You'll probably get differing opinions on the best over the counter brands or homemade jewel weed creams, Epsom salt baths, etc. I've tried them all over the last 14 years including the perception steroid treatments for systemic reactions. (Did I mention I love my job working outside) the most successful product I've come across for my poison ivy arsenal is Zanfel. It's a bit pricey, but has given me the quickest itch free relief of any of the scrub and washes. It is expensive $40ish a tube (gotta love free samples from winter season trade shows).
Tecnu products are a close second and a little easier on the wallet. I use their original skin cleanser to clean my pruning equipment and will add it to the washing machine when I know my clothes have brushed with the three leaved devil.
The urushiol of poison ivy and poison oak does not evaporate and can lie dormant for a LONG time, months I've been told even over a year (another reason I don't usually lend my pruners to the guys at work).
joe you may have not been allergic to poison ivy for most of your life but every 7 years our bodys allergies change, My neighbor can rub it all over his body and nothing, If i even look at it i will get it!
In addition to poision ivy there is an abundence of poison oak and sumack in the north east
Zanfel works great for all 3, as mark said it dries it up pretty quick, one prenvitive measure i use when ever i work near or around brush: when i am done i keep a bottle of rubbing alcohol( Not fireball) on hand i douse it onto a clean paper towel and i gently rub it on any exposed parts the alcohol instanly dries the oil from the poisonn ivy so it cant spread and it keeps it from transfering to your clothes, then i follow up with soap and water the trick is the paper towel toss it out if you use a rag or cloth towel the fabric will instanly grab the oil from the ivy and will just spread to what ever you touch. Make sure you do not wash other clothes with the clothes you were wearing if you suspect poison ivy as it will spread to other clothes and who ever does the laundry or wears the clothes from that wash will get the poison ivy. Have to use hot hot water for the wash to get all of the oils off the clothes! and then run the wash with again on hot with nothing inside for a cycle. The crazy part about poison ivy is you may have rubbed the plant 3 days before and nothing then toss it in laundry and get it just from folding your clothes.
I just had poison Ivy last week as well. First time it really messed me up. I never used to bother me. DW on the other hand just had to look at it and she'd start to itch. I guess what Vik-King said is true....our bodies adjust to allergies every so often. My normal seasonal allergies are non existent this season, I haven't taken an allergy pill yet. Now all of a sudden poison ivy affects me.
It sounds like Marc is a Pro regarding Poison Ivy. I just went to the local drug store and bought a cream and a spray. They worked fine for me. I think they were less than $10 each.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
I am also incredibly allergic to poison ivy. Once got it on my lower legs and it got infected and ulcerated; that was horribly painful and very ugly. My son got it systemically when he was young and he looked like his face was going to split open. Needed steroid shots. Anyway, the only product I've ever found that helps is Zanfel. Seriously, it just erases the itch so quickly I cried the first time I used it because of the relief. It could cost $100/bottle and I'd still buy it.
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