What Are the Treatments for Poison Oak Rash?

Poison oak rashes appear when you have direct contact with the plant or something else that also has had recent contact, like a family pet or a piece of clothing. A toxic compound called urushiol is released from the plant and covers it entirely, including the roots, stem/branch and leaves. Once the poisonous oil soaks into the skin, the irritation begins as antibodies attack the poison.

The First Wash

First remove all clothing and give them a good wash in the washing machine with detergent; this will help remove any toxins that may have been passed onto your clothing. Immediately rub the area of contamination with alcohol and rinse with cold water without soap. Next, get a cooling shower and use plenty of soap to help wash the excess urushoil away. Try not to use hot water for the first shower as hot water opens the pores of the skin and can enable a risk of the toxin spreading into other areas of the epidermis, causing a possible further rash. Cold water keeps pores closed and further spreading at bay.

Call on Doctor

As soon as you realize you have poison oak rash, it would be beneficial to approach your doctor prior to using any home remedy cure. Prednisone is only one example of a steroid that can provide a faster recovery from contact with urushoil from either poison oak or poison ivy. A cream or a cortisone preparation can also be prescribed to aid with the itching sensation while you await the disappearance of the urushiol.

Shop Bought

There are anti-poison oak products available at your nearest pharmacy that may assist with the relief of itchiness and inflammation.

Don't Scratch The Rash

Scratching a poison oak or poison ivy rash upon your skin can cause an infection and may only be treatable with antibiotics prescribed by your doctor.

Relief At Home

Once a rash appears, using hot water is great with other home remedies to relieve the itching. Two oldtime home remedies for poison oak rashes and itchiness are oatmeal and baking soda. They can both be used together to form a paste or you can use either independently. If you are using oatmeal, it is best made with hot water and with a thicker texture than if you were going to eat a serving. Paste it onto the rash-covered area of the skin, making sure it is not too hot and allow it to dry for a while. To remove, simply rinse it off with warm water. When using baking soda, it is also best to mix with warm to hot water into a paste before applying it to the poison oak rash.

Contamination

A rash or blistering caused by contact with poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac is not contagious and will not spread to another person. If you have never had a reaction from touching them, it does not mean that you are permanently immune and a reaction could still occur. Prevention is sometimes best. If you are going out for a nice walk through a natural planted area, it is best to ensure you keep your skin covered at all times.

Urushiol Facts

Urushiol can continue to be active for up to five years on any surface. Scratching a poison oak rash will not cause the rash to spread as the urushiol settles within the epidermis before the rash originally appears.

Resources

• Poison Oak Treatment and Tips