Do you need to see a doctor if you touch poison ivy?
First-time sufferers of poison ivy rash can become unnecessarily alarmed by the apparent severity of the effects on their skin. However, it's usually much less serious than it might appear. In fact, the majority of poison ivy victims never need to see a doctor about the ailment, and most simply endure it until it goes away by itself, using topical medicine and natural remedies to relieve the discomfort caused by itching and inflamation.
There are, of course, some situations where it is not only recommended, but essential, to see a doctor about poison ivy exposure. If you think that urushiol (the toxic oil contained in poison ivy plants) may have gotten into your eyes or into your mouth, you should go to the doctor immediately to seek medical attention. Likewise, if you have been exposed to the smoke from burning poison ivy, you should see a doctor urgently: poison ivy should never be destroyed by burning, as it releases toxic fumes which can cause serious internal damage if inhaled. If you didn't know this, and destroyed poison ivy by burning it, go to your doctor as a matter of urgency.
In the majority of ordinary poison ivy cases, however, where the urushiol has simply made contact with the skin and caused an allergic reaction (urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, which manifests itself in the form of an itchy red rash), it is perfectly safe to treat the symptoms at home without contacting a doctor. There are lots of topical medicines available for poison ivy rash. Some are designed to kill and remove the urushiol from the surface of the skin. You can get a solution that is specifically designed for poison ivy, but if you've been exposed, the key is to get the oil off your skin as quickly as possible, so don't take time to go and purchase a specialist product – ordinary rubbing alcohol, or even plain cold water, is better than nothing. Follow it up by washing thoroughly. Note that you should also take precautions to ensure that urushiol isn't lurking anywhere else for you to pick up! You can wipe down any potential carriers with the topical medicine used to kill urushiol on your skin – potential carriers include clothes, shoes, tools and equipment, and pets' fur. Clean everything thoroughly to cut down the risk of re-exposure.
Once you're satisfied that you've contained the outbreak, you can simply keep a close eye on your symptoms yourself, which should have started to lessen within a week or two. Deal with uncomfortable itching using topical medicine like Calamine lotion or various natural remedies, which are designed to cool and soothe the skin. Oral antihistamines can also help, but avoid applying a topical antihistamine to your skin, as it can actually make it worse. It's unlikely to be serious, but if you have already applied a topical antihistamine to a poison ivy rash, call your doctor for advice before applying anything else to your skin.
In most cases, the poison ivy rash should heal by itself and gradually disappear after a few weeks without you ever needing to see a doctor. You should, however, contact your doctor if the rash gets worse, continues to spread, shows no signs of disappearing after a few weeks, or breaks out in oozing blisters or sores.
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