is there any product out there that a person can use to prevent getting a reaction to poison ivy. I am very allergic and the thought of poison ivy on the trail is not appealing.
Surely (Hopefully), there is something that can be done to prevent a reaction !!!
thanks
Trail Head
This might sound crazy but it worked for me and others in the past. In order to form the antibodies your body needs to fight an infection. You would normally get a shot of some sort. But, bck 1000 years ago they didn’t have medicine. So in order to build up your immune system they would eat a very small piece of which ever plant that made them sick.
So, i took a piece of Posion Ivy about the size of a quarter and ate it. For three days I was beyond sick, i wanted to die to b frank. But after it cleared, i can walk thru knee high patches of it and not get a rash. But, this method isn’t for everybody. I’m a naturalist and i don’t believe in taking medicine. :cheers
JJ
BUT, I would be SUPER wary about following JJ’s lead on this one. I myself am super allergic to poison ivy, and I have seen/heard of instances of severe reactions from ingesting the oils that exist on poison ivy that make you break out. Severe meaning intense hospitalizations and even death.
Novakaine
I have used something to prevent poison oak, something you washed yourself with every day- but I forget the name. Maybe there’s something similar for poison ivy. But even that didn’t work too well. We all ended up with poison oak at some point. The best prevention I know of is to know exactly what poison ivy looks like and avoid it. Wash boots, pants, and anything that comes in contact with it. You don’t want it transfering to your skin or your sleeping bag.
I would most definately not follow JJ’s advice. I believe poison ivy is an allergy that gets stronger the more you come in contact with it. People have boasted they were immune, ate some, and were from then on very allergic.
gmg
Don’t listen to those Witch Doctors.Ask a real Doctor.I understand that there is now a shot to help prevent infection.I think you have to get it a few months ahead of when your going to need it.:pimp
Old and in the Way
One of the best tips I ever got about P.I. was to wash it off with cool/cold water. Washing with hot water opens your skin pores and spreads the oil. I think you have a few hours before the oil…how does one say this…sort of bonds with your skin to form a more “toxic” substance. (This has a name which I can’t remember). Now if you get a really bad reaction, you may have to get it off immediately.
I’ve always carried a sliver of Fels Naptha type soap, but I’d think any “detergent” kind of soap would work, too.
The Fels Naptha soap also removes blood stains from your clothing where the briars and bugs got you, too.
I think there’s plenty of information on line about the subject. Perhaps a hand sanitizer with the alcohol would cut the oil, too since that’s what you are trying to do. The shots sound very promising…? Good Luck :tongue
Lady Di
Jewelweed! When Snowman and I were on the trail in 2005, there was a lot of poison ivy on the trail. In fact, in PA, there were sections where it seemed to be more poison ivy than trail… but one of our friends had pointed out Jewelweed to us. It grows in swampy areas, and often near poison ivy too. The stem of the plant can be cut open with the edge of your fingernail, and you can rub the stem, which has a milky substance inside, on your legs, etc. This counteracts the oils from the ivy. We used it a lot, as I was scared to death of getting PI again after having it badly in the past, and it worked. Neither of us got any PI on the trail. Worked wonders for us! If you do a google search, you can see images. I never knew it existed, and now that we’re off the trail, I see it everywhere 
Good luck!
Sparkplug
I used this all summer for mosquito bites, cuts and poision ivy. Oatmeal slurry works well too, especially on stings. I’ve heard the moisturizers in hand sanitizers will actually counteract the drying effect the alcohol does. If you know you have oils on your hands or face I would use a alcohol wipe or even a small amount of denatured in a pinch. I never had any run-ins with poison oak but I hear it is nastier than the ivy.
Ohioan
My best friend is SUPER allergic to poisen ivy. Her dr set up up with some samples of a product called “Tecu” or “Techu” or something real similar in spelling. Seemed to help her. The above post (JJ’s) re eating ivy to in effect build resistance has it’s roots (no pun intended) in traditional medicine, & homeopathy. The whole small pox initial “cure” was based on the same thing. BUT it Should NOT be done on your own, without def supervision. And I’d make darned sure you get a medical ok to try this. In my area (mid west) we have occasional Naturopaths who can advise you. If you don’t take care & ck things out, you could easily overdose & even die by a severe internal reaction.
