Not only is oatmeal an excellent soothing agent for itchy, inflamed skin, but it also aids in restoring moisture and minerals to the epidermis.Īveeno sells a variety of oatmeal bath solutions for about $5, but you can also make your own solution in just a few minutes:
Should i cover poison ivy when sleeping skin#
However, because the oil can get under your fingernails, in your hair, etc., it’s best just to lather and rinse your entire body lest you risk spreading the oil further.Īfter a good rinse, it’s good to sooth the skin with an oatmeal bath. The first thing you should do immediately following exposure to Poison Ivy is dilute and rinse the Urushiol Oil from your skin with soap and water. Take soapy showers and oatmeal baths in the evening Rinse and soak!īecause Poison Ivy’s itchiness is caused by an application of oil to the skin, topical rinses that diffuse and disrupt the oil are an extremely effective means of curbing irritation when used immediately following contact with the plant.įollowing a rinse, it’s best to soothe and moisturize the skin as it will be particularly sensitive during the onset of swelling. How to relive the itchiness to sleep at night!īelow are some of the most effective methods of treating exposure that you can use to eliminate itchy irritation throughout the day and before bed: 1. In serious cases, however, symptoms can last up to a month, and in rare cases, may require hospitalization.įortunately, for most of us, treatment options need extend no further than do-it-yourself remedies or over-the-counter medication. Symptoms generally present themselves within a day or two following exposure, and typically last about a week. Poison Ivy is a flowering plant unassuming in appearance, yet easily identifiable for its distinctive three-leafed arrangement (“leaflets three, let it be.”) The leaves’ surface contain an oil called Urushiol that, when applied to the skin (or via secondary means such as hiking boots/clothing or an outside dog), incites an allergic reaction that creates a swollen, itchy rash at the site of contact.
Should i cover poison ivy when sleeping how to#
And because avoidance of these plants is virtually impossible, this article will focus on how to best treat exposure to Poison Ivy rather than prevent it, with particular focus on treating itchiness at nighttime.īut first, let’s take a look at how Toxicodendron Radicans, the latin name for poison ivy, actually makes us itch. However, as nature lovers know, spend enough time in the woods and you’re bound to come into contact with Poison Ivy, Poison Oak or Sumac at some point. Of course, this was as much for our sake as it was for our parents’, as a gaggle of itchy, screaming kids is a sure-fire way to put a damper on a relaxing weekend “up north.” Growing up in the rural midwest, this tiny, three-leafed plant is one of the first things us kids were taught to look out for when venturing into the woods. There is nothing worse than trying to sleep while dealing with the itchiness that poison ivy brings. No, scratch that – I mean OW! Poison Ivy! Spoiling camping trips and nature hikes since the dawn of Man.