Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Cure Poison Ivy

Calomine lotion is useless. However, while I am not a doctor, poison ivy rash is simple to cure:
  • For best results, stay away from the stuff
  • If you can't stay away from poison ivied areas, learn to recognize it, wear garments that cover any areas of skin that will be exposed to it, and if you suspect contact, wash clothes and wash skin with soap and water immediately.
  • Carry a container of disposable baby-wipes, and wash hands immediately.
But if you catch the stuff, so it itches and you break out in the little pustules:
  1. Wash with soap and water
  2. Scour skin with alcohol until the pustules break
  3. Continue scouring until you see blood where the pustules were; scrub some more with fresh alcohol until it really stings badly.
  4. You are cured.
If you don't want to go the rubbing alcohol direction, spend several hours in and out of a chlorinated swimming pool or salt water. Do not apply UV protection to the affected areas beforehand.

4 comments:

Eric said...

If you're unable to resist scratching, I suggest using an electric hair dryer on the irrestistible areas. It not only is far more satisfying (if that's the word), but it won't mess up the skin. It even seems to promote faster healing (although I can't prove that claim). Not only that, because it's more trouble than scratching, yet more satisfying, it will actually help you learn to control -- at least "pace" -- the irresistible urge to scratch.

Loren Heal said...

Interesting bit about using a hair dryer on poison ivy rash. What I've done before, though mostly with mosquito bites, is just to touch the itchy place lightly with a finger. This doesn't irritate the itchy spot, but gives you enough relief that your willpower can recover.

Anonymous said...

I have to say, I laughed out loud when I read these comments :D

Days of Our Lives said...

The hairdryer method is a minor miracle. It gives such wonderful relief you can't believe it and there are no side effects from medications. Just hold the hair dryer over the area you want to itch and at first it will feel like you can't stand it…then…relief!