Poison Ivy

H

hawkpatriot

Joined
Jul 20, 2004
Messages
535
I've been doing a lot of weeding and yard work around the neighborhood and stuff. I always seem to run into poison ivy, and no matter how hard I try to avoid it I will get it. Right now my hands are all blistered up, I just hope it goes away before football starts.
I usually wear gloves, and I picked up a bottle of Tecnu, which works okay if you use it in the first few hours after exposure.

Whats a good way to get the oils off my gloves? I've gotten it twice and bought new gloves last time but don't feel like spending $8 on another pair if theres an alternative way to wash these.
Can I just stick em in the washer or should I use clorox bleach? I've heard a few different things, what works for you?
 
Unfortunately, the oils bond to most everything within 25 minutes or so of coming into contact with the plant. However, the tec-nu stuff works pretty good on gear long after that time period has elapsed. I've used it on my shotgun a few times and it worked like a charm, even after a full days hunt, where I was wading through the poison oak and using the Rem to push it aside.

What I've found is that I don't get the rash from the plant on my skin, but rather from handling my gear, clothing and boots after I'm done. Whatever you do, don't grab your private parts. :eek:

If you use the tec-nu clear on all your exposed skin prior to coming into contact with the plant and use the cleanser to thoroughly wash those exposed areas when you're done, it could help in keeping you itch free. Just remember that where ever you touch, you will leave the oils until you get them off of you, your gear and your clothing.

As for your gloves, I'd toss them and get new. You might pick up several pair of the cotton gloves to wear while working. They can be washed, but it's easier to toss them, because they are pretty cheap to buy. You might also want to pick up some of the latex exam gloves for handling your clothing and tools after you're done with work.
 
I have used Tide to successfully remove the oil from clothing and several dogs. I used twice the label amount "just in case."
 
I have always known how to identify poison ivy, as i am very allergic to it. Then one day, my buddy and I were hiking, and I was avoiding poison ivy. He said It was "false poison Ivy," but the ONLY copycat I've ever learned about was the five-leafed, normal Ivy. I think he is wrong, but for the sake of curiosity, has anyone ever heard of safe poison Ivy that has only three leaves and looks just like the real thing?
 
I too get the #%$^ stuff just by thinking about it too hard :mad: :grumpy: . I try to manage my work so I any potential exposure happens at the end and I can go wash up before it has time to take effect. I have read that taking a cooler, rather than hot, shower is better as hot water causes your pores to open up and the oils to be absorbed faster. I've also never had any problems just washing my clothes and gloves in the laundry as normal (I have easily washable/dryable sythetic fabric and leather gloves). As far as my tools go, rubber gloves and a throw-away sponge with dish soap seem to work.
 
There are those ugly, 1 piece, zip-up disposable coveralls available- might be a little uncomfortable clearing weeds, but a whole lot more comfortable than wanting to rip the skin off of your body for weeks.
Also- Watch what/where you burn weeds/yard trash- BURNING POISON OAK/IVY CAN LEAD TO UGLY UGLY UGLY THROAT/LUNG IRRITATION. Sorry for the caps- but it's important.
 
While working around your yard and neighborhood you should spray the poison ivy (I use Round Up) so it is not an ongoing problem. I even spray the park three blocks away in the areas I use. I have lived in several places that were covered up with it but by the second year there is very little left if you keep an eye out for it and spray it when you see it.
 
lucky me im not alergic! sorry, just had to make everyone jealous for a minute. i can touch the stuff all i want and i dont get it, its rather nice when im out hunting. i once watched my friend dave rub his butt up and down on a maple, just to itch it, after he whiped with poison ivy. i just hope i dont lose my immunity to it, that wouldnt be fun, because it would take me getting it to find out im no longer immune.
 
elvenbladesmith07 said:
lucky me im not alergic! sorry, just had to make everyone jealous for a minute. i can touch the stuff all i want and i dont get it, its rather nice when im out hunting. i once watched my friend dave rub his butt up and down on a maple, just to itch it, after he whiped with poison ivy. i just hope i dont lose my immunity to it, that wouldnt be fun, because it would take me getting it to find out im no longer immune.
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I`ve known people who were 'immune' that become non-immune... Now wouldnt it be nice to know what makes htem immune!
 
