Poison oak, as the name suggests is a bushy plant that causes trouble for the skin of those who come in contact with it. Poison oak contains poisonous oil named urushiol.
The skin that comes in direct touch with poison oak gets red rashes, swells up and itches terribly. The discomfort may be very irritating. There are some home remedies to treat the symptoms of poison oak.
9 Best Home Remedies For Poison Oak
Wash Skin
This is the first remedy that should strike you. As soon as you can, wash the area off with water. You should use either a soap or some alcohol to clear the oil. It has to be done quickly so that the poisonous oil does not penetrate the skin.
Scrub Nails
The urushiol gets stuck in the nails and it is very difficult to take it out. You will have to carefully clean the inside of your nails if they have been exposed to this poisonous oil.
You will have to use a nail brush to scrub the oil out of nails. This poison can harm even if it remains in small traces on the skin.
Use Cold Compress
To get comfort from the terrible itch use some cold compresses. They will definitely provide you relief. But remember the cloth being used for cold compress will have to be washed with a detergent after every treatment, because the cloth will carry poison oak oil.
Oatmeal
If you can source colloidal oatmeal, use it in your bath water at room temperature. Put about 200g of the colloidal oatmeal to your bathing water.
Oatmeal will get mixed in this water. Soak your affected part in oatmeal water for 45 minutes. It will help you with the skin irritation.
Baking Soda
You should sprinkle baking soda in water and wash the affected area. You can soak your body in this water. An application of the paste of baking soda is also very helpful.
To make the paste mix three parts of baking soda in one part of water. Apply this paste on the affected skin and leave it to dry. Baking soda helps relieve the symptoms of itching.
Hot Bath
Hot bath may sound that it will increase the symptoms of itching, rightly so. But it will give relief a little later. The discomfort will reduce to a large extent. Hot bath alleviates the symptoms of poison oak.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide can be rubbed on the affected area to relieve the symptoms of blisters. If there appear water-filled blisters, apply hydrogen peroxide will help in the healing of the blisters.
Clean Everything That Came In Touch
Whether your personal clothes like shoes or hat or your pet, wash every item and your pet if you know that they also came into contact with poison oak. One should not leave even the footwear unwashed. All these things need to be washed thoroughly.
Use Calamine Lotion
Apply calamine lotion on the area of the rash. Calamine lotion will soothe your skin. This will reduce the rashes. You can apply calamine as many times a day as you feel like.
Caution: Please use Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.
