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Essential oils have many benefits. As they becoming increasingly popular, there are fewer and fewer people turning to synthetic chemicals. They can be for aromatherapy, cleaning, weight loss, restoring hair color, home remedies, and more. There are even essential oils for poison ivy.
People know that essential oils can be used to treat acne, headaches, and coughs; but did you also know that they can also be used for poison ivy? Keep reading to find out how to use the right oil for your skin type and preference.
There is a difference between poison ivy and poison oak. For the most part, they look pretty similar; however, rash from poison ivy will not appear until several days after you have been exposed. Poison oak on the other hand will present itself immediately with a red appearance on parts of your body where contact was made. Remember: If you suspect that you have come into contact with either one or both, wash with soap and water immediately.
Essential oils are great for skin issues because they have properties that are anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antiseptic. The anti-bacterial properties can help prevent infection and the anti-inflammatory properties can reduce redness, swelling, and itching. The antiseptic oils will cleanse your skin and eliminate bacteria that cause pimples or rashes.
Related: The Best Essential Oils for Your Specific Body Type
Treating poison ivy naturally is a much better and healthier procedure than using over-the-counter medications, as those often contain toxins that can do more harm than treating the actual ivy would. Using natural remedies such as essential oils for poison ivy is a much safer way to go about relieving the itching and irritation related to poison ivy as well as helping it heal faster.
Harsh chemicals found in over-the-counter creams for poison ivy can further harm the skin. This is especially true if these over-the-counter treatments are used improperly, which happens often with poison ivy treatments. Not only do they contain toxins that prey on your skin, but these chemicals will not enhance or aid in healing your skin. They can even cause more irritation and itching to occur as a side effect.
Natural supplements such as essential oils for poison ivy help promote healthy skin function and decrease damage caused by allergic reactions to urushiol oil found in poison ivy plants. Using natural remedies such as essential oils for poison ivy relieves pain and itching much faster than harsh chemicals because it speeds up the time it takes to heal the affected area(s). Essential oils for poison ivy are also non-invasive, unlike strenuous drugs.
Using essential oils for poison ivy can be safely used by anyone at any age without having harmful side effects normally associated with other poisons such as alcohol or caffeine. Essential oils for poison ivy are natural substances that provide relief from the itchiness and irritation caused by urushiol oil. They also promote the healing process without creating more harm than good, unlike treatments that can cause damage to your skin. There is no age limit of using essential oils for poison ivy, so it does not matter if you are an infant or elderly person; they can be used safely by anyone at any time. Additionally, there are no interactions with other medications so if you get poison ivy while on another prescription, you will not have to worry about the effects of mixing them together.
Related: 9 Proven Oils To Help Clear Your Skin
11 Essential Oils For Poison Ivy
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree is effective in treating poison ivy due to its antibacterial properties. It also helps with itching and drying up blisters caused by urushiol oil. Tea tree oil is one of the most effective natural substances on poison ivy because it has high levels of terpinen-4-ol, which works to stop the chemical reaction that causes urushiol oil to affect your skin.
Lavender Oil
Lavender is known for its anti-inflammatory properties, which are helpful in treating poison ivy. It also helps with pain and swelling associated with poison ivy. Lavender essential oil decreases the chemicals produced by your immune system when reacting to urushiol oil found in poison ivy plants. These chemicals are what cause you to have an allergic reaction, so lavender contains calming properties that help decrease these chemicals being released by your body.
Peppermint Oil
Peppermint has analgesic properties, which help decrease the sensation of pain associated with poison ivy. Studies have shown that it is more effective than traditional topical treatments commonly used to treat poison ivy. It also has cooling effects, which can help relieve itching and uncomfortable sensations caused by urushiol oil found in poison ivy plants.
