symptoms are worse within 1 to 14 days after touching the plant, but they can develop up to 21 days later if one has never been exposed to urushiol before. The blisters can occur at different times in different people; blisters can develop on the arms several days after blisters on the hands developed.

Body heat and sweating can aggravate the itching. Stay cool and apply cool compresses to your skin. Calamine lotion and hydrocortisone cream can be applied to the skin to reduce itching and blistering. Bathing in lukewarm water with an oatmeal bath product, available in drugstores, may soothe itchy skin.

Keep the rash clean with soap and water. Cover it with a bandage if it's oozing to help prevent bacteria from getting into the wound. Some cortisone cream will help reduce your poison ivy rash. Keep cool—you'll itch more if you're warm.

Soak the affected area in a cool-water bath that has about a half cup (100 grams) of baking soda or an oatmeal-based bath product (Aveeno) in it. Place cool, wet compresses on the affected area for 15 to 30 minutes several times a day.

If you are unlucky enough to get a rash or a sting from contact with poison ivy, use toothpaste to take away the worst of the irritation. Just apply gently to the affected area and leave to rest for 10 minutes. Then, wash away carefully with cold soapy water. If necessary, repeat until the stinging sensations subside.

People may find that applying apple cider vinegar can help ease symptoms of a poison ivy rash. Other home remedies or OTC treatments may also be effective. A poison ivy rash should disappear within a few weeks. If it lasts longer, gets worse, or shows no improvement after 7–10 days, people should see their doctor.

The rash caused by poison ivy is usually diagnosed based upon how the skin looks. Further testing is not usually necessary.

You probably won't need medical treatment for a poison ivy rash unless it spreads widely, persists for more than a few weeks or becomes infected. If you're concerned, you'll probably first see your primary care doctor. He or she might refer you to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders (dermatologist).

A difference between allergic contact dermatitis is that the rash appears in places that had contact with the allergen, which can differ from the usual sites of atopic dermatitis. A poison ivy rash will be in the area exposed to the plant material.