QuestionMy first reaction to Poison Oak. I'm 32 and live in West Virginia. I was given a shot of cortisone Wednesday. Prior to this, I had battled the rash a week by isolating it with long sleaves taped at the cuff and applying rubbing alcohol, baking soda paste, Oak-n-Ivy Tecnu soap, and Oak-n-Ivy CalaGel. The shot made the rashes dry considerably overnight. Today, new rashes have popped up larger than the previous rash and has spread to my neck and abdomen. Do I need another shot? Thanks-MM:)
AnswerThe hard question to answer is whether the poison oak has re-erupted your skin or if you are reacting to one of the treatments, such as the tape, bandage or ointment/gel. I don't know if you are putting triple antibiotic creme on it, but a lot of people develop allergies to this. If you were given a good dose of long acting (slow release) steroids in the shot, then that should be enough to cover you until it does away. But, since you are having some spread, I would consider giving you another shot, or an oral course of steroids. The shot doesn't really work any faster, but makes it easy to take the treatment.
Summary- get it checked again, since it is spreading and look for other causes of the rash, other than the primary problem, poison oak.
