How do I get rid of the itchiness from poison oak?
There are a number of ways to deal with the itching that is caused by a rash from poison oak. Although it's strongly advised that you familiarize yourself with what the plant looks like so that you can identify and avoid it, sometimes accidents do happen, and it's possible to have been exposed to poison oak without even realizing. This is particularly true because of the way that the allergic reaction occurs – it's caused by an oil called urushiol, and not by the plant itself, which means that it's fairly common for people to break out in poison oak rashes even when they're completely certain that they haven't touched the plant itself. Urushiol can be carried in all sorts of other ways, such as on pet fur, gardening tools, sports equipment, and clothing, and can easily be transferred to human skin from those sources. It is the urushiol soaking into the skin that causes the allergic reaction commonly known as poison oak rash.
The rash tends to cause red and irritated patches of skin, which can appear over various parts of the body. There are typically raised bumps and blisters which can “weep”. The most common complaint from sufferers of poison oak is the itching caused by the skin's reaction to the oil – this can be incredibly persistent and distracting, and sometimes the desire to scratch becomes maddeningly overwhelming! Although scratching doesn't actually spread the rash (spreading will only occur either through further contamination with urushiol, or internally as the poison is spread throughout the system, which can cause the rash to surface in new places), it is still advised against. Deep or repeated scratching will not only irritate and inflame the skin even further, but it may also lead to infections if the skin becomes broken as a result of the action.
If you must scratch it, try a light slapping motion on the skin rather than a scratching or rubbing one. Alternatively, many sufferers recommend that you get into the shower and setting the water temperature to as hot as you can bear it. At first, this may seem to be increasing the itching, but after a few minutes you should find that it brings relief, which often lasts for quite a long period of time.
You could also try some natural remedies, such as the plant known as “jewelweed”, which often grows in the same area as poison oak. Split open the stem and rub the sticky fluid inside on to the rash for a cooling, soothing sensation.
There are plenty of topical treatments available, too, for relief from poison oak itching. Calamine lotion is widely used for skin complaints, and should be applied liberally to the rash and left to dry. It will soothe the aggressive itching, and forms a protective crust to prevent further irritation by rubbing the skin against anything. Aloe vera and tea tree oil treatments provide similar relief, and of course there are also plenty of specially-designed remedies for poison oak to choose from. Different people gain different amounts of relief from each one, so it's best to try a few if the itching doesn't seem to be fading. You're sure to find one that works for you!
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