I've got poisen ivy for the second time this year. Normally that stuff doesn't bother me, but I guess I've been rooting around in the woods more then usual. Does it seem like a bad year for it?
YES this is a VERY bad year for poison ivy, sumac, oak. And also for TICKS. Last winter was very mild and didnt get cold enough. The Poison Ivy (which I am covered in right now on my legs and arms) and the TICKS are worse this year than I have seen in about 10 years.
Yup, I've been fighting with small patches on both forearms for about a week now. I have one on each arm about the size of a dime, seems like everytime I scrub it good, it just relocates to another spot!
Yes that stuff is entirely evil... but there is something you can do about it.
I have the allergy bad... it seems like if i walk NEAR the stuff, I catch it. There is a product you can get at your local pharmacy that will actually remove the oil from your skin and prevent you from getting the rash. It will also dry up the existing rash on your skin in 2-3 days, as opposed to the week or so it takes with calamyne lotion (taht crappy pink stuff). They also make a product called "armor" or barrier that forms a protective layer on your skin and prevents you from getting the rash.
I think it is in the first aid section of the pharmacy. The company is called TECNU, and they make a "cleanser" for removing the oil, and the armor for prevention. The stuff is great and I SWEAR by it. Below is a pic of the stuff
Thanks for the tip, Spez-I'm going to get some tonight and give it a try. This is the worst year in memory for poison ivy, ticks and mosquitoes. I don't think there's a square inch of me that doesn't itch.
Thank Steve! I gotta get some of that! It is a VERY bad year for poison ivy! I've had it several times this year. Been trying to stay out of the woods, but hubby and I went down to the creek to check the fences. I had shorts on and wasn't planning on getting out of the Kubota. Well...a fence to fix and I helped! And yeah...got it on my leg. Ticks are bad here this year too. Tiny ones! Very hard to see 'em.
just follow the directions on that stuff. You rub it on DRY SKIN. Don't wash first. Rub it into your skin for about 2 mins and then rinse with warm water (shower works best). You have a 4 - 8 hour window of time after coming in contact with the Poison Ivy that the stuff works.
Oh,... it also works on Oak and Sumac.
A couple little facts:
The rash is caused from the oil in the plant, called urishiol.
1 in 4 people are allergic to the oil (urishiol)
of the 3 people who are not allergic, there is a 95% chance that the allergy will develop. soooo... even if you're not allergic now... chances are you may be later
I live in the stuff. I only get it when I am cutting line through it, actually cutting and pulling away. The remedy I have used is chewwing tobacco. Spit the juice on your arms and rub in. the acid destroys the oils. I can remember approximately 12 years ago I had a bad case of poison ivy. Only sporadically since using the tobacco method. I only chew when in the woods. Trust me