Lemongrass Oil
Lemongrass has antimicrobial properties that are helpful in treating poison ivy. One study showed that lemongrass was effective at healing blisters associated with urushiol oil. When you use essential oils for poison ivy, especially those with antibacterial properties like lemongrass, they can prevent infection from occurring as your skin heals. They also act as an anti-inflammatory agent, which can help relieve itching sensations that are commonly associated with urushiol oil.
Ylang Ylang Oil
Ylang ylang is antibacterial and antifungal in nature which makes it helpful in treating poison ivy. Its calming properties also make it effective at promoting the healing of blisters caused by urushiol oil typically found in poison ivy plants. This is especially useful if you have multiple areas affected since ylang ylang can be used to treat all of them without having to worry about the interaction or side effects.
Geranium Oil
Geranium has analgesic properties that can help decrease pain associated with itching and burning sensations known to occur when exposed to urushiol oil. It also speeds up the healing process of blisters caused by urushiol oil found in poison ivy. One study showed that geranium was effective at healing multiple blister stages, including papule, vesicle, and pustule phases.
Rose Oil
Rose essential oil has antibacterial properties that can be effective for treating poison ivy. It also helps prevent secondary infections from occurring due to the drying effects it has on the skin when used regularly. This gives you quick relief while allowing your skin to heal itself without causing further harm as other treatments would. Rose oil is typically used for dry or sensitive skin types because its calming ingredients make it ideal for people with conditions like rashes caused by poison ivy plants.
Myrrh Oil
Myrrh oil is antibacterial in nature and has wound-healing properties which make it effective at treating poison ivy. It can also help prevent secondary infections from occurring due to its anti-inflammatory properties. When you use myrrh for poison ivy, you can give relief to the blisters and your skin with the constant application of this essential oil. You will start seeing results within a few days of using it regularly since myrrh acts as an antiseptic and antibiotic that promotes wound healing.
Frankincense Oil
When used on the skin, frankincense essential oil has both analgesic and antimicrobial properties which work well for treating poison ivy. One study showed that it reduced inflammation caused by urushiol oil found in poison ivy plants. It is also effective at speeding up the healing process of blisters caused by urushiol oil. Another study showed that frankincense was helpful in reducing inflammation, redness, pain, and itching associated with poison ivy.
Neroli Oil
Neroli has both antibacterial and antifungal properties which makes it a great essential oil for treating poison ivy rashes. The antimicrobial properties prevent secondary infections from occurring while the antiseptic nature gives you relief from the awful itch that occurs when exposed to urushiol oils found in poison ivy plants. This will help speed up your skin’s natural healing process so that your rash starts going away faster than before without having to worry about scarring.
Palmarosa Oil
When applied topically, palmarosa essential oil can be effective at treating both the itching and the pain associated with poison ivy rashes. This is due to its anti-inflammatory properties which give you relief quickly while also fighting off secondary infections caused by urushiol oils found in poison ivy plants. The cooling sensation that people experience when using this essential oil makes it comforting to use regularly. When mixed with other healing oils like bergamot, it acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that allows your rash to heal faster than usual without side effects.
Cypress Oil
Due to its analgesic properties, cypress oil works well for relieving the pain brought on by urushiol oils found in poison ivy plants. Cypress essential oil also works as an anti-inflammatory agent so it can be used to decrease the swelling and redness present on your skin after coming into contact with urushiol oils. There was a study done where cypress oil combined with other essential oils such as lavender oil showed that this combination could accelerate the healing process of blisters caused by poison ivy rashes.
These essential oils work to reduce the itch and swelling of this condition. They also hasten the healing process by getting rid of the rash quickly. Using these essential oils on the affected areas will also prevent secondary infections from occurring.
Where Should You Buy Essential Oils for Poison Ivy?
Essential oils are known for their various health benefits and applications in day-to-day living. They have been used as far back as recorded history for their therapeutic properties and much more but how much do you really know about these pure plant essences? Do your research before buying! With any product you buy, including essential oils, you want to make sure that the company is reputable and honest in its claims. Here are a few brands we trust:
Which essential oil For Poison Ivy you should use depends on your preference and type of poison ivy:
– If you have sensitive skin (redness and itchiness) then lavender oil is for you. It has calming effects which work well with people who are experiencing discomfort from their rash or inflammation. [Lavender does not actually heal the poison ivy; it only treats the symptoms.]
