The absolute best treatment I know for poison ivy is to get in the shower and run hot water (as hot as you can stand) over the affected area for 5 to 10 minutes. This seems counterintuitive, because it will increase the itching. But after a few minutes, the nervous circuits seem to get overloaded and the itching stops for a long time. If you conscientiously repeat the hot water treatment whenever the itching returns, the whole reaction completes its cycle rapidly and your skin will return to normal.
While hot water works better than anything, you also can use calamine lotion as a topical treatment if you wish. I strongly recommend against taking oral prednisone or other steroids unless there are very severe symptoms, such as fever or difficulty urinating. Don't use topical steroids either. Steroids are toxic drugs that should be saved for serious conditions, not minor ones, since they suppress the immune system.
Dr. Andrew W.
Avoid eating mangoes and cashews while you have poison ivy. Incidentally, Poison Ivy is actually part of the cashew family
Step2 -- Soothe itching with cool, wet compresses.
Step3 -- Add approximately 5 c. ground oatmeal or baking soda to a cool bath and soak for 15 to 30 minutes.
Step4 -- Add baking soda or Epsom salts to your bath, or make a paste of either of these and apply it to the rash.
Step5 -- Opt for lotions containing calamine, alcohol and zinc acetate; these will dry the blisters and help speed healing.
Step6 -- Leave the rash open to air. That will help it heal.
Step7 -- Talk to your doctor about taking an oral antihistamine if you are extremely uncomfortable or if the rash is covering a large area of your body.