Top 10 Poison Ivy Myths

Myth #1: Scratching poison ivy blisters will spread the rash.
Fact: The rash is caused by the urushiol oil found in poison ivy, oak and sumac and is not spread by the fluid in the blisters. If you have the urushiol oil on your hands and you scratch your nose or wipe your forehead, you may spread the oil and hence the rash. Avoid excessive scratching and make sure your fingernails and hands are clean.

Myth #2: Poison ivy rash is “contagious.”
Fact: The rash is a reaction to urushiol oil found in poison ivy, oak and sumac. The rash cannot pass from person to person, but urushiol can be spread by contact, even with exposed clothing or pets.

Myth #3: Once allergic, always allergic to poison ivy.
Fact: A person's sensitivity to urushiol changes over time, and even from season to season. People who were sensitive to poison ivy as children may not be allergic as adults and vice versa.

Myth #4: I've been in contact with poison ivy before and I'm not allergic to it.
Fact: If a person has come in contact with poison ivy once and did not get a rash, it does not mean that he or she will always be immune.  The first contact, which can occur without a person ever knowing, may create a hypersensitivity to the urushiol oil without causing a rash.

Myth #5: Dead poison ivy plants are no longer toxic.
Fact: Urushiol oil stays active on any surface, including dead plants, for up to five years or longer.

Myth #6: You can catch poison ivy rash by being near the plants.
Fact: Direct contact with urushiol oil is needed. However, it is important to stay away from forest fires, direct burning or anything that causes the oil to become airborne such as a lawnmower or weed whacker.

Myth #7: Keeping covered outdoors will prevent poison ivy rash.
Fact: While keeping covered in the outdoors is crucial, it is not a foolproof way to protect your skin against developing a poison ivy rash. Urushiol oil can stick to clothes, shoes, garden tools and sporting equipment that you touch, and inadvertently spread to uncovered parts of your body.

Myth #8: You have to touch a poison ivy, oak or sumac plant to get a rash.
Fact: The most common way people contract an allergic rash from these plants is by touching an item that has urushiol oil on it, including garden tools, camping equipment, boots and even pet fur. Since urushiol can stay active for years, it’s important to wash any item that has come in contact with poison oak, ivy or sumac with soap and water.

Myth #9: “Leaves of three, leave them be.”
Fact: This is true for poison ivy, but not poison oak and poison sumac. Although poison ivy has 3 leaves per cluster, poison oak has 3 to 5 leaves, and poison sumac has 7 to 13 leaves on a branch.

Myth #10: Besides complete avoidance, there's no way to prevent poison ivy rash.
Fact: When applied to the skin before contact, IvyBlock is the only FDA-approved lotion that can prevent the rashes caused by poison ivy, oak and sumac.

Poison Ivy Relief & Prevention

Prevent the rash before it starts!

Ivy Block Lotion

The only FDA-approved product that's clinically proven to help prevent poison oak, ivy and sumac rashes before they start.

Safe and effective for preventing Poison Ivy, Oak and Sumac rashes. If applied before contact, IvyBlock's patented ingredient Bentoquatam absorbs the urushiol oil which causes the ivy's irritating rash before it has a chance to get under your skin.

Why suffer, when Homeopathy can tame the wild itch and soothe the inflammation of poison ivy symptoms and hives?

Hyland's Poison Ivy / Oak

Natural relief for poison ivy induced rashes and irritations.

A traditional homeopathic formula for the relief of symptoms after contact with poison ivy or oak. Exposure to poison ivy / oak often results in skin breaks out with red, swollen, intensely itching, burning, watery blisters sometimes followed by oozing or crusting. This soothing formula is safe for adults and children and can be used in conjunction with other medications.
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Homeopathic Ingredients

Rhus Toxicodendron 6X HPUS - for red, swollen eruptions with intense itching.

Croton Tiglium 6X HPUS - for extremely itching eruptions that may ooze, scratching is painful.

Xerophyllum 6X HPUS - for itching, stinging and burning inflammations.

Rhus tox is the #1 single homeopathic remedy for Poison Ivy

Poison ivy for poison ivy? That's it. With a dose of this absolutely safe, non-toxic, homeopathic dilution of poison oak, your body gets just the stimulus it needs to fight off the effects of contact with poison ivy, oak or sumac. For all the itching frustration poison ivy inflicts, its remedy cures a lot more- especially stiff achy joints and rheumatic pains. For skin irritation, Rhus tox works best for red blistering rashes that feel better the hotter the water you wash them in.

Other options and itchy ailments:

Ledum pal - This expert puncture wound remedy might work better for your rash, but only on the odd occasion that the irritated area feels cold to the touch and prefers ice cold applications.

Urtica urens - Stinging nettle fights off stinging nettle as homeopathy's basic principle of like cures like applies again. When scratching makes the itch feel better, and stinging, burning irritation craves cold applications, this might be better than Rhus for hive-like rashes. A handy remedy for burns from scalding hot fluids, too.