Poison Oak Remedy: How To Deal With The Itch Using Home Remedies
Take you ever had to abruptly cutting short your camping ground trip considering you had an allergic reaction to a leaf that you touched accidentally? Do you find yourself itching and scratching afterward cuddling with your pet who just walked into your house? Chances are, yous or your pet may have come up in contact with the dreaded toxicant oak that is causing you this misery. What is poison oak? How do you deal with this itch? Read this article to know all about the dwelling remedies for poison oak.
What Is Poison Oak?
Toxicodendron diversilobum, otherwise known as poison oak, is a vine-like shrub that belongs to the sumac family unit. Normally establish in the western parts of North America and Canada, this found is notorious for causing farthermost itching in humans and animals. You tin can identify this plant with its wearisome green leaves that have several tiny hair-like structures all around them. They acquit a similar advent to that of oak tree leaves, hence the proper name poisonous substance oak.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, 90% of the American population would develop an allergic reaction on exposure to poison oak (1). Similar to poison ivy, poison oak also contains a toxic chemic called urushiol that is responsible for causing these allergic reactions. Urushiol is an oil-like substance that is generally nowadays on the leaves and stems of the plant. When urushiol comes in contact with your skin, it can cause severe itching and rashes. Co-ordinate to the CDC, you lot can likewise develop rashes, itching, and lung irritation when y'all inhale the fume from burnt toxicant oak (2).
You tin can experience this allergic reaction even through indirect contact when
- You lot touch tools that take been used to cut poison oak.
- Come in contact with another person who has been exposed to urushiol.
- Touching clothing or surfaces that accept been exposed to urushiol.
In some cases, the allergic reaction to poison oak may not be instant and information technology tin can take up to 24-48 hours for the symptoms to appear. What are these symptoms? Permit's find out in the side by side section.
What Are The Symptoms Of Poison Oak Exposure?
Urushiol oil is the main ingredient of poison oak that causes an allergic reaction. If yous can wash it off immediately, you lot stand a gamble to reduce the severity of the symptoms or even possibly foreclose them (i). However if the situation does not permit you to launder information technology off, these are some of the symptoms yous will meet:
- Redness
- Astringent itching
- Swelling
- Bumps, patches, and weeping blisters (ii)
Some of these symptoms can final for a couple of days and in some cases even up to a calendar week or longer. There is no specific handling for poison oak allergies, just only remedies to brand the symptoms bearable (1).
Speaking of remedies, hither are a few home remedies for poison oak that you may want to attempt.
Natural Remedies For Toxicant Oak Itch
Acting quickly and beingness mindful is key in preventing the bedevilment of allergic reactions. Y'all may try a few of these natural remedies for poison oak allergy.
- Avoid Scratching Your Skin
The offset and the nigh of import thing to practise is resist the urge to scratch yourself. By scratching yourself all over, you are likely to spread urushiol all over your body and increase the number of affected areas. Also past scratching yourself, you may accidentally burst blisters that could be painful (3).
- Cold Compress
Applying a common cold compress on the inflamed area may help soothe it and provide temporary relief (iv). You can dampen a towel in water ice-common cold water and gently place information technology on the affected area. Repeat this process 3-4 times a day.
- Take An Oatmeal Bathroom
Taking a bath with colloidal oatmeal might aid reduce the inflammation and relieve the itchiness (5). Colloidal oatmeal has been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory skin conditions.
- Try Some Witch Hazel
Witch hazel is known to be a natural severe and contains anti-inflammatory properties. Topically applying witch hazel extracts on the affected area may help reduce the inflammation and provide momentary relief (6 7).
- Try Applying Some Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is a pop choice in home remedies for treating various skin conditions due to its antibacterial properties and anti-inflammatory properties. It is also known for alleviating the itchy symptoms of dermatitis. Applying manuka honey to the affected area may help save the itching (8).
- Try Baking Soda
Baking soda may also help provide relief from the furnishings of poisonous substance oak allergy. Research suggests calculation a cup of baking soda to lukewarm or common cold water and taking a bath to reduce the itching (9).
- Try Using Jewelweed
Jewelweed or the spotted "touch me non" when used as a mash can help salvage the itching caused by poisonous substance oak. Notwithstanding, using jewelweed extracts in the class of soaps and gels is non every bit effective every bit fresh mash (ix).
- Apply Chamomile And Lavander Essential Oils
Lavender and chamomile essential oils accept anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties. Topical application of these oils may help relieve the called-for sensation and itching caused by toxicant oak (10), (11).
- Use Bentonite Dirt
Studies suggest that bentonite clay could human activity as a barrier and prevent the spread of toxins to other parts of the skin. Using creams and lotions that contain quaternium-18 bentonite could be effective in treating poison oak allergies (12).
