Poison Ivy And Alcohol

You have probably heard the little rhyme about poison ivy when you were a kid: ‘Leaves of three-let them be!’.  A poison ivy rash itches terribly and the skin can become swollen and blisters appear which can weep.  Scratching can make the rash burn and sting which just adds to the discomfort.

Poison ivy and alcohol may sound like an odd combination, but the fact is that the Food and Drug Administration recommends applying rubbing alcohol to the rash, then rinsing with warm water and then washing the area with soap and water. Alcohol can help dissolve the resin from the poison ivy which is what triggers the terrible allergic reaction.

One of the hazards of enjoying the outdoors is a run-in with poison ivy. Poison ivy grows in most parts of the United States and it is spreading, due to global warming. An old home remedy for the treatment of poison ivy is to pour vodka on the rash. Some people think that the vodka has to be at least 100 proof in order to work but others say that the proof does not matter. The point is, that vodka has been used for decades in treating  poison ivy rash, so if you find yourself without rubbing alcohol, you can use vodka to wash away the urushiol oil that is in the plant.

If you are wondering about the correlation between poison ivy and alcohol and why it works in treating the rash, it is really quite logical. Urushiol will bond with the skin quickly. The alcohol will help to diffuse the oil in urushiol. Water, on the other hand, will actually help the urushiol spread to other parts of the body.

It is recommended that you dab the affect areas with alcohol using cotton. Dispose of the cotton regularly so that you are always using fresh and clean cotton to treat the area. Keep in mind that this stuff spreads quickly and with  ease, so you certainly do not want to unwillingly make your rash spread while treating it.

If you find yourself with a poison ivy rash, try to remember not to scratch it as you will only worsen the condition. Reach for the rubbing alcohol or vodka and start dabbing the infected area. The quicker you begin the treatment the better so that the urushiol does not have time to penetrate into your skin.