– If you do not like lavender (or if you don’t have it) then tea tree oil would be a good alternative because it works in a similar way. It is also good for acne and acts as a disinfectant.
– If you have very sensitive skin, then chamomile oil will soothe your rashes and relieve the itchiness that you are experiencing from poison ivy’s rash. This works well if your skin does not react well with lavender or tea tree oils. However, it is important to note that chamomile only treats the symptoms of the rash but does not actually heal it.
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– Another alternative would be grapefruit seed oil which is used by many people who want a natural way to treat their poison ivy symptoms. Grapefruit seed oil can also be combined with other oils such as tea tree oil to make a homemade anti-itch cream.
– If you don’t want to use essential oils, then aloe vera gel works well too! It has natural cooling effects and will also prevent your skin from drying out. Aloe vera is very gentle and can be used to treat a variety of skin conditions including but not limited to poison ivy, sunburns, cold sores, bug bites, and acne. Keep in mind that if you do decide to apply aloe vera gel on the affected area(s) you should be careful because it will make surfaces slippery.
– And lastly, another solution would be applying cortisone cream or hydrocortisone lotion. These are pretty standard treatments for many different skin conditions as they reduce itching and inflammation.
Essential Oils For Poison Ivy Application:
– For tea tree oil you can either apply a few drops on a cotton ball or spray it directly on the rash or affected area. You can also combine different oils together for a stronger effect. Another option would be to mix your essential oil(s) with coconut oil as this is gentle enough for people who have very sensitive skin yet effective enough to treat their poison ivy symptoms. Keep in mind that the mixture should be prepared fresh as exposure to air will cause it to lose potency over time! If none of these work, then try apple cider vinegar which is very soothing and anti-inflammatory if you are looking for something that will help relieve itching sensations. Other than using apple cider vinegar to cleanse your skin, you can also mix it with warm water and drink it. The apple cider vinegar will help soothe the poison ivy rash/blisters inside of your throat as well!
– For lavender oil, you can apply 2-3 drops on a cotton ball or spray diluted lavender oil directly onto the affected area. Remember that if you are allergic to plants in the Lamiaceae family (this includes but is not limited to basil thyme, oregano, marjoram, rosemary, sage, savory ..etc) then you should avoid using lavender oil since it comes from these plants. This is because if you are allergic to any of these plants then chances are high that you will be allergic to lavender too.
– For grapefruit seed oil, dilute it with coconut oil and then apply to the affected areas. You can also make a mixture of apple cider vinegar (ACV) and grapefruit seed oil as well which is very effective in soothing itchiness and reducing inflammation by removing bacteria from the affected area(s).
Precautions
When using essential oils on your skin, it is important to consider that some oils are more potent than others. Dilute the oils by adding a few drops of it to 1 tablespoon of carrier oil (e.g., coconut oil) and then mix well before applying the mixture to your skin. For example, tea tree oil should be diluted with a carrier oil because pure tea tree oil is very strong and can cause irritations if applied directly on your skin without dilution. This also means that starting out with low concentrations of these oils is recommended especially if you have sensitive skin.
Also, make sure that you always consult a doctor or dermatologist before using essential oils to get rid of poison ivy symptoms since essential oils work differently for everybody!
– Remember to avoid using essential oils on broken/open skin as this can increase the risk of an infection occurring depending on which essential oil you use.
If at any point your rashes start to look swollen or if they start spreading further than what they originally were, seek medical attention ASAP because this could be a sign of infection.
– Last but not least, always patch test different essential oils on your wrist before applying them directly onto another part of the body (i.e poison ivy rash). If your skin reacts badly then do not use that oil since it will make the poison ivy symptoms worse.