Does washing off poison ivy help?
If you've been exposed to poison ivy, you'll most likely be familiar with the itchy, bumpy red rash that follows. Because there is no outright cure for poison ivy rash, prevention is advised as the best measure you can take – not that that's much good if you've already been exposed to the stuff and want to get rid of the rash!
However, if you notice the poison ivy as soon as you come into contact with it, there are steps you can take to minimize – or even prevent – the consequences. First of all, understand how posion ivy works. The plant contains an oil called urusiol, which is toxic to human skin. In around 85% of people, it will produce a reaction known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, which manifests itself as a red rash with raised bumps and sometimes blisters filled with fluid. It's unpleasant, painful, and often unbearably itchy. It happens when the poison ivy plant, having been brushed against, transfers some of the oil from its leaves to the skin. It binds to the skin and is absorbed, which is when the allergic reaction takes place. By that stage, there's not really anything you can do about it, other than purchase some Calamine lotion to ease the itching, and wait for it to run its course.
The key to prevention is to be able to identify the poison ivy plant so that you know if you have accidentally been exposed to it. If you see the tell-tale clusters of three leaves and the hairy vine, then you know what's just happened. You've touched the poison ivy, which has in return left a nice layer of urushiol on your skin. Left untreated, this will now soak into your skin, and the rash will soon appear. Ignore your instincts at this point – if the urge to rub off the oil appears, don't listen to it! If you touch your skin, you'll succeed in rubbing in the oil, as well as spreading it around yourself and probably transferring it to other parts of your body with your hands.
Instead, refrain from touching, and immediately go somewhere where you can wash. Ideally, you want to first apply rubbing alcohol to the affected area, and then rinse it off with cold water. Then you need to wash the area thoroughly using soap and water. Don't forget to also scrub your hands and under your nails – the hands are the absolute worst place for any traces of urushiol to linger, as that's how it gets spread to eyes, face, objects you might touch in the future...
If the washing doesn't manage to get rid of all the oil, it should at least help you to minimize the damage. Hopefully your skin won't have absorbed any, or at least very little, so that your reaction is only a very mild one. It's also wise to wash the clothes and shoes that you were wearing when you were exposed to the poison ivy, and if your dog was with you, wash him, too! Basically, you need to make sure that there's no trace of urushiol on anything, including pets' fur, waiting to be transferred to your skin at a later date. You don't want to undo all your good work if you've successfully prevented an outbreak from the initial contact!
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