Poison oak is basically a plant, which can cause trouble on your skin if touched intentionally or accidentally. Contact with the berries, stem, flowers, leaves, or roots of the plant can lead to red rashes on your skin, which turn out to be uncomfortable, itchy, and can later turn into a blister or hive.
Symptoms of oak poisoning:
- Redness
- Itchy skin
- Small or large bumps on the skin
- Fluid-filled blisters
- Rashes
21 Effective Home Remedies for Treating a Poison Oak Infection
Home remedies work best in comparison to alternative forms of medicines. Besides this, home remedies are easy to apply and effective in results.
1. Water: If your skin gets in touch with any part of the poison oak, then first of all remove the infected clothes and wash them off with anti-bacterial soap. Do not touch rashes with your hands as they can spread and cause more irritation. Wash off the touched area with chilled water. It will provide relief to burning sensations and itching.
2. Alcohol: Rub alcohol on the itchy area for relief. Do not apply it with your bare hands. Dab a cotton ball in alcohol first, and then, rub the cotton ball on the itchy area.
3. Ice Pack: Apply an ice pack to the red and itchy areas for getting fast relief.
4. Oatmeal Bath: Take 1 cup of oatmeal and soak it in your regular bath water. Then, soak the affected area in it. Do not use hot or lukewarm water as it may cause more irritation and discomfort.
5. Aloe Vera: Apply the gel of aloe vera to the rashes. This will cool down the burning sensation and reduce the redness.
6. Baking Soda: Take 3 parts of baking soda and 1 part of water and mix them to form a paste-like consistency. Apply it to the rashes with the help of a brush or spatula. Allow the paste to dry. Re-apply this paste every few hours to prevent the rashes from turning into a blister.
7. Buttermilk or Yogurt: You can apply buttermilk or yogurt for relief as it will draw out the fluid from the blisters and provide relief.
8. Tea Bags: Soak chamomile tea bags in water and then, soak the affected area in the tea water. Make sure, the tea water is cold. You can also dab a cotton pad in cold tea and place it on the rashes after every few hours.
9. Coffee: Take 1 cup of cold water and add 1 tablespoon of coffee to it. Soak a cotton ball in it and apply it to the rashes.
10. Watermelon/Banana Peel: Take a watermelon or banana peel and place it on the rashes for relief. Watermelon will provide a cooling effect on the red burning rashes. Banana peel also does the same thing.
11. Apple Cider Vinegar: Take a cotton pad and dab it in the apple cider vinegar. Place it on the rashes for soothing the itchiness. Else, mix water and apple cider vinegar in an equal amount and wash the rashes with this solution for better results.
12. Cucumber: Cut slices of fresh cucumber and place them on the rashes. This will cool down the inflammation.
13. Clorox Bleach: Take a cotton ball and dab it in Clorox bleach. Then, put it on the rashes. You may notice some bubbles, but it’s okay. This remedy works in minutes and is very effective.
14. Hydrogen Peroxide: Hydrogen peroxide is also a good treatment for poison oak, which helps in removing redness and itching.
15. Tea Tree Oil: Apply a few drops of tea tree oil on the rashes and let the remedy work. The rashes will absorb the oil, giving you relief from itching and burning redness.
16. Plantain: Take some fresh plantain leaves and place them on the affected area. It is a natural remedy for poison oak.
17. Cold Milk: Dab a cotton ball in cold milk and apply it to the rashes. The coldness will provide relief.
18. Epsom Salt: Dissolve Epsom salt in water, and soak the affected area in it. This will give relief.
19. Turmeric: Take 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder and mix enough alcohol to form a thick and fine paste. Apply this paste to the rashes and leave it until it becomes dry (it will take 15 minutes or more). Then, wash it off with cold water. This will also reduce inflammation, providing great relief.
20. Potato: Take a small-sized raw potato and chop it. Put it in a blender and make a paste. Then, wrap it up in a cloth and place it on the rashes. Leave it for an hour or so, and wash it off with cold water afterward.
21. Witch Hazel: Spray witch hazel on the affected area for instant relief in itching. This is one of the effective home remedies for poison oak rash.
Homeopathic Remedies for Poison Oak
Homeopathic remedies can provide instant relief in inflammation and itching, caused by poison oak.
1. Arnica: Arnica works great in rashes and cooling down the itching and redness.
2. Arsenicum album: Arsenicum album is consumed when the rash begins to swell and itch.
3. Sulphur: Sulphur should be taken when the itching becomes irresistible to scratch and if there is a chance of bleeding in the rash.
4. Apis: Apis should be taken when the rash turns into a blister and the fluid start to come out from it.
5. Rhus tox: Rhus tox is taken when the eyes begin to itch and burn because of poison oak.
There are several other useful homeopathic remedies for curing poison oak, like Bryonia, Kali sulphuricum, Hyland’s poison oak tablets, etc.
How to Prevent Poison Oak Infections?
- Identify the plant and stay away from it.
- Do not burn the poison oak plants as they will spread allergens in the air.
- Clean your pets on the daily basis.
- Wear sneakers while going out camping.
- Wear full sleeve clothes while walking in wooded areas or doing yard work.
- Do not scratch the rashes.
- Do not touch the affected area with bare hands.
- Remove the infected clothes immediately.