What to Do If You Touch Poison Oak

Poison oak on a sign about poison oak

Even when being super careful, sometimes you might accidentally brush up against poison oak. It encroaches on the trail so much it feels like it’s reaching for you. If it touches you, it’s important to take steps as soon as you can to minimize your chances of developing a miserable rash. Don’t underestimate a slight brush with it.

Trees with poison oak climbing them

After Contact

Washing and Cleaning: If possible, wash the affected area with soap and cold water as soon as possible, without touching anything else to prevent spreading the oil. Cold water helps keep the pores closed, reducing the amount of urushiol that penetrates the skin. The longer the oil is on your skin, the more it will be absorbed. 

Using Dirt to Dust the Area: If you’re out on the trail and don’t have access to water, you can use dirt as an immediate first aid measure. Dusting the exposed area with dry dirt can help absorb some of the urushiol, partially contain it, and reduce the risk of spreading or developing a rash. Be sure to wash the area thoroughly as soon as you get home.

Washing Urushiol Off of Gear or Pets

Urushiol is the oil responsible for the allergi reaction. It can linger on your skin, clothing, and gear, so it’s important to wash everything that might have come into contact with the plant, then be sure and throw out the oily water without letting it contact anything else. Special cleansers designed to remove urushiol, like Tecnu, can be very effective. You soak the poison oaky clothes in Tecnu in a separate container, then wash them by themselves, preferably in hot water, with detergent. You can use your washing machine, but make sure and run it with detergent while it’s empty once or twice to get rid of all the oil.

Green and red poison oak

Treating a poison oak rash

Most cases of poison oak rash can be treated at home and it’s just annoying. The itchy rash can turn into small blisters, which need to be cared for like any blister. Avoid scratching because scratching will make things so much worse, possibly leading to infection.

Calamine lotion can help relieve itching and reduce inflammation. Soothing oatmeal baths, cool compresses, and aloe vera can provide relief from itching and help calm irritated skin. Applying these remedies as soon as symptoms appear can help ease discomfort.

Don’t hesitate to see a doctor if you feel like it’s needed. If your rash covers a large portion of your body, is near your eyes, in a sensitive area, or you’re having difficulty breathing, seek medical attention immediately. If the blisters are big, taking a long time to heal, get help with it. If the oil gets into the bloodstream, it can turn into a critical situation. Systemic poison oak can be dangerous and needs to be treated as soon as possible.

Dogs and poison oak

Poison oak is only a problem for primates. Poison oak’s urushiol oil can transfer to your skin from your dog’s fur. If your dog runs through a patch of poison oak, they won’t get a rash, but they can carry the oil on their coat. When you pet them or they brush against you, you now have poison oak.

If you suspect they’ve brushed against it, give them a bath with pet-safe soap as soon as possible, wearing gloves to protect your skin. If they’ve brushed against things like a car seat before you get a chance to give them a bath, assume the car seat has poison oak oil on it and clean accordingly. If you’re out on the trail, you can try dusting them with dry dirt without touching the fur. This will hopefully contain the oils until you can wash them. Make sure the dirt you use is away from poison oak and step away when they shake. It’s best to avoid this situation entirely and leave dogs at home if you think there might be poison oak where you’re going. 

Poison oak is a fact of life in the Pacific Northwest, but it doesn’t have to spoil your outdoor adventures. We learn, we adapt, and we keep hiking.

Read more about poison oak.