What's the best method for dealing...

There is no shortage of remedies for poison ivy. Mild cases may be helped by calamine lotion, over-the-counter cortisone cream, and saltwater soaks, but severe cases may require prescription cortisone. Try using a barrier cream if you are about to venture into the woods or other areas that are likely to have poison ivy. If you have it growing in your yard, cover the plants with black plastic to kill them. Be careful, however; even dead plants can be infectious.