While you might think of “ivy” as something beautiful and stately, you probably associate poison ivy with something entirely different; after all, poison ivy leaves a rash that can cause incessant itching for several weeks, and this is why it is important for anyone who spends time outside to know how to avoid and treat poison ivy.
Your best bet, of course – when it comes to poison ivy – is to simply avoid it, and it is generally easy to spot for the way in which it grows: three leaves together, all with an almond shape. While there are more plants than just poison ivy that fit this description, anyone who is not an expert at identifying poison ivy will be wise to err on the safe side by avoiding all plants that fit this description.
If you end up coming in contact with poison ivy (despite your best efforts to the contrary), the first thing you should do is thoroughly wash everything that might have come in contact with the plant; this includes not only your skin, but your clothes as well!
If you are at home, the next thing you should do is take a bath; draw a cool bath, add about five cups of either ground oatmeal or baking soda, and soak in this concoction for about a half an hour. You can also make a salve-like paste out of baking soda and water, which you should use to cover the affected area.
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One mistake a lot of people make is covering the rash to keep their fingers from scratching it, but you should actually leave the rash open to the air, as this will help it to heal much more quickly than if you cover it up.
If you follow these steps, you should have no problem getting your poison ivy to clear up in a week or two, but if the problem becomes unbearable (and if you cannot refuse the urge to itch), visit your doctor, and allow him to prescribe something stronger!
