Does calamine lotion help with poison oak?
If you’ve ever suffered from a poison oak rash, you’ll know just how uncomfortable it can be. The main problem is the itching, which many sufferers of poison oak find unbearable. Contrary to popular belief, scratching the rash won’t cause it to spread as long as you have washed your skin since the initial exposure to poison oak, since the rash is caused by an allergic reaction to the urushiol oil contained in poison oak not by contact with an actual rash. However, you are still advised not to scratch! It’s not going to spread your rash, but scratching repeatedly can cause the skin to become raw, and if you break it, it could lead to an infection. In addition to this, the pain caused by damaging skin throuh scratching can eventually become more severe than the itching itself! If you must touch the rash to relieve itching, try using a patting or light slapping motion rather than rubbing or scratching. Surprisingly, hot water can also help many sufferers recommend standing under the showe
