Dealing with poison ivy on you

[Bibbyman]

I hadn't got poison oak (poison ivy?) for over 40 years.  I routinely pull it off the logs because Mary is real allergic to it.  Then last Saturday I was trimming the butt swells off a bunch of walnut logs.  We were sawing hard and heavy and I'd been out in the sun a lot and I felt like my forearms were starting to burn.  I just thought it was a little too much sun.  Showed off after we quit for the day and found the area red.  Next morning,  the top side of both forearms were covered in welts and I had a few places around my neck.   I'm up now looking for the goop to put on it.   I'm afraid it may be spreading to my eyelids.

I've been cussing the logger ever since.

[shopteacher]

Bibby,
   You better be careful now. Seems once you get it you loose you imunity, at least that's what I've been told from other who never use to get it. Now the're alergic! ???

[johnjbc]

When I was a teenager ( Way back in the last century) The doctor could give you shots to build up an immunity. 8) I read that they used an extract of the plant to make the shots. 8) They don't due that any more due to some people having a reaction. ??? : I was told that if you picked 3 of the small leaves from the top of the plant and ate them you wouldn't get it anymore.  ??? ???Well didn't get it again for 12 years.  :D ;D Then I had to take another treatment.
Please don't try this on my account but it works for me  8) 8)

[OneWithWood]

Bibby, sounds more like poison oak or maybe even poison sumac.  I rarely get poison ivy but poison oak affects me and poison sumac gives me a nasty reaction.  
Try not to scratch  :D

[SawBilly]

As a person who has taken allergy shots for a long time, and basically allergic to everything except cedar (go figure), I do have some experience in this area. First there is nothing better than prevention, that said, Technu is the best product out there if you use it right. out in the field all day I would take a change of clothes, bucket of water and would basically take a shower every 4 hours. Technu was designed by scientist to combat chemical warfare. It bonds with the agents and allows them to be washed off. common soap and water will not touch poison ivy. I would doubt (not to offend) rubbing alcohol to actually take away the oils. It does make the skin feel better for awhile. Taking a bath is the worst thing to do as it will allow some surface oil to spread (oils of the plants is the problem) If you can get Technu applied soon after exposure and washed off you should not get any breakouts. if you wait a while more than 4 hours you may break out, but the technu will stop the spreading.

for wives tells I heard if you rub youself with the soil that the plants grow in it acts as a buffer, be kinda like taking a temporary allergy shot. As I try to only follow facts I have NOT tried this.

My advice, if you have it, dont scratch use calyadryl (spel?) go to the doctor get a cortizone shot, or use technu 2-3 times a day to stop spreading. If you dont have it, wear clothes change a lot, use technu often, keep your eyes open and let your buddy work in that area!!

SawBilly

P.S. I cant recommend this but the second most satisfying feeling in the world is scratching your poision ivy

[woodmills1]

haven't replied before here because my treatment is low tech, except for the cortisone, and painful.  I get the poison, not very often, but when I do i scrub it with a wash cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol.  This hurts so much that I then put some over the counter cortisone on it to get myself back off the ceiling.  works for me, not reccommended.

[WV_hillbilly]

jwood that would be great if you  could locate a source for that fellsnaptha soap. It seemed to work real well for me before.

  Thanks Hillbilly

[Saki]

There are some great suggestions up the line there, and I will add a couple of possible ideas as well.

The oils in the plant ( urushiol ) is indeed what causes the reaction. According to my OSHA research ( for safety meetings I have to do monthly where I work ) 80 to 85% of the population will have at least a minor reaction, and there are some people it doesn't affect at all, and there are some people who have never had it into adulthood who will eventually lose their resistance to it.

The urushiols oil lasts a very long time ( years in some cases ) and is still as potent as fresh oil. It takes very little amount to cause a reaction to those susceptible to it. One article had it figured down to 1 to 2 ounces of urushiol oil mixed in with 55 gallons of vegetable or some other oil, would still produce a reaction in those susceptible.

There are many shield products and items like tecnu that help to slow it down. If you are particularly allergic to it, many of them will help.

Here are some things that I have tried that seem to help me. If I know that I have been in an area where I have walked through it, I will shuck out of my clothes when I get home, and put them right into the washer. Lots of detergent, and at least the warm setting to help get the urushiol oil out. Next step is a warm shower with lots of soap. Not cool, not hot. Cool water seems to impede the ability of the soap to remove the oil. Hot seems to open up my pores and really cause me problems. Multiple lather up and rinses help to remove the oil and usually prevents a breakout. A strong soap like mentioned above will probably help as well, since most deodorant/typical soap may not have much oil removing capability.

If you do have a reaction despite your best efforts, I am one of those people that are deathly allergic, and it usually means a trip to the local doc for a shot and some steroid pills. I also use an ointment stuff called Rhuli- jel ( available over the counter ) that works as good as anything I have ever seen. It is funny stuff cause it burns and makes it feel cool all at the same time, really seems to help dry it up though.

Also if your case is not too bad, chlorinated pool water works wonders on helping it to dry up. It is essentially super diluted bleach water and the chlorine acts as a sanitizing/drying agent. A nice hour or 2 soak or swim can make it feel worlds better.

Last, but not least, poison ivy is in the anacardiaceae family which includes thing like cashews and some of the articles suggested that people who have allergies to nuts or other things will be inherently more susceptible to posion ivy. Don't know if that could be a proven fact, but it sure makes sense to this old boy. Good luck, Saki.