How to identify and treat poison ivy rash with daily use products

An allergic reaction to poison ivy is not uncommon in the country, with staggering statistics of 85 out of 100 people suffering from its symptoms. The the fact that many people are unable to identify this plant leaf raises questions and concerns at the same time.

Symptoms of poison ivy are not so severe and can be cured with timely medical attention and a few quick poison ivy relief home remedies. However, as they say, prevention is better than cure, it is important to identify the cause of the symptoms and more importantly the source.

How to easily identify poison ivy plant?

The leaves of this plant will be three pointed and change colors according to the season. Poison ivy leaves are more reddish in the spring, fresh green in the summer and slowly turn out a yellowish or orange tinge right after. Notched edges are also a clear indicator that the leaves might belong to poison ivy bush or even a vine creeper. White berries on the plant are easily noticeable, which indicate a poison ivy bush.

You might take all the necessary precautions, by wearing long sleeved clothing and pants which can be tucked into your socks at the ankles. However, in case you ever do come in contact with these leaves on any part of your body, here are a few things that might allow for quick poison ivy relief:

Aspirin paste: Although primarily this medication is used for headaches, making an aspirin paste by mixing it with water and applying will help soothe the affected area and provide quick poison ivy relief. Aspirin contains salicylic acid which speeds up the healing process.

Mouthwash: This might sound a bit odd, but the mint in your mouthwash will help cool the rash, with alcohol drying out the affected area. The antibacterial properties in the mouthwash will stop the infection or rash from spreading.

Dish soap: Urushiol is a chemical compound found in poison ivy plants which is responsible for causing the skin irritation and rashes. Dish soap will help rinse the affected area and prevent the oils from penetrating the skin, providing quick poison ivy relief.

Blow dryer: You can use it for drying out your hair and also for removing the histamines out of the rash. This will help reduce the itching since the hot air will simply clean the developing rash. However one has to be very careful while using blow dryers since prolonged exposure can lead to skin burns.