elvenbladesmith07 said:
lucky me im not alergic! sorry, just had to make everyone jealous for a minute. i can touch the stuff all i want and i dont get it, its rather nice when im out hunting. i once watched my friend dave rub his butt up and down on a maple, just to itch it, after he whiped with poison ivy. i just hope i dont lose my immunity to it, that wouldnt be fun, because it would take me getting it to find out im no longer immune.
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There is no such thing. Science has studied this and found that EVERYONE!! is alergic and reactive to poison ivy. The amount of reaction varies from person to person is all.

I had a buddy proclaim the exact thing and I dared him to break open leaves and stems and rub the oil on. He did and ended up in hospital.

Skam
 
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, second or following exposures to the active toxic ingredient in Poision Ivy, Poision Oak, and Poision Sumac (urushoil) produces an alergic contact dermatitis in about 85% of the population.

Since the reaction is alergic, the fact that one has had no dermatitis on two or many contacts is not a guarantee that the next contact will not produce a reaction, although sensitivity decreases with age.

Severity of reaction varies from mild to life-threatening.

Urushoil is also present in Ginko, Cashew and other trees and plants - but in lesser amounts.
 
I don't know if "immunity" is the right word.....but as a kid and young teen running the woods,shooting bows and hiking, east of Albany and the Hudson(my dad and his family are from the area)....my brothers and I never got poison ivy,sumac or oak. I do remember my Uncle Bud....an avid outdoorsman and hunter....telling us not to mess with the sumac,and hollering at us for bringing it back around the yard when we went on our adventures.I guess we may have gotten lucky or just built a tolerance.....
 
An old (near 70) hog hunting partner of mine used to wade through the groves of poison oak we have here. Never got it. Then one day he got poked in the arm by a twig of poison oak as he was pushing the large bush aside. It broke his skin and he got it bad. He respects it a little more now.
 
Yep, jewel weed, if used right away on the contaminated area, neutralizes the effects of the oils.
 
all i know is i can wade through it, touch it, and even pick up the vines, and still not get it. when i was in grade school, before i nkew what it was, i used to grab the creeper vines of trees, and me and my friend would sword fight with them. everyone i knew was getting it, and i never got it.
 
elvenbladesmith07 said:
all i know is i can wade through it, touch it, and even pick up the vines, and still not get it. when i was in grade school, before i nkew what it was, i used to grab the creeper vines of trees, and me and my friend would sword fight with them. everyone i knew was getting it, and i never got it.
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Me too -- so far.

It's never the first exposure; it's some subsequent exposure for 85% of us -- and no one can be sure they're excluded from the 85% (until they're "safely" dead :rolleyes: ).

Plus, there is always the risk of transfer to someone who is firmly in the unlucky 85%.
 
longbow50 said:
Yep, jewel weed, if used right away on the contaminated area, neutralizes the effects of the oils.
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I was going to ask about natural remedies. I'm trying to remember an aquatic plant with silver tone leaves, is that the same as jewel weed? :confused: Or is that another plant that will work? I was thinking it was called silver.......?
Scott
 
bzzhewt said:
I have always known how to identify poison ivy, as i am very allergic to it. Then one day, my buddy and I were hiking, and I was avoiding poison ivy. He said It was "false poison Ivy," but the ONLY copycat I've ever learned about was the five-leafed, normal Ivy. I think he is wrong, but for the sake of curiosity, has anyone ever heard of safe poison Ivy that has only three leaves and looks just like the real thing?
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Virginia creeper leaflets look exactly like poison ivy leaflets and you will see virginia creeeper with 3 leaves now and again at some point on the vine. For the most part though, virginia creeper has 5 leaflets. You can have some fun if you pull the 2 outside leaflets off virginia creeper. ;)
 
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