leah
There IS a product that is FDA approved to prevent poison ivy or oak when applied BEFORE contact and it is called IVY BLOCK. You sure would have to use a lot though. Look it up. I have never tried it before, because I just avoid the plant like the plague. After the AT and PCT I can spot ivy or oak a mile a way. It can’t hide from me anymore. It always seems to grow with plants of the bramble family to disguise itself, so just look out for it. I had it so badly it became general or bloodborn and I had to go on steroids, which are a WORSE case scenario treatment. There is also a natural solution similar to what JJ suggested and that is taking Rhus Tox (homeopathic microbits of urushiole) pills to build up your immune system to it. I took a whole bottle as suggested and I am definitely not as sensitive as I used to be. Good luck! Watch out where you squat!
nemo
Last summer had an ER Doc who was thru-hiking (Enough) recommend Zanfel to treat my PI outbreak. Expensive, but worked fantastic! and immediate relief! Make sure to follow directions (need a shower).:happy
Lyle
I hike the entire AT last year without getting any rashes but then did a day hike out west and my girlfriend and I both got poison oak. That is some nasty, nasty stuff. Mine wasn’t as bad, but she need steriod shots, creams, and pills. That was 4 months ago and sometimes the stuff on my leg still itches. If you even have a slight hint you may have it, I would wash you’re entire body with Tecnu soap. Poison oak spreads so bad, I can’t tell you enough how bad that stuff was.
Grinds
When I hiked the AT in 2003, poison ivy was one of my biggest concerns, as I am highly allergic to it. I purchased some knee-high gaiters and wore them every day (such a fashion statement!). Even though there were places in NC, TN and PA that were overrun with poison ivy, I didn’t have a run-in until I was in CT. Got into camp late, cooked by headlamp and leaned up against a tree that had poison ivy growing up the side of it. Even though it was in a terrible spot (right where the center pad of my backpack hit), I was able to get rid of it pretty quickly with Ivy Dry. Sooo…watch where you step, squat AND lean!
Woods Dragon
thanks to all for their input. I think I will carry a bar of the Zanfel for sure. One more question to Woods Dragon. What special care do you take with the gaiters to make sure you didn’t pick up any oil from the gaiters themselves? Thanks again.
Trail Head
Zanfel is a paste. Costs about $35 for a tube that’s a couple ounces, but it’s worth every penny. I had to special order it, but I see that more stores are stocking it now.
Chipper
If you get poison ivy take time off to get it under control early. I did not and I ended up with a case so bad I made a trip to a medical facility to get a steroid pill pack. Even with the pillpack, the poison ivy gave me cellulitus which put me in the hospital for 3 days. Then I also got a staff infection which required another hospital visit. I wore gaitors but probably got it from touching the gaitors. Poison Ivy is Nasty stuff.
Steady On
I didn’t really end up doing anything special/specific with the gaiters. I kept them with my boots in my tent vestibule or under the shelter (and learned to check for spiders or daddy longlegs before I put them on again!). I also washed them with all my other things whenever I did laundry. I went through a couple of pairs of them, and they weren’t any good as a waterproof layer due to the amount of laundering…but that wasn’t why I was wearing them.
Good luck!
Woods Dragon
but lady di is right!..you don’t have to spend a lot of $$$ to prevent poison ivy…WATER works wonders!..i myself am very allergic and have been to the emergency room many times with the foul rash UNTIL i learned 2 things : first…to RECOGNIZE THE PLANT…(even in winter with no leaves…the “hairy” vine too that runs up trees)…and two…if you even THINK you’ve touched the stuff, WASH IT OFF IMMEDIATELY! (no need for soap)…just the tiniest splash of your precious drinking water will do the trick…or… (i know it’s gross), but i’ve even worked up a good spit to apply to the affected area!..i’ve read you need to wash within 15 minutes though…i also wear gaiters until it’s too hot and then i just walk a little slower taking great care to step over and around the ivy…it’s been a long, long time since i had a case of poison ivy (thank the Lord!)…oh…one other thing…paw-ee and i began our hikes EARLY (mid february) and so we never really had so much ivy to even deal with on the AT…pennsylvania in '06 had a few tricky places…not too bad otherwise…careful when you’re leaning up against trees for a break or digging your catholes, too…if you don’t know what ivy looks like you’ll get into the roots and THAT’S how i ended up in the emergency room…hope you have an itch-free summer!
maw-ee
back when I spent all day trampsing through west KY bottomlands, I used Technu religously on exposed skin - when I didn’t, I got PI rashes; when I used it, I did not. It also dries out the rashes if used the next day.
That said, I now watch for it and put on my zip-on legs if it is too thick while hiking - learn to recognize it and yoru life will be better - it does not jump out at you and avoidance works.:cheers
Stumps