Buying guide for Best poison ivy treatments
You knew your seven-mile hike through the mountains last weekend might be risky. You just thought the hazard would be in the form of spectacular cliffs, not harmless-looking foliage. Next time you’ll be on the lookout for “leaves of three,” but that little ditty won’t help you now that you’ve encountered poison ivy.
Found in every state except Alaska and Hawaii, poison ivy features telltale clusters of three almond-shaped leaves, and it can appear as a shrub, groundcover, or climbing vine. It tends to grow at the edges of paths, trees, and fences rather than in open fields, so it’s easily accessible to hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
What is it about poison ivy that causes so much agony? It’s urushiol, the oily resin found in the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots. Urushiol’s thick, sticky texture enables it to adhere to your skin, clothing, and other objects. If you wash it off quickly, you might escape with only minor skin irritation. If your exposure develops into a rash, it can take weeks to stop the itching – unless you find a good treatment.
Key considerations
When deciding which poison ivy treatment to try, assess your symptoms. Different treatments work best depending on how advanced the symptoms are, and you want to pick the formula that targets your stage.
Cure vs. prevention
When looking at treatments, be sure the item you choose is intended for relief, not prevention. Some poison ivy formulas help block urushiol from affecting the skin before exposure, a valuable feature for those who react particularly poorly to the oil. It’s not a bad idea to stock up on preventive products while it’s on your mind, but these won’t help relieve your suffering once you’re exposed.
Expert tip
Poison ivy rash is normally self-limiting and will go away on its own.
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Pharmaceutical vs. natural
Like many over-the-counter remedies, poison ivy treatments are available in both pharmaceutical and natural formulas. Some customers prefer pharmaceutical varieties, which often provide quicker relief but may include chemicals that are harsher on the skin. Other individuals trust only natural ingredients in order to avoid irritating the skin further, but these are often slower to act.
Which treatment path you take is a personal choice. But if you eventually go to the doctor, be sure to take whichever formula you choose with you. Some poison ivy treatments may interfere with a drug prescribed by your doctor, so you might need to discontinue use of the remedy if you start a course of prescription medicine. When in doubt, ask a medical professional.
Testing poison ivy treatments
After spending nearly 25 hours researching 5 poison ivy treatments we purchased our top pick and tested it in the BestReviews lab for effectiveness and comfort.
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Poison ivy treatment features
Washes and scrubs
Many highly rated poison ivy treatments are cleansers that wash urushiol from the skin; removing the source of the irritation and preventing the rash from spreading. These formulas are extremely effective when used soon after contact, but they may not provide as much relief in more advanced cases. Effective use also requires that you know you’ve been exposed. Most poison ivy rashes take at least 12 hours to develop.
Creams
These are a better choice if your rash has already advanced to the stage where blisters have formed. Creams dry quickly to protect irritated skin from further damage. Gently applied creams can introduce calming ingredients that heal raw skin and relieve the itching sensation that encourages harmful scratching.
Lotions and ointments
Poison ivy lotions and ointments offer many of the same ingredients as creams but without as many benefits. While these deliver healing compounds to the skin, lotions tend to absorb quickly, limiting the length of time they provide topical relief. If you prefer a lotion, look for formulas that dry quickly and provide some type of barrier over irritated skin. Ointments tend to stay on skin longer than lotions but are thicker, stay wet longer, and can mark clothes and other belongings. If you want an ointment, check for one with drier natural ingredients that will stay put rather than transfer to other surfaces.
Expert tip
According to the Mayo Clinic, treatments for poison ivy rashes are aimed at alleviating the symptoms. They recommend over-the-counter cortisone, calamine, or menthol creams, and over-the-counter antihistamines.
BestReviews Medical Expert
Pills
Some manufacturers offer pills that help prevent poison ivy rashes and combat symptoms once you’re exposed. Many are homeopathic and include extracts from the poison ivy plant itself. Some people find these supplements to be effective; others do not.
The size and shape of each bottle are important to most consumers when searching for poison ivy treatment. For each item we research, this is one of our considerations.
