Itch, Itch, Itchy Appraisers.

[Mountain Man]

Since the Poison Ivy reaction is an allergy I still try not to touch it because allergies can come and go from year to year.

Yeap, that is something to keep in mind. As a kid, I was allergic to bee stings. Now it just hurt a bit with no major reaction....... but I still don't like it.

Does anybody know whether the urashiol in these things will bind to detergent? Or will washing with detergent only serve to spread it?

There are several treatment options after exposure. Read this page on the same web site. It has home remedies, and store bought types.

http://poisonivy.aesir.com/view/cures.html

Here’s another good site.
http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/PoisonIvy.html

 

[xm39hnu]

Looking at all the links and posts, it seems that:
1) Urashiol is spread by a little cold water. It is dissipated by a LOT of cold water.
2) Soap can spread it.
3) There's a commercial product which will remove it which works similar to detergent.

Two other facts to keep in mind: Soap is not detergent. Detergent binds to oil.
Any good degreasing detergent should, therefore, remove the urashiol before it can do damage. Dawn dishwashing liquid, if used without water, will degrease your hands nicely after working on a car or lawnmower.

Hypothesis: Dawn, used without water, should remove urashiol.

Methodology: Bring hyperallergic wife into contact with poisonous plants. Drink beer, feed some to wife. Scrub well with Dawn. Rinse, and pat dry all over. Check for skin eruptions all over.

I'll let you guys know if this works. I'll also let you know whether it's effective against poison ivy.

 

[Mountain Man]

:blink:
If the experiment doesn't work, I guess you'll have a heck of a head ache..... one way or the other.

But I would have to agree with your synopsis. When I have been heavily exposed, I run in and wash that off with a light bleach mixture, and then wash that off with liquid soap. May be a bit over kill, but that has work well and I have never broken out after immediately cleaning up. I also have used the gel rubbing alcohol (hand sanitizer) that we use in the field after working a bloody wreck. That seems to work okay for light contact..... but you have to use it a couple of times, and enough of it to be able to wipe clean with a disposable towel. I guess that is the same principle as using a large amount of water.

 

[Richard Carlsen]

This is from Richard's wife. He's up in Canada fishing for big pike. I had to respond about poison ivy. I currently have poison ivy rash over 50% of my body. This is the second year in a row for me. Previously, despite being around poison ivy all of my life, I never had a reaction. Since I don't go walking in the woods surrounding our yard I suspect that I am exposed by petting our dogs who do go into the woods. Also, they probably transfer the oils to our carpeting and furniture. Any suggestions for washing down dogs, furniture, etc.?

Thanks, Judy

 

[Pamela Crowley (Florida)]

Hi Judy,

#1, I hope you have been to your doctor to get a dose of steroids. That's what works when it's that bad.

I remember getting poison ivy and/or oak over and over again from my pets while I lived in MI. I went from having it once (a pretty bad case) when I was about 8 yrs old, then went to about 27 yrs old before I ever had it again. From 27 to over 40, I would get it regularly (even for my wedding!) and can't remember how often I've taken steroids for it plus various soaps, creams, lotions and potions. I haven't had it, or at least if I did it was very minimal, in many years again now.

In your situation, I think I would have a professional steam cleaner come in for the carpets and upholstery. You've probably already washed the dogs. They probably rolled in it because it was right next to something else nasty that they rolled in. Tough to try to locate the local source!

Dawn dish soap is very good for cleaning oil or grease and is safe on pets with the added benefit of getting rid of any fleas and ticks. Find and wash everything they have been around and all your clothes, jackets, coats, gloves, shoes & boots, that may have been touched. You might want to wash down decks also.

A lot of work and even more aggravation. You have my sympathy!!!

Waiting for my next round of a few years duration with horror - hoping it never comes!

How you doing with the dogs vs skunks and porcupines? I have a few tales about those confrontations too.

 

[Farm Gal]

A cautionary tale:

Life long immunity ... often isn't life long. I have heard it opined that some folks have relative immunity but can lose it permenatly or temporarily. Still not sure which I am...

I used to walk and darn near roll in the stuff, no adverse effects. If you got tossed off a horse in the middle of a patch you shrugged and walked out.

Surface exposure never bothered me, then one day I got some sap in a about a half inch surface, cut on my wrist (I was clearing the stuff, wearing a boots jeans, a tank top and leather gloves). The 1 inch branch caught and bounced back on my wrist... I know my arms got a brush here and there, but it had never before bothered me. Why worry?

After three days I had a little red rash on my wrist immediately around the injury. I said "Oh look I got Poison Oak"!. After 5 days it began to spread. After 10 days I was in sheer agony. After two weeks it was still spreading.

Prednisone only works sometimes and for some people. My best friend is one of those people and is highly reactive to PO. She camps and hunts and often has world class PO: gets it off the dogs. Prednisone makes it bearable.

Prednisone only works well if you are not reactive to the prednisone. I looked like a heroin addict in need of a fix. The 'cure' was wose than the ailment it was intended to treat.

I am going to observe that the tale about surface oil exposure did not seem to fit my situation: it appeared that the oozing from the original injury was the pattern for additional injury. I was getting spread after more than a week of 100% clean living away from any affected clothes or additional in-person exposure. The areas of spread were where the loosley wrpped bandaged area was toching my body as I slept. This was also despite following all recommended precautions and cleansing patterns.

Doctors told me I was reinfecting.

I had NO additional exposure, even left the area during that time. I eventually burned all clothes which might even have gotten washed with other clothes which got washed... as the itchies kept spreading and spreading.

Heartfelt advice: Don't EVER let the stuff break your skin. .

I have had no problems since. I have had known surface exposure, but have always treated cautiously

(I also used Dawn~ factoid: at one point the US Navy did experiments to determine the most effective surfactant for various types of oils: Dawn won hands down.)

Never gotten exposure from the cloths since, again with known exposure at times when the oils are at prime levels for 'getting it'.

BE careful out there.

I also did not see mentioned the danger of smoke: the oils can volitalize and KILL you if it gets in yoru lungs.... never ever get near smoke from Poison Oak.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

Great topic! I haven't had a reaction to either and I usually work in shorts and sneakers. I am alergic to all kinds of weeds and usually end up with the sneezes and a runny nose doing inspections this time of the year. Come on first freeze!

 

[Richard Carlsen]

Thank you all for the advice. The rash is subsiding, the dogs have been bathed, and several poison ivy plants have been identified - to be removed by Richard when he returns from his fishing trip. I'm not touching them even with long sleeves and gloves!

Thanks,
Judy Carlsen

 

[Farm Gal]

Judy:

In case you didn't make it through my entire post: make sure you do not burn the stuff, and if Richard takes it out, have him toss the gloves, and wash his clothes seperately TWICE before yours get anywhere near them.

Glad you are on the mend!

sign me: "learned my lesson"

I got some more to clear near MY house too, but no extraordinary cautions, just reasonable care.

(and better I Do it, hubby might not be as careful as me about getting it on his clothes )