Things You'll Need:
- Doctor's appointment
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Step 1
Determine whether you have come into contact with poison oak. Check off the areas you visited or traveled through in the recent past, especially woods or streams in the American south or the West Coast. Poison oak thrives in such areas and one brush with bare skin is all it takes to develop a rash.
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Step 2
Consult your doctor for treatment, especially if the rash seems particularly widespread or if it accompanies other symptoms such as a swelling of the face or fingers.
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Step 3
Allow your doctor to administer a cortisone shot if he feels it is necessary. Shots often have an immediate effect and can halt the rash if administered early enough. Your doctor may suggest a regimen of cortisone shots if the poison oak rash is bad enough.
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Step 4
Take oral cortisone in the prescribed amounts according to you doctor's instructions. Barring a shot, most cortisone prescriptions entail taking pills. If you need only one daily dose, many doctors recommend taking it in the morning so it will work with your body's natural cycle, while multiple daily doses should be spread regularly throughout the day.
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Step 5
Take food or milk with your cortisone. They help the pills go down and reduce the chances of an upset stomach. You should also take the pills with a full glass of water.
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Step 6
Avoid taking too much cortisone. It may be tempting to increase the dosage if the poison oak rashes persist, but a cortisone overdose can harm your immune system and produce a number of unwanted side effects. Call your doctor immediately if you think you have overdosed on cortisone.
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Step 7
Reduce the medication gradually once the regimen is over. Your doctor can provide specific details, but few recommend stopping cortisone treatments suddenly. A slow reduction in medication helps your body adjust naturally.
