Cures for Poison Oak Rash

Clean the Area

• Poison oak rash
  
  Clean your skin thoroughly. It's best to clean the exposed area with alcohol and then rinse with cold water. This can help stop the rash. Take care not to scrub your skin or use hot water, as this can push the oil further into your pores. Do not use soap, as this could cause the oil to stick to the soap and be distributed to other parts of your body. Clean underneath your nails to get any oil off that you may have deposited there from scratching.
  
  

Scratching

• Poison oak
  
  Scratching spreads the rash by distributing the oil from the rash to other areas on your skin, which can make the rash larger. Scratching can also damage the skin and can make the area susceptible to germs and other infections. Treat the area with a product such as hydrocortisone cream, Benadryl or Caladryl. Calamine lotion also works well on poison oak--it can soothe the skin. Smooth it on your skin as often as needed. Ice packs can also help relieve the itching and irritation.
  
  

Antihistamines

• Antihistamines
  
  Antihistamines will treat the symptoms of the rash and will make you more comfortable. Antihistamines do not block the release of the histamine, but instead will protect the skin from the side effects of the allergic reaction. Antihistamines also will help you sleep and get rest while you fight the infection. If you take them at the onset of the rash, they can prevent itching. This can help you control the urge to scratch, which guards against skin infections resulting from broken tissue.