Poison Ivy

Poison ivy, also known as ‘contact dermatitis’, causes an itchy, blistering rash when your child comes into contact with the sap of the poison ivy plant or similar plants. It’s also possible for your child to get more sap on their skin from clothing with sap on it that hasn’t been washed yet.

The rash often appears in straight lines if the plant brushed against the skin that way. Over a few days, the blisters may start to ooze, crust over, and eventually flake off. The rash can show up within hours or might take up to five days to appear and usually takes 2 to 3 weeks to heal.

The best way to handle poison ivy is to avoid contact with the plant altogether. If you know your child might be in an area where poison ivy grows, you can use a lotion like Ivy Block. Apply it about an hour before exposure to help prevent a rash.

If your child does touch poison ivy, remove and wash any clothing that might have come into contact with the plant. Then, gently clean your child’s skin with soap and cool water as soon as possible. It’s also a good idea to keep their nails short to prevent them from scratching too much, which could lead to an infection.

For treatment, cool compresses can help soothe the skin. To relieve itching, try adding oatmeal to their bath or using calamine lotion or Cort-Aid to help the rash heal. If your child is 6 months or older, you can give them oral Benadryl (one teaspoon per 25 pounds of body weight) every 6 hours to manage the itching.

If these home treatments don’t help, or if the rash is on your child’s face, please call our office for an appointment. Our pediatric specialists might need to explore more intensive treatments. Also, if your child develops a fever, excessive swelling, redness, or any pus-like drainage from the rash, it’s important to see us right away so we can check for infection and provide the right care.