Poison Ivy

[Pathfinder]

The other day I was hiking with a friend.  As this was our first time to hike together, I wasn't aware that my friend is extremely sensitive to poison ivy.  Unfortunately he got into it, and has broken out all over his feet and legs.  He said if it doesn't get better soon, he will go see his doctor to get a shot of something that supposedly helps. 

This incident got me to wondering if there is anything that a person can take before going in the woods which will prevent a bad outbreak of poison ivy.  Does anybody have any tried and true method to use as a preventive measure?

[Joshua Szulecki]

Tried and true? Heck no. Before the hike? Not really.

I'm pretty bad, so bad that I've had it where I can't put my fingers closer together than about 1/4 inch, I've had it around my eyes (eyelids, even in tear ducts I think, though thankfully not ON my eye), and had a few outbreaks bad enough to require shots or other prescriptions.

I've found a combination of factors limits my exposure, but will only reduce incidents by say, 50-75%. First, wear pants whenever exposure is expected. Second, any exposed clothing should be washed IMMEDIATELY. Shoes should be quarantined for 2-3 days to see if you get any poison ivy, and then either washed, or used with caution. Wash hands after tying any exposed shoes until you do wash them, if you aren't sure. Shoelaces are a BIG culprit. Put clothes in wash before washing you. WASH OR QUARANTINE BACKPACKS and don't touch them without a suspicious eye. Do you know where you put that thing?

WASH YOUR HANDS BEFORE SHOWERING, especially if you touched your clothes or shoes. If it is on your hands, you'll just spread it around in the shower. WASH EVERYTHING. They made a good anti-poison ivy soap now that has some grit to it along with chemicals to break down the oil. I recommend you use this anytime exposure might have been extensive.

WASH THE DOG WITH SOAP. No cuddling, no petting, no friendly behavior until dog is clean. Wash you again after washing the dog. Wash the leash. Wash the collar. Wash EVERYTHING!!!

If exposure to hands is suspected, wash your steering wheel somehow that won't make it permanently slippery.

The point is, that stuff gets on everything and you never know where it came from. Just wash it all.

[Firedog]

The only advice I have is to learn how to identify it quickly and avoid it as best you can. If you get it bad you can get a steroid shot and a perscription steroid pack. It will knock it out. Be extremely careful to keep it out of your eyes. I got it in my eye one time and my Dr. said it could do permanent damage to your eye.

[Lesley]

Burts Bee's has a good poison ivy soap that we use after exposure and it seems to work really well. Even on Matt who catches everything under the sun.

[Uncle Wayne]

Ivy Block lotion / creme helps as a pre exposure treatment. Lather it on over any exposed skin parts (hands, arms, neck, face but not in the eyes).  Works for me and I'm extremely sensitive to poison ivy.  Wal-Mart has it in the early spring. 

Avoidance and common sense is the best treatment though.  As Joshua said, wash everything and wash yourself in cold water, rubbing in one direction always.  Warm or hot water will open the pores of your skin and the poison only gets a deeper penetration. 

Benadryl will help with the itching and speeds the drying up time if you get infected.

[Pathfinder]

Thanks, Uncle Wayne, for the info on Ivy Block.  I'll tell my friend about it.  I'm sure there are many hikers like yourself who need any protection they can get from poison ivy. 

[Pathfinder]

I checked out the website for Ivy Block.

http://www.ivyblock.com/

This site would be very helpful to anybody who has poison ivy sensitivity.  Take a look!

[Joshua Szulecki]

You know, I haven't tried Ivy Block, but I somehow don't expect it to work for me. Based on my experiences with sunblock and bug spray, I'm going to assume that if you sweat like I do, it isn't going to last long.

I often take Benadryl when I know I've been exposed, but I'm not sure it helps pre-blister. A steroid injection/pill from the doctor has had limited success on my end.

As as suggested by the others, avoid the crap like the plague. Learn to identify it, and assume anything you can't identify is poison something.

[WolfVanZandt]

Heh, not a bad idea, Josh. Some people are allergic to Virginia Creeper (Trumpet Vine, etc.) just like poison ivy and there's always poison sumac....

[Uncle Wayne]

You know, I haven't tried Ivy Block, but I somehow don't expect it to work for me. Based on my experiences with sunblock and bug spray, I'm going to assume that if you sweat like I do, it isn't going to last long.

Joshua,

I sweat profusely and it has helped me but ymmv.  One of your earlier posts warned of your pet infecting you. That's a lot bigger problem than most are aware of.  I couldn't help but think of the time you had to carry your dog up / out of Eagle Creek canyon.

Maybe I'm just more careful than I used to be but the Ivy Block has definitely helped me.  It's expensive but not nearly as bad as doctor visits and all the rest once you get a blister.   

[Joshua Szulecki]

I totally worry about getting it from the dog, ditto on ticks and fleas. And if the dog is small or otherwise low to the ground, poison ivy by pet is a serious risk.

[trailtigger]

I am one of the fortunate ones that is not affected by poison oak, ivy or sumac. I feel for those who are though as I have seen what it can do.

[DavidR]

My girlfriend is terrified of poison ivy. I researched it and found the active substance that causes the itching and rash very interesting. 1/4 ounce of urushiol is all that is needed to cause a rash in every person on earth. 500 people could itch from the amount covering the head of a pin. 1 to 5 years is normal for urushiol oil to stay active on any surface including dead plants. The best thing to do is wash right away with soap as the itch causer is an oil. More info: http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view

[Joshua Szulecki]

I am one of the fortunate ones that is not affected by poison oak, ivy or sumac. I feel for those who are though as I have seen what it can do.

If I had a dime for every person I've heard say that, then have heavy exposure and get it, I'd have about a buck.

[WolfVanZandt]

Yes, I'm proof positive that a person that is immune to poison ivy can suddenly become very allergic to it.

[jedbear]

I'm the reverse; as a kid, I lived with Calomine lotion painted all over my red, welted body.
I don't know when  this changed but now I can pull poison ivey vines by hand with no
worry of a reaction. I don't know about poison oak!

                  jed

[Joshua Szulecki]

I'm the reverse; as a kid, I lived with Calomine lotion painted all over my red, welted body.
I don't know when  this changed but now I can pull poison ivey vines by hand with no
worry of a reaction. I don't know about poison oak!

                  jed

What if it touches the rest of your body? It is possible callouses are protecting you.

[jedbear]

Sorry about the delay in responding to the question. I don't know if I had limited exposure to my hands only?

                    jed

[SmokeDiver]

Leaves of three, let it be! When I get the stuff on me it usually is localized to a bright red itchy patch of skin about 4 inches across. If I get to a place I can clean up at it stays at that spot. Scratch it and you're gonna be miserable!

[Joshua Szulecki]

Leaves of three, let it be! When I get the stuff on me it usually is localized to a bright red itchy patch of skin about 4 inches across. If I get to a place I can clean up at it stays at that spot. Scratch it and you're gonna be miserable!

That shape is because you brushed against it. I've even managed to get it in a narrow line about the width of a pencil down my leg. The good news is that once you wash it off, scratching only damages your skin, it doesn't spread it, as you suggest. I've always been lucky in that I don't get a reaction for 24-48 hours afterwards, so it doesn't itch until after it is clean. But... I think I have a few scars from poison ivy scratching.