Poison oak rash care at Urgent Care Center of Westmont in Westmont, IL. Our team, led by board-certified physicians, checks how severe the rash is and helps calm the itch and swelling.
Poison oak causes an itchy, red rash with bumps or blisters after your skin touches urushiol, an oil in the plant. Most rashes get better in one to three weeks, but a large, blistering or facial rash deserves a medical visit. Urgent Care Center of Westmont, also known as Immediate Care Center of Westmont, treats poison oak rashes in Westmont, IL for children and adults.
Poison oak grows mostly on the West Coast, according to MedlinePlus, so many local patients pick it up while traveling, camping or hiking. The rash is the same as the one from poison ivy and poison sumac, and it is treated the same way.
Key facts
Poison oak has three fuzzy leaflets per leaf that are lobed or deeply toothed, a little like an oak leaf.
In the East and South it grows as a low shrub; on the Pacific Coast it grows in tall clumps or long vines, per the FDA.
Poison oak, poison ivy and poison sumac share the same oil, urushiol, so the rash is treated the same way.
Wash your skin with soap and cool water, and wash your gear and your pet, as soon as you can after contact.
Poison oak rash symptoms
The rash usually starts 12 to 72 hours after contact and is often worst 4 to 7 days after exposure. Common signs include:
Intense itching
Red streaks or patches where the plant brushed the skin
Bumps and blisters, which may weep
Swelling
The rash is not contagious. Fluid from blisters does not spread it. New patches can appear when oil is still on skin, clothing, tools or a pet's fur, or where skin got a smaller dose of oil. Burning the plant is dangerous because smoke can carry the oil into the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
How we treat poison oak at our Westmont, IL clinic
A provider examines the rash, asks when and how you were exposed, and checks for signs of infection or a more serious reaction. Treatment depends on how much skin is involved and where.
For mild to moderate rashes, we review home care and may recommend anti-itch creams or medicines that reduce itching.
For widespread, severe or facial rashes, your provider may recommend prescription-strength topical or oral medicine to calm the inflammation.
If scratching has led to a skin infection, we evaluate and treat it.
At home, dermatologists advise washing skin right away with soapy water, washing clothes and tools, using cool compresses or cool oatmeal baths, and not scratching. Leave blisters alone. The skin over them protects the raw area underneath.
We work with most major plans, from Blue Cross Blue Shield to Medicare, CountyCare and State of Illinois Benefit Plans. The full list is on our cost and insurance page. Please call (630) 324-6825 to confirm your plan before your visit.
For patients without insurance, we post self-pay urgent care pricing: a general visit starts at $125, with any extra tests explained up front.
Both of our locations are open Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The main clinic is at 29 N Cass Ave, Ste A, Westmont, IL 60559. Our second location, inside Jewel-Osco, is at 4 E Ogden Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Walk-ins are welcome, or check in online before you leave home.
Poison oak vs. poison ivy: how to tell them apart
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Poison oak
Three leaflets per leaf, often fuzzy
Leaflets are lobed or deeply toothed, like a small oak leaf
Low shrub in the East and South; tall clumps or vines on the Pacific Coast
Most often picked up by Westmont, IL residents while traveling, camping or hiking
Poison ivy
Three leaflets per leaf, smooth or slightly notched
Leaves change color with the seasons
Grows as a vine or low shrub in most of the U.S., including Illinois
Common on fences, tree trunks and trail edges close to home
No. You cannot catch the rash from another person's rash or blister fluid. You can pick up the oil from their skin or clothes if it has not been washed off.
How long does a poison oak rash last?
Most rashes last one to three weeks, according to MedlinePlus.
Why do new spots keep showing up?
Areas that got less oil can break out later, and oil left on shoes, gloves, tools or pets can cause new patches. Wash everything that touched the plant.
Do I need an appointment?
No. Walk in, or check in online for poison oak care .
What does poison oak look like?
Poison oak has three leaflets per leaf. They are often fuzzy and lobed or toothed, so they look a bit like small oak leaves. Like poison ivy, the leaf color changes with the seasons, and it can grow as a shrub or, on the West Coast, as a vine.
Is there poison oak in Illinois?
Poison oak grows mostly on the West Coast and as low shrubs in parts of the East and South. Poison ivy is the plant most people around Westmont, IL run into, since it grows in most of the country. Either way, the rash and the treatment are the same.
Can I take an antihistamine like Benadryl for poison oak?
An oral antihistamine may ease itching and help you sleep, but it does not make the rash go away sooner. Some cause drowsiness, so follow the label, and ask a pharmacist before giving one to a child or if you take other medicines.
Do I need steroids for poison oak?
Not always. Mild rashes usually improve with home care. For widespread, severe or facial rashes, a clinician may recommend prescription topical or oral corticosteroids, which the FDA lists among treatment options. Take them exactly as directed.
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