How to Diagnose a Poison Oak Infection

Poison oak is found throughout the western United States, Canada, and Mexico, but it especially thrives in California. It can grow to an elevation of 5,000 feet above sea level. The oil from poison oak causes an irritating rash that will appear anywhere the oil touches your skin. As many as 50 percent to 85 percent of the population is allergic to poison oak.

Instructions

1. Determine if you have been exposed to poison oak in the past 24 to 48 hours, which is generally how long it takes for the poison oak rash to appear. People who are extra sensitive to poison oak may begin showing symptoms as soon as 30 minutes after exposure to the oil.

2. Look for areas of redness and swelling that appear as the first symptom of poison oak.

3. Check for poison oak blistering and severe itching to follow the redness and swelling.

4. Count the number of days since exposure. Poison oak is generally at its worst 5 days after the rash appears. The rash will last 7 to 10 days in mild cases and up to 3 weeks in severe cases. If you have fair skin you are more likely to get poison oak then if you have dark skin. Younger people are more likely to get it than older people.

5. See your doctor if you are still unsure whether you have poison oak or some other condition.

6. Treat mild cases of poison oak with calamine lotion, which is available at your local pharmacy. More severe cases of poison oak may require treatment with steroids.

Tips & Warnings

• Poison oak has three leaves and turns dark red in fall. You can get a rash from the root, steam. leaves, flowers or it's fruit.

• To learn how to tell poison oak from poison ivy, see the eHow article, "How To Tell Poison Oak from Poison Ivy."

• Breating in burning poison oak can produce breathing problems and cause severe symptoms in the nose, throat, eyes and lungs.