What are the remedies for poison oak?
Because there is no official cure for poison oak, most sufferers are keen to find a remedy that will hopefully speed up the recovery process, or at the very least alleviate the unpleasant symptoms, which include unbearable itching and sometimes painful inflamed patches of skin. The reaction is caused by an oil called “urushiol”, which is found in poison oak plants and is transferred to the skin either through direct contact or via a secondary carrier (someone or something that has picked up the oil from the plant). Once the oil makes contact with the skin, it binds and is absorbed. For most people, this will lead to an allergic reaction called urushiol-induced contact dermatitis, which can last for several weeks.
The best remedy is, of course, prevention. Ideally, this will be done by preventing yourself from coming into contact with poison oak in the first place, both by removing it from your own garden or yard, and by being vigilant when you're out and about. It's sensible to learn about poison oak and be able to easily identify it, so that you can steer clear of it if you see any.
Sometimes, however, accidents happen, and you may realize that you've come into contact with poison oak when the damage has already been done. If you're lucky (and observant) you'll spot the poison oak immediately and know that you've been exposed. If this is the case, then there's still hope! You may be able to prevent the symptoms from ever appearing, but you've got to respond quickly. As soon as you see the poison oak and think you may have touched it by accident, you should immediately wash your skin. If possible, apply rubbing alcohol first, which should help to kill the urushiol. Then rinse using cold water – warm water will open up your pores, which would help the oil to soak in, and you don't want that! Rinsing with cold water should hopefully take most of the oil from your skin's surface. When you've done that, then you should wash thoroughly with soap and lukewarm water.
Remember that the urushiol may also be on your clothes and shoes, so take care when removing them, and put them in the washing machine as soon as possible. Then you should shower, just to be absolutely certain that no urushiol remains anywhere on your skin's surface. It sounds like a lot of effort, but anyone who's ever suffered from poison oak exposure will tell you that it's worth it if it prevents the rash!
However, if you're too late – or if you don't notice the poison oak exposure at the time – and the rash has appeared, there are some things you can do to relieve the pain and the itching. Calamine lotion is a popular remedy, as is aloe vera and tea tree oil. There are lots of natural remedies, in fact. Jewelweed, which usually grows in the same place as poison oak, is perhaps one of the better known once, and many poison oak sufferers swear by it. It contains a sticky liquid, which can be extracted by splitting open the stems, and which for many people provides a cooling effect when rubbed on the poison oak rash. You should try a few different remedies if the first ones you use don't seem to have any effect, as there is no universal remedy for poison oak – what works for one person might not work for another. But hopefully, if you experiment with a few different options, you will manage to find a remedy that provides relief from itching, and helps to make the poison oak symptoms more manageable.
Return to Poison Oak Guide Home Page