2006-07-18 04:28:34 · 8 answers · asked by little miss 2 in Health ➔ Alternative Medicine
Washing the area briskly with either Fels Naptha soap or Zanfel. They both remove the oil that causes it to spread. It will dry up the rash quickly with either.
2006-07-18 04:32:49 · answer #1 · answered by kathy_is_a_nurse 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The best OTC treatment is calamine or caladryl lotion...however there is a soap that comes in a bar form called Fells Nafta(sp?) that was used years ago to spot treat stains on laundry. It is still available at some grocery stores and perhaps some hardware stores. I swear by it and it really, really helped me personally. To use it one just needs to wet the soap and use three fingers to rub the soap into a lathery paste. Apply it to the area where you have the poison ivy and allow it to dry on your skin. It actually "arrests" the rash and stops it from spreading. Within a day or so it should recede and then disappear. Reapply the soap "paste" every 2-3 hours. If you can find the soap, buy a bar...it will last a very long time if you only use it for this purpose. Good luck!
2006-07-20 17:50:37 · answer #2 · answered by jkskeet@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Poison ivy does not spread from the fluid in the sores. (That is an urban legend). The only places you will get sores is places that poison ivy oil has directly touched, or been transferred by your hands.
Washing with soap thoroughly will get the oils off your body.
2006-07-18 11:32:51 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's a product called Rhuli Spray that is superior to calamine lotion. Make sure you wash your hands and don't touch any of the moisture from the rash to another part of your body. If you've never had it before keep checking. I thought mine was gone and it came back a week later and caused blood poisoning.
2006-07-18 11:33:56 · answer #4 · answered by HamTownGal 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
surf_jayme is right. Don't worry about the spread. I think it only appears where you touched the plant.
In the future, try to avoid exposure. One thing to remember is:
Leaflets three - let it be
Berries white - poisonous sight
Heal up soon.
2006-07-18 11:31:38 · answer #5 · answered by ĴΩŋ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aveeno, I get poison yearly..... take an allergy medication such as claritin or benadryl ( this one may make you sleepy ). Then take an aveeno bath and apply aveeno lotion or calamine lotion. Do not scratch. If it is bad enough and covers a large portion of your body your doc may want to start you on a steroid.
2006-07-18 11:34:53 · answer #6 · answered by catarina33pa99 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The rash is caused by an oil that many people are sensitive to. There are products on the marked that will neutralize the oil. I have had good luck with Technu.
2006-07-18 11:32:54 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Chalamine lotion. not sure if i spelled it right, but you apply it to poison ivyand it dries up the poison ivy to lessen the itch and eventually fade it out.
2006-07-18 11:31:29 · answer #8 · answered by surf_jayme 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