Poison ivy rashes can cause extreme discomfort, itching, swelling, blisters, and pain where the skin came into contact with the oil from the poison ivy plant.

If you realize that you have the oil on your skin it is possible to wash it off immediately and avoid a rash. The rash normally does not appear for a day or two after exposure to poison ivy, and many people do not know where they came into contact with the plant that caused their rash. Poison ivy comes in many forms, and it is hard to spot if you are not extremely knowledgeable about the plant before going out in any place poison ivy may be.

Poison ivy rashes start out as skin irritation, redness, and intense itching. As the rash progresses, blisters appear that have fluid under them, and the itching gets worse. Treating the rash consists of different measures to dry out the damaged skin and blisters while minimizing the itching, swelling, and discomfort. This can include using a hair dryer on the lowest setting and letting the warm dry air flow over the poison ivy rash, which will help dry out the fluid in the blisters as well as the skin, helping it to fall off faster so that healthy skin can replace it. Baking soda or vinegar can both help dry out the rash as well, while stopping any itching.

Over the counter pain medicines can help with any discomfort from poison ivy rashes, and hot showers can be very helpful in stopping the itching for hours at a time. If the rash develops any unusual or abnormal swelling or other symptoms you should contact your doctor as soon as possible, to ensure that you do not need immediate medical attention due to a severe allergic reaction. Taking a bath of warm water that has two cups or more of oatmeal mixed in can help soothe the rash and stop the itching, or the oatmeal can be made into a paste with warm water and spread on the affected skin for the same results. There are many home remedies that can prove invaluable when you have a rash caused by poison ivy.