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Dermatologist Defends Poison Ivy Treatment!

Q. Several weeks ago you had a question from someone about using poison ivy extract to get rid of warts. You suggested that this is a bad idea and not very safe.

I am a retired dermatologist and disagree with your opinion. It is much better to have poison ivy dermatitis than a mosaic plantar wart. Poison ivy is a nuisance that clears in a week or two and is nicely controlled. Very severe cases are uncommon but even those are no match for a mosaic plantar wart. Having one on the sole of your foot would be like walking on a 50 cent piece in your shoe.

If I can relieve a patient by scratching in a drop of poison ivy extract and exciting an immune response to the wart I have done a great favor for that patient.

A. We discouraged the use of poison ivy as a home remedy for warts because it requires great caution. A dermatologist who can apply an extract under controlled conditions would be much less likely to create a serious complication for a highly susceptible patient.

Thank you for sharing your expertise. We still think using poison ivy against warts is best left to professionals.

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About the Author
Joe Graedon is a pharmacologist who has dedicated his career to making drug information understandable to consumers. His best-selling book, The People’s Pharmacy, was published in 1976 and led to a syndicated newspaper column, syndicated public radio show and web site. In 2006, Long Island University awarded him an honorary doctorate as “one of the country's leading drug experts for the consumer.”.
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