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Hey all.
A good friend of mine who has lived here (Santa Cruz) for 30 years and has never gotten poison oak (there's loads of it here) has the worst case of it i've ever seen.
He's a "tough guy" .... has a high tolerance for pain and discomfort but this is pushing him to his limit and if it doesn't start getting better soon he'll do what he never does which is go to the doctor and get a shot (cortisone?).
It's that bad if he's thinking about an m.d.
We are "natural only" people (unless life is at stake) and so, given that, does anyone have any miracle remedies (that really work!) for poison oak for both helping it to clear up faster but, as importantly if not more so, to stop the itching and soothe the burning, both of which are intense and now interfering with his sleep and work.
Thanks.
He could try Rhus Tox (homeopathic remedy), a baking soda paste, or Witch Hazel.
There is also a remedy called Technu that you can get at a pharmacy.
I think he just got that Technu today. We were looking for a homeopathic remedy but didn't know what we were looking for and then we forgot about it as we were overwhelmed by all the different products that we were juggling in our hands.
So thanks, i'll pick up the Rhus Tox tomorrow.
A baking soda paste sounds like it would be soothing.
Witch hazel. Interesting. I have some of that and will bring it to him.
Thank you.
Good luck. I thought I had poison oak once but it turned out to be scabies. So if it doesn't get better make sure he goes to someone who can give him an accurate diagnosis.
Good luck. I thought I had poison oak once but it turned out to be scabies. So if it doesn't get better make sure he goes to someone who can give him an accurate diagnosis.
What is scabies?!!! Does it itch like crazy and sometimes ooze like oak?
We've wondered if this was poison oak actually because it's lasted for more than 5 weeks which is a long time unless he's getting "re-infected" so to speak with his bed clothes and other clothes.
How long has he had it... just about all poison oak runs it's course in 14 days... although that often is 14 days in misery
Steroids are provided automatically if you are a Kaiser member... either Cortisone by injection or more common is a Prednisone pack that starts with a high dose and tapers each day.
I prefer to use Zanfel... a non-steroid wash that really works for me... it is pricey at around $30 a tube.
How long has he had it... just about all poison oak runs it's course in 14 days... although that often is 14 days in misery
Steroids are provided automatically if you are a Kaiser member... either Cortisone by injection or more common is a Prednisone pack that starts with a high dose and tapers each day.
I prefer to use Zanfel... a non-steroid wash that really works for me... it is pricey at around $30 a tube.
If it goes systemic... then most Docs will go the steroid treatment...
Well, it's going on 6 weeks. That's why i was wondering whether it's actually poison oak at this point.
Thanks for your info. I'll pass it on to my friend and now i'll go google scabies which sounds kinda creepy.
Good luck. I thought I had poison oak once but it turned out to be scabies. So if it doesn't get better make sure he goes to someone who can give him an accurate diagnosis.
Thank you for your advice Niners Fan.
Because of your post i convinced my friend to see a doctor as his condition was getting worse and the poison oak treatments he was using were exacerbating the problem.
It is, in fact, not poison oak but some severe allergic reaction which he's now treating appropriately and it's getting better fast.
Thanks again! Getting my friend to a doctor is a feat in itself but sometimes, it's necessary!
Good to know he is on the mend... Poison Oak rarely last more than 2 weeks... but 14 days of misery is already too much!...
Thank you. Yes, this is going on the 6th week i think and it was literally dripping yellow fluid the day he went to the doctor. OOOooooooooooooooo.
He said people were backing away from him.
Fortunately, it's not contagious!
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Zanfel works the best for me on Poison Oak
