Homemade Remedies for Poison Ivy

Ever since I was a child, when the summer months roll around, I have gotten Poison Ivy. Lucky me. Some people aren't allergic to the urushiol chemical that's found in the oil on Poison Ivy leaves. Unfortunately, millions of people across the United States, including myself, are indeed allergic. So, people like us need to know some homemade remedies for Poison Ivy.

Once your skin comes in contact with the Poison Ivy plant, the best thing you can do is to immediately wash the area with a grease-cutting dishwashing detergent and plenty of cool water. The dishwashing detergent will help break up and dissolve the oil. It's important to use cool water instead of warm, because the cool water won't open your pores. After you have thoroughly washed the area, flush it with more cool water.

Hopefully, that will keep you from breaking out into the itchy red rash. If not, then here are some homemade remedies for Poison Ivy you can use to treat the outbreak.

1. "Rubbing" Out the Rash
Rubbing Alcohol is an effective homemade remedy for Poison Ivy. The alcohol not only helps stops the itching, but it will also dry up the watery blisters. Apply rubbing alcohol liberally to the affected areas of your skin several times a day. It will dry quickly and it won't leave a film or residue on your skin.

2. It's Tea Time!
To make a homemade remedy for a lot of skin that's affected by Poison Ivy, fill your bathtub up half full with hot water- as hot as you can stand it without burning your skin. Toss a couple dozen regular old tea bags into the water. Allow the tea bags to "steep" for a few minutes. Then, step into the hot water and swirl the tea around with your foot. Lie down and soak in the tea water for at least 30 minutes. If you have patches of the Poison Ivy rash on your head or face, use cotton balls to liberally apply the tea water to any affected areas. Once your soak is done, don't rinse off, just pat your skin dry.

You can also soak in a bathtub half full of cool water and a half cup of baking soda. Or, try pouring a cup of oatmeal into the water instead. Baking soda and oatmeal are two popular, natural products that are often found in homemade remedies.

3. Vinegar To the Rescue
Apple Cider Vinegar is an amazing homemade remedy for many ailments. And, Poison Ivy is just another one of the ailments it can heal. To use Apple Cider Vinegar to relieve the red, itchy rash that Poison Ivy causes, apply it liberally to the affected areas. Do this several times a day, and soon your rash should disappear.

4. Aloe Vera Isn't Just For Burns
Breaking a leaf off an Aloe Vera plant and rubbing the juice directly on a burn helps cool the pain. It can also help relieve the itching and burning sensations that Poison Ivy causes.

To use Aloe Vera juice as a homemade remedy, apply it liberally on the Poison Ivy rash several times a day.

It's also an old saying that rubbing the inside of a banana peel on the rash two or three times a day will help clear it up too.

If you mix up a couple cups of Witch Hazel with several drops of Lavender oil, you can also use this mixture as a homemade remedy for Poison Ivy. Apply the Witch Hazel/Lavender mixture several times a day for relief.

5. Make A Healing Paste
You can also mix together baking soda and table salt with a little water to make up a paste for your Poison Ivy rash. Use a half cup of baking soda, a tablespoon of table salt and enough tap water to make a paste. Apply the mixture to the rash and allow it to dry. This mixture will help soothe the redness and the itching of the rash.