Poison Oak Treatment

The best poison oak treatment is the one you will probably think of too late: a hot, soapy shower. The minute you realize you've come into contact with poison oak, you should throw all clothing into the washer and jump into the shower, washing as much of the oil-called urushiol-off your body. This will reduce your body's reaction to the irritant and will provide some instant relief. It will also prevent additional spreading of the oil to other parts of your body not yet irritated by the substance.

After you've taken a shower and gotten into some clean clothes, you'll want to act proactively. Take a dose of acetaminophen right away and search for a topical anti-itch ointment. Some preparations will contain oatmeal, a natural treatment for poison oak rashes. Others will contain hydrocortisone, a steroid that acts as an anti-inflammatory and anti-itch agent. You can alternate applications of anti-itch ointments with good old calamine lotion, a tried-and-true remedy for poison oak.

If the itching is getting unbearable, you can wrap ice in a washcloth and apply the ice to the rash. This will numb the rash, relieving you of the pain and itch.

If you're not sure how you came in contact with urushiol, consider your pets or old gardening clothes. Pets can come in contact with urushiol without adverse affects, meaning they may not itch, but they have the oil from a poison oak bush or plant on their fur. If your cat or dog rolls in poison oak and then rubs up against you or lies on your pillow, it may spread poison oak oil onto your skin, giving you a nasty rash. Wash your cat or dog with a washcloth to remove the oil.

You should also wash old gardening clothing that may have come into contact with poison oak. If your old gardening clothes have not been washed, they can hold active urushiol for up to year, assuming they have stayed dry. Prevent more rashes by giving those gardening clothes a washing.

If the rash gets unbearable or covers a significant portion of your body, visit your doctor and ask for a prescription medication called prednisone. This will reduce inflammation and irritation. Prednisone can have unpleasant side effects such as feelings of anxiety, so make sure you ask about side effects and weigh your options.