Poison Oak Infection

Touching the leaves, branches or stems of the poison oak plant can cause an itchy, red rash that takes several weeks to heal. The rash usually appears 12 to 72 hours after you have touched the plant, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Itching can often be relieved with over-the-counter medications, although severe allergic reactions from the infection may require medical treatment.

Identification

• Poison oak grows as a shrub or vine. Plant leaves have irregular edges and look similar to the leaves of an oak tree. Leaves are clustered in groups of three on a single stalk. You may notice yellow or white berries growing on the plant. Poison oak plants produce urushiol, an oil that causes an allergic reaction in some people. You can develop a rash by touching a poison oak plant, breathing in urushiol particles if the plant is burned, or touching something else that has been in contact with a poison oak plant, such as a gardening tool.

Symptoms

• A poison oak infection causes a red rash, itching, swelling and blisters. Poison oak only develops on the areas of the skin that have come in contact with urushiol. The rash does not spread to other parts of the body, although it may appear that it does. It is possible that a rash may develop on one area of your skin a day or two before a rash appears on another part of your body. The oil may be absorbed by different parts of the body at different rates, resulting in a delayed rash, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. If urushiol isn't immediately washed off your hands or clothes, new areas of the skin may be exposed to the oil, resulting in additional rashes that appear at various times.

Treatment

• Over-the-counter medications that treat itching, such a Benadryl and Calamine lotion, can be helpful in treating the symptoms of a poison oak infection. Cool showers and oatmeal baths may temporarily relieve discomfort caused by the rash. If swelling and itching are severe or if poison oak is present on your face, a doctor may be able to prescribe a prescription medication to reduce symptoms.

Catching Poison Oak

• A poison oak infection only develops if you actually have some contact with urushiol oil. Touching the rash of an infected person will not cause you to develop a rash, even if you touch a blister that has burst. Blisters do not contain urushiol. If an infected person has urushiol under her fingernails and touches you, it is possible that you could develop a rash. Contact with contaminated clothes could also result in a rash if you are allergic to poison oak.

Prevention/Solution

• If you think that you may have been exposed to poison oak, it is important to take a shower and wash your clothes as soon as possible after exposure. Pets should also be bathed if they have been walking with you, as you can develop a poison oak rash if you touch urushiol on your pet's fur. Applying a cream containing bentoquatum, such as Ivy Block, to your skin before walking in the woods can prevent an allergic reaction. Bentoquatum works by preventing urushiol from penetrating your skin. If you are particularly allergic to poison oak or may be visiting an area that has poison oak plants, it may be wise to wear a long-sleeved shirt, gloves and long pants tucked into boots.