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Doctor insights on: Poison Ivy

There are different: Impetigo is a golden colored rash resembling honey, while with poison ivy you get a bright red irritated rash. ...Read more

Antihistamines: Will treat the, steroids will attenuate inflammation. ...Read more

Not a good idea: In sensitive persons, even the smoke from burning poison ivy can carry the plant oils and lead to allergic contact dermatitis of the skin. I hate to think what that could do to your lungs. Not a good idea to experiment with this. ...Read more

Avoidance: The only sure prevention is avoidance. You can also wear long sleeve shirt and long pants when venturing in poison ivy infested area and make sure that all of the clothing, shoes, and even the floor mat in you car be cleansed with laundry soap right after. I do not have experience with ivy shield but you can give this a try on the exposed parts of the body. ...Read more

See doctor: If the problem is a mild one, time will heal it. If the problem is severe, you will need to see a doctor who may prescribe some Prednisone pills or a cortisone injection for you. In the meanwhile, try apply some otc Hydrocortisone cream 3 to 4 times daily. ...Read more

No: Poison ivy is a contact dermatitis and there is no cure for it. ...Read more

Wash skin soon after: The plant oils contain urushiol. There are specific products that you can buy that will wash the urushiol off. Some options of treating poison ivy include calamine lotion, oatmeal soaks, Hydrocortisone cream and antihistamines. Anything which has touched urushiol from the poison ivy needs to be cleaned (clothes, shoes, gear etc.) oral steroids are sometimes indicated. ...Read more

Poison ivy: Calamine lotion will help with the itch and help to dry the rash. Prescription corticosteroid cream or pills may be needed for more widespread poison ivy. ...Read more

See below: I didn't know there were different kinds of poison ivy? ...Read more

Very itchy: Not very dangerous usually, but very itchy and uncomfortable. Don't spread it, and treat it locally. ...Read more

At some stage: Since it is a contact allergic reaction, it will always itch at some stage. ...Read more

Avoidance is best: The best treatment for poison ivy is to avoid it all together...Once the rash develops, I would recommend antihistamines to control the itch. Also, if severe, you should see your doctor for a prescription of topical steroids. ...Read more

Poison ivy: There are specific products that you can buy that will wash the urushiol off. Some options of treating poison ivy include calamine lotion, oatmeal soaks, Hydrocortisone cream and antihistamines. Sometimes oral steroid are needed. ...Read more

Steroids: Poison ivy is a contact dermatitis. Once one has been exposed and develops the rash then treatment options include topical steroids and it the rash is severe enough then a course of oral steroids may be considered. Oral antihistamines may be helpful for the itchiness of the rash. ...Read more

Cortisone steroids: Steroids are usually needed for poison ivy. A doctor prescribes them after confirming the rash is really the poison oak type. For bad rashes, oral steroids for several days are used (prednisone, prednisolone). For very mild rashes, cortisone creams can be used. A daily aveeno oatmeal bath may help. Claritin or zyrtec each morning, plus a single Benadryl (diphenhydramine) dose at bedtime, can cut down the itching. ...Read more

3 leaf/red bump itch: Poison ivy has groups of 3 rounded leaves with a point at the tip, and grows as underbrush. Poison oak & sumac also have 3 leaves, thus the the saying "leaves of 3, let them be." they all cause the same rash: red, itchy bumps which may spread across the skin when scratched. If otc benadryl, (diphenhydramine) cortisone cream and calamine lotion aren't enough, you may need to see a dr. For stronger prescribed meds. ...Read more

Poison ivy: Signs and symptoms of a poison ivy rash include: redness, itching, swelling, blisters, often, the rash looks like a straight line because of the way the plant brushes against the skin. But if you come into contact with a piece of clothing or pet fur that has urushiol on it, the rash may be more spread out. ...Read more

Poison Ivy: There are specific products that you can buy that will wash the urushiol off. Some options of treating poison ivy include calamine lotion, oatmeal soaks, Hydrocortisone cream and antihistamines. Anything which has touched urushiol from the poison ivy needs to be cleaned (clothes, shoes, gear etc.) oral steroids are sometimes indicated. ...Read more

Usually a week or so: For most cases, the rash should subside within a couple of weeks provided there is no further contact. Topical steroid hastens the recovery. The most important step would be washing all objects which might have touched the ivy with laundry detergent. Else the ivy resin will keep on causing problems for many months to come. ...Read more

Avoid: Poison ivy is a common form of allergic contact dermatitis to the oleoresin of rhus plants. Depending on location and severity of symptoms, mild to potent steroid ointments are usually sufficient. If symptoms are widespread or severe, Prednisone may be needed and tapered over 2-3 weeks. Oatmeal baths and zyrtec (cetirizine) may help. Ultimately best thing is to recognize these plants and avoid them. ...Read more