Poison Ivy

Known as Rhus Dermatitis in the doctors’ world, the rash is a contact dermatitis which pops up where the skin touched the sap of any of the “poison” plants. It typically forms some streaks where the sap was drawn across the skin, either directly or indirectly (by picking up some sap on the hands then rubbing the “tired” eyes, etc. The rash itself is not contagious (not even the draining blisters), but it typically has some remnant sap on it, so scratching will move the sap to a new place and cause it to spread.

To care for the rash, it is important to make sure the sap is removed. This can be accomplished after exposure with commercial poison ivy products like Zanfel, but good old reliable Fels Naptha Soap (yep, the same thing your grandmother used to wash her clothes and still located in the “Laundry Aisle”) does well.

In addition to removing the sap, steroids like hydrocortisone can be applied to the rash or, in worse cases, steroids by mouth can be prescribed by your doctor. These will tell the skin to “relax” and ease the discomfort. In addition, an antihistamine, like Benadryl, can be taken by mouth to ease the itch flare-ups. They tend to be especially big when the skin gets warm, as in falling asleep or taking a bath.