From the Guidelines
To treat poison ivy, immediately wash the affected area with soap and water to remove the plant's oil (urushiol) that causes the rash, as this can remove up to 100% of the oil if done immediately after contact 1.
Key Treatment Steps
- Wash the affected area with soap and water as soon as possible after exposure to remove urushiol oil, with the effectiveness decreasing over time: 50% at 10 minutes, 25% at 15 minutes, and 10% at 30 minutes 1.
- Topical corticosteroids may be recommended for symptomatic treatment, but their effectiveness, especially for over-the-counter options, is uncertain and not significantly different from control in some studies 1.
- Cool compresses may be considered for relief of local symptoms, although the evidence is limited 1.
- Oatmeal baths are also suggested for symptomatic relief, but like cool compresses, the evidence supporting their use is not strong 1.
- Oral antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine, may help with sleep but have questionable efficacy for itching relief, with one observational study finding no statistically significant reduction in symptoms 1.
Additional Considerations
- For severe cases, prescription steroid creams or an oral prednisone taper may be necessary, with the combination of systemic and high-potency topical corticosteroids showing potential in reducing the duration of itching 1.
- It's crucial to avoid scratching to prevent infection and keep the rash clean and dry.
- Medical attention should be sought if the rash covers large areas of the body, affects the face or genitals, shows signs of infection, or if fever or difficulty breathing occurs, indicating a severe allergic reaction.
From the FDA Drug Label
5 Allergic States Control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions intractable to adequate trials of conventional treatment: Seasonal or perennial allergic rhinitis Bronchial asthma Contact dermatitis Atopic dermatitis Serum sickness Drug hypersensitivity reactions
The answer to poison ivy treatment is contact dermatitis can be treated with prednisone.
- Key points:
- Prednisone is indicated for the control of severe or incapacitating allergic conditions, including contact dermatitis.
- Poison ivy is a common cause of contact dermatitis.
- Prednisone may be used to treat poison ivy-induced contact dermatitis 2.