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Stop the Itch of Poison Ivy
Perhaps you got a little too close to those –leaves
of three” that were next to the shade tree you sat under
while camping over the weekend. Now, an area on your
arm is red and blistered and is beginning to itch. What
can you do to soothe the annoying itch of poison ivy?
A skin rash from poison ivy usually occurs within 48
hours after you come in contact with the pesky plant.
You may be able to prevent an allergic reaction if you
take certain precautions within six hours of exposure
to the plant. Those precautions include the following:
- Remove all clothes and shoes that touched the plant.
Wash these in hot water and a strong detergent.
- Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and face.
- Wash your skin with soap and water.
- Use cotton balls to apply rubbing alcohol to the
affected parts of your skin.
- Rinse with water.
If you develop a rash from poison ivy, try not to scratch
or rub the rash. Relieve the itching by applying a topical
anesthetic or a topical hydrocortisone to the affected
area. See a physician if the allergic reaction occurs
around your eyes, mouth or groin area or if your reaction
is severe or is accompanied by nausea, vomiting or stomach
cramps.
One other word of caution: You cannot get poison ivy
from another person as long as the sap is completely
washed from that person's skin. The rash is not spread
by the fluid in blisters.
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