How to Get Rid of Poison Oak Fast

Poison oak secretes oil that causes an itchy rash in many people. The plant is a type of bush; each stem has three leaves. The rash looks red and bumpy, according to the Medline Plus website. The amount of time it takes for the rash to heal depends on how strong of a reaction you had. Extreme cases can result in blisters. Medline Plus recommends seeing a doctor if the oil has been inhaled, if there's an infection, if the rash is on the eyes, mouth or genitals or if the person cannot breath properly.

Things You'll Need

• Soap
• Water
• Towel
• Calamine lotion
• Cotton balls
• Antihistamine

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Instructions

• 1

  Wash the affected area with soap and water. Dry. Put the contaminated towel in the washing machine to avoid cross-contamination.

• 2

  Pour the calamine lotion onto the cotton ball. Wipe the swab over the rash.

• 3

  Repeat three to four times a day until the rash is gone.

• 4

  Take an antihistamine. Follow the directions and warnings on the product's box.