Does calamine lotion help with poison oak?
If you've ever suffered from a poison oak rash, you'll know just how uncomfortable it can be. The main problem is the itching, which many sufferers of poison oak find unbearable. Contrary to popular belief, scratching the rash won't cause it to spread as long as you have washed your skin since the initial exposure to poison oak, since the rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the urushiol oil contained in poison oak – not by contact with an actual rash. However, you are still advised not to scratch! It's not going to spread your rash, but scratching repeatedly can cause the skin to become raw, and if you break it, it could lead to an infection. In addition to this, the pain caused by damaging skin throuh scratching can eventually become more severe than the itching itself!
If you must touch the rash to relieve itching, try using a patting or light slapping motion rather than rubbing or scratching. Surprisingly, hot water can also help – many sufferers recommend standing under the shower with the water as hot as you can bear. Initially, this may seem to increase the itching, but the tingling sensation should then subside and it's likely that your itching will greatly decrease for quite some time.
Of course, perhaps the best known way of alleviating the uncomfortable symptoms of poison oak is to apply a topical medicine. You can purchase lots of different kinds designed specifically for poison oak rash. Alternatively, you can apply calamine lotion. Often used for other skin conditions including chickenpox and burns, calamine has a cooling, soothing effect on inflamed skin. Many people find that applying it to a poison oak rash brings rapid relief from itching and burning. It is an inexpensive and simple treatment which can be perfectly effective, although it doesn't remove the causes the way more specifically designed treatments claim to do.
Calamine lotion works best as a treatment for milder reactions to poison oak – for more the serious symptoms, you should consider a specialized medicine, or a visit to your doctor. However, if the rash isn't breaking out in oozing blisters and open sores, calamine is perfectly sufficient. To treat your poison oak symptoms yourself, using calamine, simply apply the lotion to the affected areas of skin, and leave it on – don't wash it off even if you see it drying out and forming a crust. What's happening is that the calamine is absorbing the fluids from the rash and blisters. It cools the skin by shrinking the blood vessels near the skin's surface, which is actually what creates the blistering and itching. The poison oak infected blood vessels leak fluids, and the calamine acts against this process. Leaving the lotion on will allow it to continue to do its work, and any crust that forms as a result will help prevent further irritation, acting as a protective barrier if your skin brushes up against anything.
You should continue to apply the lotion a few times a day, until your rash fades and any swelling or oozing goes away. However, you should then stop, as continuing to apply calamine after your symptoms are gone may have adverse effects, such as making the skin too dry and even causing itching and rashes to reappear.
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