Apart from these home remedies, there are a few other remedies that you tin endeavour to assist reduce the itching caused by poisonous substance oak.
Other Remedies For Poison Oak Itch
- Take Prescription Steroids
Steroids like prednisone may aid ease the itching (13). However, since this is a prescription medication and a very potent drug, taking it without a doctor'due south consultation is non recommended.
- Use Calamine Lotion
You can attempt and use calamine lotion on your rash. Apart from reducing the itching, it can have a cooling effect and help reduce inflammation. You tin can re-use this lotion whenever it dries out.
- Take Oral Antihistamines
Oral consumption of OTC antihistamines such as diphenhydramine or cetirizine may help reduce some of the symptoms. However, topical application of these creams is not advised as they may potentially worsen the state of affairs (three).
These remedies for toxicant oak are only meant to provide temporary relief from the symptoms. There is no other option but to let the symptoms run their course. In nearly cases, poison oak allergies tend to subside past themselves in a week or so, but what if they don't? Read the next section to understand when you lot need to seek medical assistance.
When To See A Medico
Y'all will need to see a physician if whatsoever of the post-obit conditions are applicable to you.
- If the rash spreads to over 25% of your body.
- Blisters are formed and are filled with yellow pus with scales around them.
- The itching worsens and affects your sleep.
- Y'all find rashes developing near your oral cavity, eyes, and genital regions.
- Y'all notice it hard to breathe.
- You develop a fever of 100℉ and above.
People who experience conditions like breathing difficulties and high fever must immediately seek medical attention.
In conclusion, toxicant oak allergies can brand you feel very itchy and can cause blisters and pare lesions. A toxin called urushiol that is present in poison oak, causes these allergic reactions. There is no treatment available for this allergy. Yet, at that place are a few poison oak remedies such as using colloidal oatmeal, essential oils, and oral antihistamines, that y'all can employ to salvage some of the symptoms. The only thing that can completely cure this allergic reaction is time.
Sources
Articles on StyleCraze are backed by verified information from peer-reviewed and academic research papers, reputed organizations, enquiry institutions, and medical associations to ensure accuracy and relevance. Read our editorial policy to larn more.
- The Furnishings of Acute Antioxidative Ingestion on Contact Dermatitis brought on by Urushiol Exposure (in vivo)
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/282030964_The_Effects_of_Acute_Antioxidative_Ingestion_on_Contact_Dermatitis_brought_on_by_Urushiol_Exposure_in_vivo - Poisonous Plants
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/docs/2010-118/pdfs/2010-118.pdf - Toxicodendron Contact Dermatitis: A Case Report and Brief Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC7733371/ - Office of Cold Therapy and Hot Therapy in Sports Injuries
https://world wide web.researchgate.net/publication/346075542_Role_of_Cold_Therapy_and_Hot_Therapy_in_Sports_Injuries_SPORTS_INJURIES - Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Colloidal Oatmeal (Avena sativa) Contribute to the Effectiveness of Oats in Treatment of Itch Associated With Dry Irritated Skin
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/271332623_Anti-Inflammatory_Activities_of_Colloidal_Oatmeal_Avena_sativa_Contribute_to_the_Effectiveness_of_Oats_in_Treatment_of_Itch_Associated_With_Dry_Irritated_Skin - Antioxidant And Potential Anti-Inflammatory Activeness Of Extracts And Formulations Of White Tea Rose And Witch Hazel On Primary Human being Dermal Fibroblast Cells
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/manufactures/PMC3214789/ - Love: A Therapeutic Agent for Disorders of the Skin
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5661189/ - Terminal Written report on the Safety Assessment of Sodium Sesquicarbonate Sodium Bicarbonate and Sodium Carbonate
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.3109/10915818709095491 - The Effectiveness Of Jewelweed
Impatiens Capensis The Related Cultivar I. Balsamina And The Component Lawsone In Preventing Post Poison Ivy Exposure Contact Dermatitis - Effect of lavender essential oil on LPS-stimulated inflammation
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22809036/ - Using Chamomile Solution Or A 1% Topical Hydrocortisone Ointment In The Management Of Peristomal Skin Lesions In Colostomy Patients: Results Of A Controlled Clinical Study
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21617262/ - Bentonite Dirt equally a Natural Remedy: A Cursory Review
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/labs/pmc/articles/PMC5632318/ - Calamine Lotion To Reduce Skin Irritation In Children With Cast Immobilisation
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256470315_Calamine_Lotion_to_Reduce_Skin_Irritation_in_Children_with_Cast_Immobilisation
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