Pharmacist Coyet Lowery says two new products on the market have helped him avoid the itchy rash of poison ivy while working and hunting on his family's Georgia farm. Like most people, his sensitivity to the urushinol oil in poison ivy, oak and sumac has increased over the years, so he doesn't enter overgrown areas without first applying a lotion-like preventive called IvyBlock. Afterward, he washes his clothes, tools and hands with Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser.
IvyBlock by EnviroDerm is a poison ivy, oak and sumac protectant that prevents the oils from reaching skin and causing a rash. It has to be reapplied every four hours for best protection, but convenient 1-ounce bottles are easy to carry around.
Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser removes poison ivy, oak and sumac oils from exposed skin to prevent a rash if you wash within 24 hours of exposure. The cleanser also can be used to clean tools, clothing, boots, shoelaces and pets that have been contaminated by the oils. Because the oils can have effect up to a year on clothing or tools, cleaning them from these contaminated items can help you avoid a secondary contact.
Both IvyBlock and Technu Outdoor Skin Cleanser are available at most drug and discount stores, such as Wal-Mart. For more information about product availability, call EnviroDerm (IvyBlock) at 1-800-991-3376 and Tec Labs (Oak-N-Ivy cleanser) at 1-800-482-4464.