How to Get Rid of Poison Ivy: 21 Best Home Remedies for Poison Ivy and Rash Treatment

Poison Ivy Treatment

Having a poison ivy rash is never a pleasant experience. There are ways to get rid of poison ivy rash. Home remedies are effective for treating the poison ivy rash. The following are a few of the best natural remedies for poison ivy.



Poison ivy is a plant native to North America, where it can be found in most regions, except those with extreme heat or cold. It is a wild, woody vine whose leaves and stems contain an oil called urushiol, which can cause a severe allergic reaction on many people’s skin. This reaction can cause symptoms such as intense itching and rash. In more severe cases, blisters appear that may release a clear fluid.

The symptoms of poison ivy allergy occur only 12 to 48 hours after your skin touches the plant. During this time, an individual’s skin, clothes, and equipment may also carry the urushiol, which is odorless and colorless. This increases the risk of the oil spreading to several parts of the body, or contaminating other people.

It is recommended that all clothes and equipment be isolated and washed immediately in any cases of suspected poison ivy exposure. Any skin exposed to poison ivy should be washed under running cold water at the earliest, and with soap and water if available. This helps to remove urushiol from the skin, reducing the intensity of the allergic reaction.

How to Get rid of Poison Ivy Rash

While the rash can be quite uncomfortable, it usually disappears in around two weeks as the skin’s allergic reaction fades. At home, treatment is usually focused on reducing the inflammation and providing relief from the itching. Over-the-counter hydrocortisones can help in mild cases, but more severe reactions (especially those that develop blisters) need to be examined by a doctor, who may have to prescribe oral corticosteroids and antihistamines. If blisters develop, do not touch them, since they form a natural bandage and protect the damaged skin tissue. A simple cold compress can be very soothing and helps to numb the areas affected by the rash.

Ways to Get rid of Poison Ivy Rash -Poison Ivy Rash Home Remedies

1. Apple cider vinegar is a proven remedy for healing poison ivy rashes. Dab a cotton ball into some apple cider vinegar and apply it on the rashes. Now, rinse it off with a mixture of vinegar and water.

2. Apply cold compress on how to get rid of poison ivy. The redness and burning sensation can be reduced by applying cold compresses. Cold milk is more soothing to itchy skin than cold water. Apply some cold milk to get relief from the itchiness of poison ivy rashes.

3. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and is reported to help poison ivy heal faster. Make a paste by mixing turmeric powder with lemon juice  and apply on the rash. Alternatively, you can add a little turmeric powder to some olive oil and apply it on the rash.

4. The rashes which are with blisters can be treated with the use of baking soda. Take several teaspoons of baking soda and combine with water to form a paste and apply on your rash. To help relieve itching, place 1/2 a cup of baking soda in a bath tub filled with warm water.

5. If you have a bad case of poison ivy or a sudden itchy rash, neem leaves help reduce itchiness and redness. Apply a paste of neem leaf powder or a teaspoon of neem oil on the rash for instant relief.  Another method is to add several tablespoons of neem oil or neem leaf powder to a warm bath and soak for 20 minutes.

6. Calamine lotion has emollient, antiseptic and mild astringent properties. Calamine lotion is one of the best treatments for poison ivy rashes. Apply calamine lotion on the rashes. This poison ivy remedy relieves itch and will help dry up blisters.

7. Oatmeal is one of the best natural remedies as it dries up poison ivy. This simple remedy will give you relief from itching. Boil oatmeal in water, allow it to cool for a few minutes, and apply the paste over the affected areas. Let it dry for 15-30 minutes, and then rinse off completely with lukewarm water. Oatmeal baths relieve the itchy symptoms of poison ivy.

8. Turmeric is the best way to treat poison ivy with due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Mix one tablespoon of turmeric root powder with enough rubbing alcohol or lemon juice to form a thick paste. Apply this paste on the affected area. It will quickly give relief from the itching and burning sensation, caused due to the poison ivy.

9. Petroleum jelly can be used to heal poison ivy lesions. Applying petroleum jelly to wet skin after a bath or shower is one of the  effective poison ivy home remedies.

10. Another possibility for use when treating poison ivy is aloe vera. Aloe vera gel is especially useful, since its antiseptic qualities help to prevent secondary infections in the affected area and it speeds up the skin’s healing process.

11. Witch hazel is another home remedy to treat poison ivy. Witch hazel is astringent and soothing. It can help calm the itch and promote healing. Use a cotton ball to apply witch hazel to the skin rashes.

12. Epsom salt is a good poison ivy blisters treatment as it quickly dries out the rashes. Take an Epsom salt bath, by adding two cups of Epsom salt to the bath tub. Soak yourself for some time in this water to get rid of poison ivy.

13. Sea salt treats poison ivy rash. In cases where the rash is widespread, taking a bath in water containing sea salt and medical oatmeal preparations (available at drugstores) can provide much relief.

14. Cornstarch can also be used to relieve poison ivy itch. Create a paste out of cornstarch and water, then apply it to the rash. Always use brown cornstarch powder in place of white cornstarch powder to treat poison ivy allergy.

15. Putting rubbing alcohol on poison ivy help it heal faster by drying out the oozing rash.  To treat severe poison ivy rash, rub some rubbing alcohol and then wrap it with gauze.

16. Baking soda is a great natural remedy for the itchiness associated with a poison ivy rash. Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the rash to reduce the inflammation and protect the skin. The baking soda is said to draw the urushiol out of the rash to help it clear up faster.

17. If you want to get fast remedy to get rid of the itching that comes with poison oak and ivy rashes, use the humble banana peel. Rubbing the affected skin with the insides of banana peels, which has a soothing and cooling effect.

18. Another folk remedy involves applying lemon juice to a poison ivy rash. Mix the juice of a lemon with two teaspoons of honey. Apply this paste to the infected area to relieve itching and irritation that's associated with a poison ivy rash.

19. Watermelon tends to be cold on the skin. To use this remedy for burning poison ivy, rub chilled watermelon peel gently on the affected area. Rubbing the rind of a watermelon on the rash will help dry out blisters.

20. Using gasoline or bleach on your skin provides a fast poison ivy cure. Gasoline works in the same way as rubbing alcohol. It dry up any rashes caused by the poison iv plant.

21. Black tea contains tannic acid, an anti-inflammatory that can help soothe a poison ivy rash. For getting rid of poison ivy rash, take a cup of black coffee and let it cool down at room temperature or place it in the refrigerator. Wash the affected area with this cold black coffee is a popular way to treat poison ivy. Cold black coffee can be poured over the rash several times to get relief from itchiness.

These are some of the best natural home remedies on how to get rid of poison ivy. Try these poison ivy treatment options and relieve the poison ivy rash naturally.

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