>>1306623Hot water will help with the itching. Make it as hot as you can stand without being so hot that it harms you. Apply the hot water either running or with a wash cloth/towel to the itchy area. Keep it hot for about 60 seconds or so. The itch will increase during this time like mad. As soon as the area cools off, you can enjoy about 2+ hours of itch relief. Sometimes that is all that's ever needed. This works for most itchy things like bug bits, but chiggers are a different thing completely though it will help a small amount with those itches.
When you come in from the woods, always shower immediately with tons of soap. The oil from the ivy can float all over, but getting it off is the main key. There are powders you can use to rub on your skin when you know for certain that part of your body contacted poison ivy. Use those as instructed, but use them within 2 hours of contact or sooner. The dry rub helps prevent spreading when water hits it when washing. You can also do spot washing where you use a wash rag with soap and wipe towards the center of the exposed area. After that, it is off to the shower and make sure the clothes are washed two times. All things you touch will have the oil so clean everything well. That includes things someone else has touched who had poison ivy oil all over them too. Basically, within 2 hours of contact is the most critical time to wash it off (up to 8 hours in some circumstances).
Good luck!
