• Rashes

5 Tips for Getting Rid of Poison Ivy Rash Quickly

Published: May 22, 2025
Updated: May 22, 2025
4 mins

Spending a lot of time in wooded areas outdoors may increase your risk of coming in contact with poison ivy. Urushiol, a sticky substance in poison ivy sap, can lead to a rash on the skin on any part of the body. Both poison ivy and poison oak rashes are caused by the same toxic oil.

Poison ivy is a vine or small shrub with glossy leaves and sharp edges that can lead to contact dermatitis (skin irritation). Some poison ivy shrubs also grow white flowers and white and yellow berries. You can identify poison ivy by looking at the pattern of leaves on the stem. Stems and leaves on poison ivy plants do not have thorns.

Poison ivy may be hard for many people to recognize, but the symptoms of poison ivy rashes can lead to intense discomfort. While there’s no guaranteed way to get rid of a poison ivy rash overnight, you can take steps to relieve symptoms.

What Does a Poison Ivy Rash Look Like?

A poison ivy infection doesn’t always look like a large red patch. In some cases, a poison ivy rash may look like a cluster of black dots or streaks on the skin. Black spot poison ivy dermatitis is a skin condition where black spots show up on the surface of the skin.

A poison ivy rash may transition through the following main stages:

Stage 1: When your skin touches poison ivy, your body begins releasing histamines. The release of histamines leads to itchiness even before a rash appears.

Stage 2: During this stage, you may notice a red, swollen patch on your skin. Some rashes may continue to grow over different parts of the body.

Stage 3: Some rashes may lead to small blisters on the skin. Some blisters may also leak fluid.

Stage 4: Blisters and the rash itself start to heal during this stage. You may finally see the rash begin to disappear and the redness lessen.

What are the Symptoms of a Poison Ivy Rash?

Symptoms may begin right away or around one to two weeks after the rash appears. While having a poison ivy rash, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Itchiness

• Trouble sleeping

• Blisters on the skin

• Fluid leaking from blisters

• Crust on the edges of blisters

Is a Poison Ivy Rash Contagious?

Fortunately, poison ivy rashes don’t spread from person to person. However, plant oil residue on clothing and household items can lead to a breakout. Be sure to wash clothes and disinfect surfaces after identifying a poison ivy rash. 

How to Get Rid of a Poison Ivy Rash

Poison ivy rashes tend to go away on their own after around three to four weeks. However, symptoms may affect other parts of your life. For example, those with a poison ivy rash may have trouble sleeping from feeling intense itchiness in the middle of the night. It’s not uncommon for some people to be more sensitive to poison ivy after being exposed multiple times.

1. Thoroughly clean the skin after contact.

The first step is removing any plant oil from your clothing and the surface of your skin. Additional rashes may show up on the skin from leftover plant residue. Gently wash the skin with soap and cool water as soon as possible to remove plant oil.

2. Apply topical steroids to manage symptoms.

Over-the-counter (OTC) corticosteroids like zinc acetate, zinc oxide, and calamine can help relieve skin irritation.  Hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion can also help treat itchiness. In severe cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe oral or shot steroid medication.

3. Soothe the skin with moisturizing treatments.

Colloidal oatmeal is a common ingredient in moisturizing skin treatments made from harvested oats of the Avena sativa plant. It helps to reduce skin redness and irritation from a poison ivy rash. 

4. Take an oral corticosteroid to treat itchiness.

A healthcare provider may recommend oral corticosteroids to further relieve symptoms. While antihistamines like Benadryl (diphenhydramine) can help relieve itchiness, they do not help to treat the poison ivy rash directly.

5. Keep the skin dry and cool.

Avoid unnecessary moisture on the skin. A mix of moisture and dirt can lead to a buildup of bacteria. Health experts recommend applying rubbing alcohol on the skin to remove plant oil and drying the area with a clean washcloth. It’s best to apply rubbing alcohol within the first ten minutes of coming into contact with poison ivy.

A clean, cool, wet washcloth can also help reduce inflammation. You can continue to apply a cool washcloth to a poison ivy rash multiple times throughout the day to relieve symptoms.

Natural Remedies for Treating a Poison Ivy Rash

In addition to the tips mentioned, some natural substances can help manage symptoms. The following natural remedies may help reduce the severity of poison ivy symptoms like constant itchiness:

• Apply aloe vera gel to the area.

• Place a mix of baking soda and water on the area.

• Keep the area cool with ice for a few minutes.

What to Avoid While Treating a Poison Ivy Rash

Try your best to avoid scratching poison ivy rashes. Scratching poison ivy rashes can intensify symptoms and potentially lead to more irritation around the rash. 

If you have high blood pressure or diabetes, be sure to let your healthcare provider know before starting prescription medications. While it’s rare, be sure to reach out for emergency assistance if you experience swelling or any other severe symptoms right away.

Where Can I Learn More About Treating Poison Ivy?

Having contact with poison ivy can be an unexpected experience. With LifeMD+, you can skip the waiting room and connect with a licensed healthcare provider in under an hour – anytime and anywhere – for just $19 a month. Get affordable virtual care to relieve poison ivy rash symptoms with same-day prescriptions if needed and expert guidance.

Join now by making an appointment from the comfort of your home.

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