Poison oak will put a damper on anyone's camping trip, but it can be especially dangerous if the urushiol oil that causes a rash on your skin is transferred to your eyes. Left unchecked, it can cause your eyes to swell shut and may cause burning and discomfort. Make sure that you keep poison oak out of the eyes by meticulously washing anything that comes in contact with the poison oak and resisting the urge to scratch your rash.
Step 1
Wash everything that may have come into contact with the poison oak. Whether it's on your clothes, your hands or your body, the oil from the poison oak must be cleaned away from anything you touch. William L. Epstein, a professor of dermatology at the University of California, tells MotherNature.com that you could even pick it up again and again from a steering wheel if not washed properly. The better you wash everything, the less of a chance the poison oak will end up in your eyes.
Step 2
Clean under your nails and wash your hands well each time you apply ointment to the rash on your skin, suggests Medline Plus. The oil can hide under your nails so that when you rub or touch your eyes, some of the oil is transferred into the membrane that protects your eyes and is spread across the eyeball.
Step 3
Keep your hands away from your eyes if possible. Because you're more likely to touch the rash and pick up more poison oak with your hands, your fingers are the most likely culprit for spreading the oil to your eyes. Tie a bandage around your finger if you need a reminder to keep your hands away or wear a pair of sunglasses to create a barrier so you think twice before rubbing your eyes without thinking.
Step 4
Bandage your rash loosely so you aren't able to scratch or touch the area where the poison oak has spread. Apply a thin layer of calamine lotion and cover with a square of gauze and then wash your hands well. With your rash covered, you'll be less likely to transfer the oil to your hands and eventually to your eyes.
Step 5
Contact your doctor immediately if the poison oak affects your eyes, warns the University of Oregon University Health Center. You may feel burning, irritation or experience swelling. If this is the case, your doctor may prescribe steroidal eye drops to help relieve the symptoms and heal your eyes.