Poison ivy treatment will often come in the form of a cream or ointment. We consider what form it comes in for all stages of the rash that occurs.
Poison ivy treatment is oftentimes an over-the-counter treatment. During our research, we take care to distinguish if the formula is safe to use with various allergies.
Many poison ivy treatments utilize cortisone or calamine to stop itchiness and help the rashy area to go away. We consider the pros and cons of every formula to help find the best for each situation.
When shopping for treatments, the harshness of the rash is important to consider. We take a look at each product on the market and how it affects mild and severe cases.
While treating the rash is important, it can be just as important to ensure that the itchiness stops as well. We look for poison ivy treatments that give a solid, all-around treatment for every aspect of the rash including itching.
Natural remedies are very important for most users. We take care during our research to note if a formula is made from natural ingredients or not.
Not all poison ivy treatments are designed to stop a rash from occurring. We consider various options for helping with relief as well.
When dealing with poison ivy, treatment needs to be quick and efficient. When researching products to recommend we consider how long each treatment takes to have a full effect on your skin.
OTC-10 has been shown to be an effective treatment for poison ivy. We consider each item and how much OTC-10 it utilizes to provide a complete and full healing process.
Poison ivy treatment prices
Inexpensive
Whether delivered in cream, pill, or ointment form, the least expensive – yet effective – poison ivy treatments cost $10 or less. Both medicinal creams and homeopathic pills are available in this price range.
Mid-range
Some salves, scrubs, and other treatments in both pharmaceutical and homeopathic options cost between $10 and $20. These may be more expensive, but they will often provide more complete relief for a longer period of time.
Expensive
The best OTC poison ivy treatments cost $25 or more. While this price may seem steep, it’s better than suffering weeks of uncomfortable itching and interrupted sleep. These formulas both remove urushiol and treat affected skin.
Prescription
Prescription treatments for poison ivy vary in price depending on the prescription and your insurance plan.
Tips
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Clean under your fingernails. When using a poison ivy wash, be sure to clean carefully under your fingernails where the urushiol can easily hide and be spread to other body parts.
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Never set fire to poison ivy. The smoke contains urushiol, and if inhaled, it can cause a poison ivy rash in your lungs, which is painful at best and fatal in the worst cases.
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Clean boots, jackets, hats, and gloves that have been exposed. Poison ivy oil can remain potent for years, so clean any items you were wearing before storing them.
- Be careful what you touch. Even if you don’t touch the poison ivy plant, urushiol can be transmitted by garden tools, clothing, and even pets that have touched the plant.
FAQ
Q. How do I know if I need to see a doctor?
A. Most poison ivy rashes don’t need a doctor’s attention, but if you’re concerned or in severe discomfort, it can’t hurt to call. You should definitely see your doctor if you’re experiencing allergic symptoms, if the rash covers your eyes, if you have a fever of more than 100°F, or if your rash develops blisters or scabs with yellow pus. Pus can indicate a bacterial infection, which may require antibiotics. Your doctor might also decide to give you an oral steroid if the rash is too large or produces too many blisters.
Expert tip
If the rash spreads widely, persists for more than a few weeks, or if it becomes infected, medical treatment should be sought.
BestReviews Medical Expert
Q. Should I keep using my OTC treatment if my doctor puts me on a prescription?
A. Be sure to bring any treatments to the doctor with you just to be safe. Your doctor will know if your topical treatment can be combined with the prescription. It varies on a case-by-case basis.
Q. How can I dispose of poison ivy in my yard?
A. Once you’ve been exposed to poison ivy, you want to make sure it never happens again. But getting rid of the plant can often lead to repeated exposure. To reduce your risk, treat the plant with herbicide, then wear thick rubber gloves to uproot the dead plant. If you don’t want to risk damaging nearby plants with herbicide, you can uproot the plant and place it in a thick plastic bag. Be sure to wear rubber gloves and protect your hands and face. Wash your gloves thoroughly after removing the poison ivy because the oil remains potent for years. Never burn poison ivy because burning releases the oil into the air, potentially exposing your eyes and lungs to irritation.
