Poison Ivy Home Remedies: 8Â Most Effective Remedies For Poison Ivy
Have you ever accidentally touched poison ivy and hated the agony of irritating rashes and expensive cream? Use easy alternative home remedies for quick relief!
1. Food
Thankfully, there are a handful of food items that can help relieve itchy rash pain caused by poison ivy.
- Banana peel: This home remedy is very easy to use. The only step you have is to rub the inside of the banana peel on the rash since the peel offers a cooling effect.
- Cucumber: Like the banana peel, cucumbers can cool affected areas too. Do not directly rub a cucumber on the skin; the vegetable should be made into a paste. However, a cucumber slice can be set on the rash to dry for itching relief and skin hydration.
- Watermelon rind: Similar to cucumbers, watermelon rind offers immediate relief. However, if the affected area is widespread, you can make the watermelon into a pulp to spread as a paste. It is possible that the pulp promotes anti-inflammation and painkilling because of the phytochemicals in it.
- Lemon: Lemon juice may seem like an oddball as it stings on cuts, however, it has been known to reduce boils which will decrease the urge to scratch the rash. This is best used before the oil of the poison ivy penetrates the skin.
- Oatmeal: Oatmeal can be used in the form of a bath or paste. The paste should be thick and can be applied directly on skin or placed in material like muslin cloth and dipped in water to soak; you would squeeze it to extract the milk for washing the rash. You can add the cloth to a warm bath or use an oatmeal-based product like Aveeno.
2. Cold dish soap water
This remedy is always available if you have dish soap but it is only for when the poison ivy oil has not been absorbed into the skin. The dish soap can help remove the oil as a strong cleaning agent. Be safe by washing the area marked by poison ivy with dish soap and cold water, dipping all clothing in soapy water and using the soap in a shower right after. Dish soap ideally should be used immediately after coming into contact with poison ivy.
3. Aloe Vera Gel
You can buy this plant at an organic shop if you do not have it; you will be needed fresh leaves from the plant. Near immediate relief comes from applying the gel you receive when mashing the clear pulp you get after stripping the tough skin from the leaf’s flat surface; do this with a sharp spoon. You can refrigerate any unused gel. Aside from pain relief, aloe vera helps to reduce inflammation.
Check out 5 more home remedies for Poison Ivy on page 2
