Self-Care at Home

• Avoid touching the trigger.
• Washing with soap and cool water can remove or inactivate most of the offending substance, if it is done immediately after exposure.
• If blistering develops, cold moist compresses applied for 30 minutes 3 times a day are helpful.
• Calamine lotion and cool oatmeal baths may relieve itching.
• Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Ben-Allergin) can also relieve itching.
• Do not apply antihistamine lotions to the skin, because you may have an allergic contact dermatitis from the lotion itself.
• For mild cases that cover a relatively small area, hydrocortisone cream in nonprescription strength may be sufficient.