How should I treat poison ivy blisters?

As summer approaches and the landscape turns greener, so too are the leaves from poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. When the oil from these plants touches the skin, most people (about 85 percent) develop an itchy, blistering rash. read more

Poison ivy blisters are best treated by washing the body thoroughly to get rid of any trace of the allergen, urushiol. Urushiol is a sappy substance found all throughout the poison ivy plant as well as in poison oak and sumac; as long as it remains in any contact with the skin, rashes and blisters will persist. read more

The blisters are a normal stage of the poison ivy rash. They contain just water and the water will not spread the rash on you or to another person. It’s not dangerous, just gross. read more

To treat a rash from poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac and help stop the itch, dermatologists recommend the following: Immediately rinse your skin with lukewarm, soapy water. If you can rinse your skin immediately after touching poison ivy, poison oak, or poison sumac, you may be able to rinse off some of the oil. read more