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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffPoison ivy treatments are usually limited to self-care methods, and the rash typically goes away on its own within two to four weeks. In the meantime, you can use poison ivy remedies, such as oatmeal baths and cool compresses, as well as over-the-counter anti-itch medications to relieve your signs and symptoms.
If the rash is widespread or results in a large number of blisters, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid, such as prednisone, for poison ivy treatment. If a bacterial infection has developed at the rash site, your doctor will likely give you a prescription for an oral antibiotic.
- Contact dermatitis and patch testing. In: Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology. 5th ed. Maryland Heights, Mo.: Mosby, Inc.; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/book/player/book.do?method=display&type=bookPage&decorator=header&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00013-4--s0105&displayedEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7234-3541-9..00013-4--s0115&uniq=186228941&isbn=978-0-7234-3541-9. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Contact dermatitis: A practice parameter. Palatine, Ill.: Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/professionals/resources/pdf/contact_dermatitis_%202006.pdf. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Contact dermatitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec10/ch114/ch114c.html. Accessed Feb. 25, 2010.
- Outsmarting poison ivy and other poisonous plants. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm049342.htm. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/public/publications/pamphlets/skin_poison.html. Accessed Feb. 25, 2010.
- Gladman AC. Toxicodendron dermatitis: Poison ivy, oak, and sumac. Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. 2006;17:120.
- Bovine cartilage. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac. PDRHealth (Physician's Desk Reference). http://www.pdrhealth.com/disease/disease-mono.aspx?contentFileName=BHG01DE21.xml&contentName=Poison+Ivy%2c+Oak%2c+and+Sumac&contentId=120&TypeId=1. Accessed Feb. 28, 2010.
- Mark BJ. Allergic contact dermatitis. Medical Clinics of North America. 2006;90:169.
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