How to Soak in Oatmeal Bath for Poison Oak

Colloidal oatmeal is an effective home remedy for rashes caused by poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac. It's not the kind of oatmeal you eat for breakfast (though you can use that kind of oatmeal in a pinch); colloidal oatmeal can be bought anywhere that skin care products are sold. The instructions are easy to follow and can be repeated as often as necessary.

Instructions

• 1

  Fill a bath with lukewarm water; hot water will make the poison oak worse. As the tub fills, add 2 to 3 cups of colloidal oatmeal and stir until it has completely blended with the bath water.

• 2

  Gently step into the bath, making sure to submerge the entire area affected by the poison oak.

• 3

  Soak for 20 to 30 minutes. Stay comfortable and alert while you're in the tub. The oatmeal makes the water slippery--especially on porcelain tubs--and you don't want to have an accident.

• 4

  Step out of the tub with care and gently blot away any excess oatmeal with a towel. Use the softest towel you can find, especially on the area affected by the poison oak. Never rub yourself dry: it exacerbates the rash. Allow yourself to air dry or continue gently blotting until you're dry.

• 5

  Dress in comfortable, loose-fitting clothes that won't rub up against the rash. The oatmeal bath should soothe your skin, reducing the itching and keeping the rash under control.

• 6

  Repeat the process several times a day, as often as necessary to help keep the symptoms in check. Most poison oak rashes take from seven to 10 days to fully disappear, depending on how severe the exposure was.