How Do You Treat Poison Ivy, Oak, And Sumac?
Poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac cause an itchy rash which is caused by the oil on the leaves. The best thing to do is avoid it entirely. If you do find you have touched it if you wash the affected area well with soap and water within 15 minutes you can eliminate or reduce the rash. If you do end up with a rash, some remedies are listed below. Milk of Magnesia or Calamine lotion (which can purchased at department or drug stores) applied with a clean cotton ball (dispose of in a sealed plastic bag when done) will help relieve the itching. You can also buy a zinc oxide ointment (zinc oxide is the main ingredient in calamine lotion). If the rash has become blistering or is weeping you can make a paste out of baking soda and water and apply it to the skin, this will help dry it up buy won’t help with the itching. Applying an ice cube or running cold water over the affected area also brings relief. Ice cold milk also works to soothe the itch and also helps dry the rash. There are several over the
