Simple Remedies for Dealing with Poison Plant Rashes

Poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac — this trio is the menace of summer woodlands! Depending upon the sensitivity of your skin and the amount of exposure, symptoms of your encounter with one of these plants may take a few hours or as long as a few days to appear. Minor itching and burning along with a red, slightly raised rash are the first signs, followed by the formation of small blisters that eventually rupture and form a crust.

The itchiness and irritation is caused by urushiol, the toxic oily resin common to all three plants. Some people are immune to its effects, while in others it quickly produces dermatitis. Typically, severe reactions occur only if the plant resin comes in contact with your eyes, throat, feet, fingers, or groin, or if you constantly scratch the irritation.

Run-ins with poison ivy, oak, and sumac usually occur during the warmer months, but that’s not to say that you’re completely safe during the winter, as the plants can be difficult to identify without their leaves. An ounce of prevention is definitely worth a pound of cure, so learn to identify the plants in both summer and winter. If you know you’re going to be walking through areas where these plants are common, protect yourself by wearing long sleeves, long pants, and boots.

If you do have a run-in with any of them, wash your clothing in hot water immediately upon arriving home so they don’t come in contact with other clothes and spread the poisonous agent. Thoroughly wash your hands with hot soapy water after handling the affected clothes, followed by rinsing them with either vodka or isopropyl alcohol. Simple Remedies for Dealing with Poison Plant Rashes

Here are some simple at-home treatments as well as recommendations for remedies in this blog that will offer soothing comfort to your rashy skin:

SOAP AND WATER.
A good scrub in a hot shower immediately after contact with a poisonous plant will help remove urushiol from your skin. The hot water also often brings dramatic symptomatic relief that can last for hours. For soap, I recommend using a full-strength, undiluted eucalyptus or peppermint castile liquid soap. This type of soap is relatively gentle to your skin in the short term, but strong in action against the urushiol. Apply a light, chemical-free body lotion after bathing, if your skin feels parched from the soap.

VODKA OR RUBBING ALCOHOL.
Unflavored, unsweetened vodka and rubbing alcohol both act as solvents for urushiol and can be applied to the affected area immediately after contact with the plant to help remove the irritating plant oil.

OATMEAL BATH.
For most minor reactions, health professionals and herbalists recommend soaking for 20 to 30 minutes in a tepid bath to which you have added ½ to 1 cup finely ground or colloidal oatmeal.

ANTI-ITCH POTIONS.
Commercial aloe vera juice or gel, or the gel scraped from the inside of a fresh aloe leaf, can be applied several times per day to help heal the blisters and alleviate itching. The good old standby, calamine lotion, can be used in the same way. Professional arborists, tree cutters, and loggers have long used straight witch hazel to help dry up oozing poison plant rashes; or try one of the following remedies:
• Witch Hazel and Yarrow Astringent
• Preparation “B”: Astringent Aloe Wipes
• Sitz Salve

STAY COOL.
If possible, stay as cool and dry as possible, as hot, humid weather seems to exacerbate the itching (and your irritability).

DIET SUPPLEMENTS.
As a child growing up in Georgia, I rambled among poison ivy plants all the time with nary an itch, but as an adult, I am now highly sensitive to both poison ivy and oak and must take precautions when walking through the woods or fields. I find that taking 500 to 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C, as soon as I notice a rash developing and continuing with a daily dose until my skin heals, helps prevent infection and the spread of the rash. The blisters seems to dry up faster, too!

CAUTION
In its advanced stage, a poison ivy, oak, or sumac rash can be so irritating that it consumes every waking hour of your mental energy. If you develop a rash in your eyes, throat, or groin region, or if your rash — no matter the location — becomes raw, severely blistered, or infected, consult with your health professional immediately. Aside from being intensely uncomfortable, a bad rash can be a threat to your health.