How to Treat Poison Ivy Rashes

With summer coming most of us tend to spend more time outdoors. I know that I like to take my two dogs for walks, they love to run in the park and around the shores of the Creek by our home. While walking through the woods the other day I came across a bunch of poision ivy bushes so I thought that I would share some home remedies that I was taught years ago. Poison Ivy rash is caused by the urushiol oil on the leave, it is that sticky substance that causes the rash. If you happen to come in contact with poison ivy here are some tips for easing the pain:

- If you come into contact with posion ivy and a rash begins, you can try to use some rubbing alcohol on the skin that is affected by the urushiol oil. alcohol will help to lessen the oil and then all you have to do is wash the area with soap and water afterwards.

-If you don't have rubbing alcohol in your house, head for your laundry room and grab the bleach, make a really weak solution of bleach and water, perhaps a tablespoon or two will usually do the trick, mix it with water take a cotton swab and dab the affected area

-Another way to ease the pain of the poison ivy itch is to use plain old cornstarch, again take the cornstarch add water to it so that it becomes like a paste, apply the thin paste to the area where the rash has started and it will help to relieve the itchy feeling. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice to the cornstarch and water paste that you have made, this has worked for us to.

- I remember my mother helping my younger brother when he would have a run in with poison ivy, she took a glass of cold milk, and a couple of cotton balls, dipped the cotton balls into the milk and applied it to the area that was showing the rash, the itch stopped and it healed in a matter of days without spreading.

- I have always kept aloe plants in the house for as long as I can remember, if you have an aloe plant in you house, clean off the area that has come into contact with the urushiol oil with soap and water, than break off a piece of the aloe plant, split the leaf open and rub it righ on the spot, this should help stop the itching.

-we have also used calamine or caladryl lotion on the affected area of skin, this always helped to ease the itch.

-you can even use the inside of a banana peel to ease the itch, just pull the peel off and rub it directly on the skin.

However as with all medical problems, if the area of you skin becomes infected seek medical attention. Hope these easy remedies help.