Nature may be beautiful, but poison ivy rash surely isn't. Contact with poison ivy and others, such as poison oak and poison sumac, may cause contact dermatitis in the form of a hot, swollen, itchy rash. If you do have a brush with these plants, it's best to know exactly what you can do to treat it immediately and prevent the rash from spreading.
Cause of Poison Ivy Rash
It takes only a very small amount of urushiol (the skin-irritating substance in poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac) to cause blisters, small red bumps, and persistent itching and swelling. The rash is not contagious, but you can unknowingly pass on the urushiol irritant itself. Therefore, it is important never to touch a rash, clothing or anything that could be contaminated, and then touch your eyes or someone else without first washing your hands. The urushiol oil is sticky and doesn't dry, so it can be passed along by a pet's fur, clothing and even through the air, if someone has been burning weeds.
How to Prevent Poison Ivy, Poison Oak
Inflamed, itchy skin caused by contact with poison ivy and similar plants can really take away from the fun of hiking, camping and other outdoor activities, especially for unwary children. It's wise to learn what these plants look like in your area, as there are numerous variations-from small trees to bushes to tree-climbing vines, from long, toothed leaves to smooth leaves that change color in autumn.
Note that caution should be exercised regarding clothes, firewood, clearing away brush and weeds, and even your pets. Urushiol oil, the potent irritant, remains active for years. This means that if you put away your outer clothing (that came in contact with poison ivy) and handle the clothing later, you can get a rash all over again. Use gloves to handle items that you suspect may be contaminated. Pets are generally unaffected by urushiol oil but may need a good washing to get rid of the stubborn, pervasive oil that clings to their fur.
How Can Organic Aloe Vera, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin A and Grape Seed Oil help with reactions to poison ivy and its cousins?
InfiniteAloe® Skin Care contains a wealth of ingredients that have been shown to penetrate the epidermis and accelerate the healing of rashes and numerous skin complaints. The organic Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Miller) that is the primary ingredient of InfiniteAloe® Skin Care contains saponins, which are particularly helpful in pain relief. There are many reports that saponins elevate the body's production of cortisone, which can reduce soreness and swelling. A scientific review for the Department of Defense discussed role of Aloe Vera in reducing inflammation, irritation and discomfort.
InfiniteAloe® Skin Care contains a cutting-edge, natural ingredient called Sodium Hyaluronate (or Hyaluronic Acid), which is the key water regulating substance in skin. Widely used by celebrities and injected by doctors for expensive beauty treatments, when applied to the skin it can form an air permeable layer and keep the skin moist and smooth. Small molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid can penetrate into the dermis layer, fully combine with water, promote skin blood microcirculation and nutrient absorption and maintain normal metabolism.
Vitamin A may also be important for rapid healing, as it is vital to the repair and growth of epithelial cells of the skin. Grape seed oil brings powerful cellular rebuilding properties deep below the skin's surface to moisturize and aid in protecting skin tissue. These are just some of the many key ingredients in InfiniteAloe® Skin Care.
Soothe the Itching and Swelling of Poison Ivy/Poison Oak
Home remedies to ease the torment of poison ivy:
- Use cool, wet compresses on affected areas several times a day for 15-20 minutes at a time.
- Soak in the tub with cool water. You may want to add an over-the-counter oatmeal treatment to the water.
- Use only the mildest soap or non-soap cleansers, but wash thoroughly (and be careful of anything that may still have urushiol oil on it.)
- Use the "Three Minute Rule" - apply InfiniteAloe® Skin Care within three minutes of emerging from the bath or shower.
- Reapply InfiniteAloe® Skin Care on the itchy rash as often as possible.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Oral antihistamines may be recommended, as well as hydrocortisone or calamine lotion, depending on the severity of your reaction.
If you have a widespread or serious reaction or develop a fever, see your healthcare professional.
Try your InfiniteAloe® Skin Care today!
References:
Cohen DE, et al. Allergic contact dermatitis. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008.
Davis, Robert H. Aloe Vera: A Scientific Approach (1997) Vantage Press; 1st edition. ISBN: 0-533-12137-X
Habif TP. Contact dermatitis and patch testing. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2004.
Kehl, Horst and Bertha Pereja. Contributions to Identification and Application of Active Components Contained in Rosa Aff. Rubiginosa (1988)
Li CP, Li RC. An introductory note to ginseng. Am J Chin Med 1973;1(2):249-61.
Plaskett, Lawrence G. The Health and Medical Use of Aloe Vera (1998) Life Sciences Press. ISBN: 0-943685-21-4
Shelton, Ronald M. Aloe Vera: Its Chemical and Therapeutic Properties. (1991) International Journal of Dermatology, Volume 30, Issue 10, p.679 - 683
Somersall, Allan C. (Ed.) The Healing Power of 8 Sugars: An Amazing Breakthrough in Nutrition, Sciences and Medicine. Natural Wellness (2005) ISBN: 978-0973731705
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Zhu YP. Chinese Materia Medica: Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Applications. Amsterdam: Harwood Academic Publishers; 1998.
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