A poison ivy rash is caused by an allergic reaction to poison ivy, a three-leaf plant prevalent in the United States.
The rash is caused by urushiol, a sticky oil found in poison ivy sap. This substance is odorless and colorless. If your skin is exposed to urushiol, you might create a rash called allergic contact dermatitis.
This sometimes happens if you touch dead or live poison ivy plants. It may also occur if you touch animals, clothes, tools, or camping equipment that have come in contact with urushiol. The rash can show up immediately or within 72 hours.
In the United States, a poison ivy rash is the most frequent allergic response. Approximately 85 percent of people may develop a rash when they reach urushiol. The rash itself isn’t contagious, however, the oil may spread to other men and women.
Symptoms of poison ivy exposure contain:
- Redness
- Blisters
- Swelling
- Severe itching
Topical calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream can reduce itching. You might also choose an oral antihistamine.
Some people today use apple cider vinegar to get poison ivy rash. As an acid, this hot home remedy is believed to dry up urushiol. This is said to alleviate itching and speed up healing.
There isn’t scientific research about apple cider vinegar treats poison ivy rash. But, people have reported relief from using it and it has been used for several years.
How to use apple cider vinegar to get poison ivy rash
If you feel you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, wash your skin promptly. Use soap and cool or warm water. Keep away from hot water, which might worsen irritation.
Attempt to wash your skin inside 5 minutes of exposure. In this time period, the oil could be taken off.
In case you choose to use apple cider vinegar following washing you can try one of these popular methods.
Astringent
1 approach to deal with the symptoms of poison ivy rash is to use apple cider vinegar with an astringent. Astringents cause the entire body tissues to tighten, which might help relieve irritated skin.
Some people today use undiluted apple cider vinegar, but others dilute it first. In any event, test it on a small area of skin first to assess whether it causes any aggravation.
To use as an astringent:
- Soak a cotton ball into 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar plus a 50/50 mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water.
- Apply it to the rash.
- Repeat a few times every day.
- Based on anecdotal evidence, the itching will decrease as the apple cider vinegar dries.
When you’ve got open blisters, avert this home remedy. Apple cider vinegar may irritate open wounds.
Vinegar compress
Some people today find relief by using a moist vinegar compress. This procedure is said to soothe itching and swelling.
To make a vinegar compress:
- Blend equal parts apple cider vinegar and cool water.
- Soak a clean cotton rag at the mixture.
- Apply it to the rash for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Repeat this a couple of times every day, using a fresh rag every moment.
It’s also a fantastic idea to wash used rags separately from your clothes.
Vinegar spray
A vinegar spray is perfect if you do not have cotton balls or rags.
To create an apple cider vinegar spray:
- Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and water.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
- Spray on the rash several times every day.
Apple cider vinegar to poison ivy rash precautions and side effects
The acidity of apple cider vinegar can cause chemical burns and aggravation.
If you would like to use apple cider vinegar, then test it on a small area of your skin first. Stop using it if you build a response.
Furthermore, apple cider vinegar might only offer temporary relief. You may want to keep reapplying it to sense long-lasting benefits.
Other all-natural poison ivy rash treatments
There are numerous home remedies for poison ivy rash. These treatments are believed to soothe itching dry up the rash, and lessen the risk of disease.
Other all-natural treatments for poison ivy rash include:
Banana peel cools the itch
Rubbing the inside of a banana peel poison ivy-affected skin is an old wives’ tale that may have some truth to it the peel’s healing qualities could offer itching relief. A program of watermelon rind is just another remedy some people today swear by.
Cucumber calms the rash
It’s not exactly a day at the spa, however, lemon slices are among the simplest home remedies for your unpleasant state of poison ivy. Either put slices of this cooling on the affected area or mash it up to make a cucumber”paste” which you employ to the rash to get soothing relief.
Baking soda speeds up the healing
To earn a cure for poison ivy rash, especially one reddish with blisters, mix 3 teaspoons baking soda and 1 teaspoon water and then use the paste to the affected areas. If it dries, the baking soda will flake out. When the blisters are oozing, mix 2 teaspoons baking soda in 1 quart (or 1 liter) water and use it in order to saturate some sterile gauze pads. Cover the blisters using the moist pads for 10 minutes, four times every day. Don’t use it on or close your eyes. (A less possibly messy way to find relief: Soak in a cool tub using 1 cup of baking soda mixed in.)
Oatmeal bath soothes the itch
A soak in an oatmeal bath is really a classic poison ivy house remedy. Blend 1 cup oatmeal on your blender till it’s a nice powder, then pour it into a piece of cheesecloth or the foot section of a sterile, old nylon stocking. Knot the cloth, and tie it around the tap of your tub so that the bag is suspended beneath the water. Fill the bath with lukewarm water and then soak it for 30 minutes. You could realize that employing the oatmeal pouch straight to the rash gives you more relief.
Aloe vera beats the burn
Just enjoy it soothes a nasty sunburn, the gel out of an aloe vera plant may perform wonders on a poison ivy rash. Use the gel right into the skin out of the foliage or use a store-bought product to get a faster remedy.
Rubbing alcohol prevents spreading
If you are going to be in areas where there may be poison ivy, it’s a fantastic idea to take rubbing alcohol with you. Swiping it on your skin promptly after contact may slow down and decrease the discomfort by preventing urushiol, the compound responsible for your rash, from completely penetrating skin.
Lemon juice eliminates oil
Some people today swear by lemon juice, a natural astringent, as a poison ivy home remedy. Employ it soon after contact with all the leaves that are bothersome, until the plant’s petroleum has time to fully enter your skin.
Running water lessens the severity
Washing the affected body parts in cool running water (and soap when it’s convenient ) promptly after contact might help decrease the size and severity of the growing rash. Keep away from hot water, which may irritate the skin.
Cold compresses reduce rash
Apply cold compresses if the rash acts upward, to tame the itchiness and also keep you from scratching; recall, sharp nails may open blisters to disease. Witch hazel may have a similar rash-reduction effect; soak a cotton ball and then tap it on. If you want relief from some weepy poison ivy rash, attempt strongly brewed tea. Dip a cotton ball to the tea, dab it onto the affected region, allow it to air-dry. Repeat as necessary.
When to see a physician?
Ordinarily, a poison ivy rash will disappear on its own within a few weeks. Following the first week, then it should start to dry up and vanish.
Visit a doctor if your symptoms get worse or do not go away. You should also seek medical attention if you experience the following symptoms:
- Fever over 100°F
- Difficulty breathing
- Difficulty swallowing
- Blisters oozing pus
- Rash that covers a large area of the Body
- Rash in your face or close your eyes or mouth
- Rash in your genital region
These symptoms can signal a severe allergic reaction or skin disease. Furthermore, rashes in your own face, genitals, and massive areas of your body may require prescription drugs.
Takeaway
Poison ivy rashes are the most frequent allergic reactions from the United States. Classic symptoms include redness, itching, blisters, and swelling. Normally, the rash goes away after one to three weeks.
It is possible to try apple cider vinegar as a means to decrease the symptoms of poison ivy rash. It’s said to give relief from drying the rash. It may be used as an astringent, compressspray. However, the aid is usually temporary, so you might want to keep reapplying it. Apple cider vinegar can also cause skin irritation.
See a doctor if your poison ivy rash gets worse or doesn’t go off. You could be experiencing a severe allergic reaction or disease. (Pinnaclemontessori.com)
