If you’re itching, use one percent hydrocortisone cream; that’s an anti inflammatory steroid cream that’s available over the counter, and that can help with a lot of the itching.
And also use an oral antihistamine , which can help.
Now in rare cases, when people have had a lot of exposure to poison ivy, or their immune system is so revved up that they get an ‘exuberant’ reaction to the poison ivy ... you may then really have to see your physician, who can gave you a short course of medication; oral steroids which ... help shut off that immunologic reaction.
David J. Leffell, M.D.
Total Skin: The Definitive Guide to Whole Skin Care for Life
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