Elder Care in North Hills PA
You likely heard the phrase “Leaves of three, let them be” when you were a child and trying to remember what types of plants you should not touch. Now that you are an adult, this reminder of how to recognize poison ivy can come back into play. Dealing with the itchy, miserable effects of coming into contact with poison ivy is not something that anyone wants to deal with, and it can make your parent more vulnerable to infections. If your outdoor elder care had caused a brush with this irritating plant, however, it is important that you know how to handle it.
This soothing bath contains the skin-loving properties of oatmeal, buttermilk, and Epsom salts as well as aromatherapy that helps to bring down the anxiety that can occur because of the discomfort. Use this bath once or twice a day to provide relief for the itching. Discourage your parent from scratching at the rash, which can open the skin and allow in germs and bacteria. If such injuries do occur, treat them carefully with antibacterial gel and loosely cover the rash to prevent further scratching.
What You Will Need
- Unflavored, plain whole grain oatmeal
- Epsom salts
- 1/2 to 1 cup of regular or buttermilk
- Between 1/4 and 1/2 of a cup of small lavender buds
- Essential oils, like lavender or other fragrant scents
- A small bowl
- A spoon
- A coffee filter bag
- A rubber band, ribbon or string
What to Do
- Pour the oatmeal into the bowl
- Use the back of the spoon to push down on the oatmeal, separating and eliminating any clumps that may have formed in packaging
- Add any extras to the oatmeal that are desired, though for itchiness caused by Poison Ivy, it is best to go very lightly with additional scents or other elements as they may agitate the affected area
- Use the spoon to mix the ingredients well
- Use the spoon to scoop the oatmeal mixture into the coffee filters
- Use the string, ribbon or rubber band to seal off the bag once it is filled with enough of the oatmeal
- Begin to fill the tub with hot water
- If using milk or buttermilk, pour it into the tub under the running water, so that it mixes with the tub water instantly
- Add about 3/4 of a cup of Epsom salts directly under the running water as it begins to fill the tub if desired, though with skin conditions, it may be best to avoid this step unless the rash is very minor
- Toss the oatmeal bag into the back of the tub, away from the running water
- When the water has filled the tub, turn off the faucet and allow to cool to a tepid state, which also allows the oatmeal and lavender scent to disperse into the tub water
- Climb into the tub, and if desired, gently squeeze the coffee filter bag to release more of the oatmeal liquid through the bath, though be sure not to squeeze too hard or the filter will break
- Avoid staying in the tub for longer than 10 minutes at a time as any longer could aggravate the skin condition further
If you or an aging loved one are considering elder care in North Hills, PA, please call and talk to the caring staff at Extended Family Care of Pittsburgh at (412) 693-6009. We will answer all of your questions.
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