Poison oak brings back a lot of bad memories for me.

When  I was about  12 years old, my girlfriend and I were walking from my house to her house, along Whiting Woods Road. We stopped at this large oak tree and I wanted to pick some of the red autumn leaves growing around the oak.   “Don’t touch that” she warned me. It was the first time I had heard about poison oak. But I didn’t really believe her, or I guess I wanted to know for myself, so I took a leaf and touched it gently to my forearm.

A day later, I began itching, and a small rash appeared on the area where the poison oak had touched my skin. Our family moved down the street, and my parents built a house on the lot where that oak still grows. We became well-acquainted with poison oak, my mom paid some workers who claimed they were immune to remove it in our yard. But we still “got it” now and then.

We had dirt clod fights with the boys, and inevitably, someone would get poison oak. One of my friends in Whiting Woods got it so bad that she had quarter-sized blisters on her skin. The bad thing about poison oak is that each exposure ends with a more allergic reaction. So you may get a rash the first time, but the next time it will be worse.

The oil is super toxic, and you only need 1 nanogram (one billionth of a gram) to get a reaction. In fact, 1/4 ounce of the oil, called —  urushiol — is all that is needed for everyone in the world to get a rash. If your dog runs through this stuff, it will get on his fur and the oil can then be transferred to you if you brush up against him, or pet him.

Poison oak causes rash, itching, and even blisters. I grew up with the toxic plant, and after many accidental contacts, found out first-hand the pain and misery. It grows next to the mighty oak tree — right at the base of the trees. Interesting that the toxic plant grows right by the beautiful tree. Is it opposition in all things?

blue oak

 

 

What to do if you wandered through some poison oak:

Act quickly because “urushiol begins to penetrate the skin in minutes”, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. Wash the skin that has been exposed to minimize the allergic reaction. This will have the most effect if done within 15 minutes. Hikers can use  a river, or a lake. If possible get to a shower. Use as much water as possible to try to remove the urushiol oil, but not scrub with a wash cloth.We used a bar laundry soap called Fels Naptha.

Next, launder any clothing you were wearing — your even shoes.

Poison Oak Remedies:

1.   If the itching becomes intolerable, try a colloidal oatmeal bath. Pour the packet of colloidal oatmeal into the tub of cool running water and then soak.

2.  Dry it out with 3% Hyrdogen Peroxide. My dad found this remedy, which just isn’t on the market anymore. But it works well. Use a cotton swab and moisten it with the hydrogen peroxide, dab it on the rash and blisters. Next, use a popsicle stick, and scratch the skin with it, which will give you some relief by releasing antihistamines, and dry it out as well. Use some more peroxide and let it dry out. When the rash starts to dry out you are on your way to recovery.

3. Apply ice. This may help irritated skin and itch, even though it is only temporary.

 

Poison Oak Identification:

Leaves of three on a stem — and it’s poison oak. As my dad would say, stay out of the p.o. “Leaves of three, let them be.”
poison oak identification
poison oak
poison oak