WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO GET RID OF POISON OAK AND ALSO TREATMENT FOR EXPOSURE?

Veronica EXPERT April 30, 2008

Here's how to get rid of poison oak:

The best thing is to assign the task to someone who doesn't have a poison oak allergy, if that's known. According to the University of California-Davis, about 50 percent of the population is sensitive to it, but up to 85% of the population can develop an allergy if exposed to large amounts of it.

The ideal is for the person to put on long pants, long-sleeved shirt, and gloves and a hat or scarf and pull the stuff out. (Wash all clothes, including shoes, in hot water afterwards.) Pulling should be done when the soil is moist or the rootstalks can break off and the poison oak will just resprout.

Small plants can be mowed. Bigger plants will just resprout.

You can also use glyphosate (one brand is Roundup) if the plants are small. Follow package directions carefully and realize that glyphosate kills all plants it touches, so if it drifts or gets on other plants, it will kill or damage them also. Treat the poison oak now and be prepared for repeat applications. (It's most effective if done on poison oak in fall.)

Here's how to deal with poison oak exposure. Pour rubbing alcohol to remove the oil-based toxin on the problem area as soon as possible, and then rinse with lots and lots of COLD water. (Warm water helps the oil penetrate the skin.) You can also use soap, but again, rinse with lots and lots of cold water so that you rinse off, rather than just spread, the oils.

If a rash develops, you can use a product called Tecnu, which relieves the itch and minimizes the rash.