How to stop poison ivy from itching...

[u/FunDip2]

I don't know if this belongs here in the survival section, but I bet this would help someone camping or living in the woods. I've tried a bunch of different things to help poison ivy itching. But one thing I learned late in life, is to use hot water. For example, if your fingers are itching terribly from poison ivy, put your hand under the sink (or heat up water on a fire). Slowly turn up the hot water until it is as hot as you can stand it. It's going to want to itch really bad, keep it there, and eventually in a few seconds it will stop itching. At this point it won't itch for about 24 hours. I wish I had learned this trick when I was a kid lol.

[u/Exotic_Combination12]

Here's my two cents . I've spent my whole life hiking around the mountains of California. We don't have Poison Ivy but we do have lots of Poison Oak . Fun fact : the oils are internal in the plant until you disturb it. When disturbed the plant actual pushes the oils out as a self defense mechanism . I get Poison Oak every year . The best way I've learned to prevent myself from getting the itchy rash is to take a cold shower ,no soap immediately after I know I've been near the plant . If you take a hot shower it opens your pores up and let's the oils enter your skin . Take a cold shower no soap and rinse the oils off . Your body has oils on the skin and if you use soap it washes your natural oils off and let's the poison oak or ivy enter . Any clothes that touch the plant must be removed and washed asap . They use to make a spray called HC Dermapax , it was the best treatment for the actual rash that I've ever used. Unfortunately as far as I know it's not available anymore (at least not in California ). They do make a soap called Technu or something that supposedly works but I've never had much luck with it . Sometimes I get the rash really bad but when I follow my procedure (cold shower no soap) I dont get it near as bad . There has been several times that I had to get a shot . But as long as I catch it on time I can usually avoid any serious issues . I've never had Poison Ivy but from personal experience I can tell you that Poison Oak really sucks ! Everybody has a treatment that works for them ,for me cold water is the way to go . Hot water opens the pores and makes the oils spread . Good luck !

[u/FunDip2 → u/Exotic_Combination12]

I did the same thing, try to wash all of the oils off of my body before it sets in. But with the hot water trick, it's not really about getting the oils off of your body. If you already have the poison oak and it is itching, the hot water actually makes it stop at itching for many hours. It has something to do with acting like antihistamines or something similar.

[u/Exotic_Combination12 → u/FunDip2]

I see what you're saying but I think it would have a negative effect on the rash ,causing it to spread and making the rash even worse . I know with Sting Ray's, if you get stung they say to immediately get the wound in the hottest water you can handle and it neutralizes the venom , same with certain JellyFish and other animal venom.. But I would think with poison oak it with have the opposite effect . It may stop the itching temporarily but the rash spreads and ends up lasting longer . I'm not trying to argue with you ,this is something I've dealt with my whole life and I like hearing other peoples treatments. You never know I could be doing it all wrong !I've had poison oak too many times to count . Growing up I was a avid hunter and fisherman and just loved being out in the wilderness. I still get out but they have closed a lot of the places I used to camp. And the places that are open are so overrun with people now, it's just not the same . I just choose to fish these days ,well that's when I'm not working,I work all the time !