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subject: Poison Ivy Treatment and Remedies [print this page]


Poison Ivy Treatment and Remedies

Poison Ivy is found in every state in the US except Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Oregon, Washington, North Dakota, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada and Wyoming.

Poison Oak is found only in the following states which are California, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.

One of the best poison ivy treatments is avoidance. Poison ivy works by an oil that is secreted by the plants leaves. When it touches your skin, it sticks, and causes an allergic reaction. The poison ivy oil is very easily transferred from one part of the body to another, and can be transferred from one person or animal to another. This is why when your dog runs through the poison ivy and you pet him later, you get poison ivy.

Poison ivy treatment should begin immediately after exposure. If the area of the skin that came into contact with the plant is scrubbed vigorously under water within thirty minutes of exposure, the allergic reaction could be minimized, and even a washing with soap within six hours can help decrease the intensity of the reaction.

The patient will very quickly undergo irritation in the skin, combined with severe itching and inflammation in the troubled area. The skin will become discoloured and a burning feeling will occur, and in a short period blisters will form along with the rash.

Suffering can persist for many weeks or may be done with within days, and every case is different. It is suggested that cooling the skin is a good antidote and also prevents further infection.

Preventive medicines help, before exposure. Immediate showering after exposure with strong laundry soap and lukewarm water also helps. But the best preventative is to know the plant and stay away from it. "Leaflets three, let it be" is a good axiom.

Now for the remedy. Before going on outdoor trips, be positive you know what poison ivy looks like. Avoid it completely if you can. Poison ivy is a "natural" in timbered areas. Stay on regular paths when in parks.

Poison ivy, like any other weed, must be dug out at the roots if you want to kill the plant completely. You'll need to dig a good eight to ten inches into the ground to be sure you remove all of the roots, as poison ivy can grow complicated root structure. This is how to get rid of poison ivy so that it will not come back.

It is essential that treatment is initiated immediately, and the best method is to wash the affected area in warm water. A sensible recommendation is to use a very powerful antimicrobial soap and to do all one can to stop the patient from scratching, as this will spread the trouble ever more.

Oil that is found in the Poison Ivy plant is called urushiol oil. The allergic reaction, itchy skin, and painful blisters is a result when coming into contact with the poisonous plant. If the oil isn't washed off the skin instantly, you can spread the rash even worse. Touching the contaminated part then another part of your body can spread the oil throughout your skin, causing a painful reaction to the poisonous oil.




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