Poison ivy reaction preventable if your exposure is inevitable?

[NetWareHead]

I got a string trimmer with a brush cutter saw-type blade head to clean up some brambles, brush and viney crap along the edge of my property. Going to be stepping into waist high shrub and hope to take it all down with my new Stihl. i know some of the stuff I am going to cut down is in fact poison ivy. I am not looking forward to this but the property has to be cleaned up. it looks like a total eyesore and is in ther way of a shed I want to have constructed there.

Other than dressing in long pants, long sleeved shirt, pants tucked into boots, gloves, I'm thinking of also making a makeshift turban for my entire head out of an old towel. I'm also thinking of calling the doctor's office and setting up an appointment for the day after and getting some cortisone or whatever the doctor will prescribe. With the amount of brush I am going to be dealing with not only is poison ivy inevitable but I predict the reaction is going to be severe. When brush-cutting, a fine mist of plant parts/juice is going to be throw up into the air and I'm going to be in the middle of it until the job is done. I'm also going to wear a respirator paper mask so I dont breathe this stuff in. its going to suck to be wrapped up head to toe in the summer but I dont know of any other way to protect myself.

When I'm done, the clothes are going straight into the laundry with plenty of soap on super wash and I'm jumping into a hot shower. Is there anything I can apply to my skin prior or do something to fight an expected poison ivy reaction? really not looking forward to this...

 

[vi edit]

Have you had it before? Most people are actually resistant to it on the first exposure or two. Just make sure you use plenty of soap and water.

 

[Stifko]

Get some of this stuff and apply it liberally.

I keep a two bottles of tecnu cleanser around all the time.

Maybe apply the cleanser in advance so the oils can't really get on you?

You will have no exposed skin right? That sounds like a bitch of a job dude.

 

[Leyawiin]

Its not inevitable. Some people are resistant. I lived in poison oak country for many years (Sierra Nevada of California) and I never had a reaction after stomping around the woods. Other people I knew would puff up like a balloon and itch like crazy. Read that about 15% of the population is resistant to the oil from the plants.

 

[BoomerD]

There are several barrier creams/lotions that are effective for preventing poison ivy/oak allergy on contact.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Get some of this stuff and apply it liberally.

I keep a two bottles of tecnu cleanser around all the time.

Maybe apply the cleanser in advance so the oils can't really get on you?

You will have no exposed skin right? That sounds like a bitch of a job dude.

I use this stuff:

And yes, it does work before the reaction starts. If you know you've suffered some exposure just take it into the shower and use it like a body wash. It does a great job.

 

[NetWareHead]

Alrite thanks for that recommendation. I dont mind putting on a layer on my entiere body and then dressing up in protective gear. Going to start this on Monday. Will see if there is a way I can find this in the pharmacies/stores around here.

Yes the job is a bitch but I have no other choice. it is making my property look unkempt and overgrown.

And yes I know I am susceptible. I never was in the past. When I was a kid I could hike in anything. I used to pick raspberries in flip-flops and shorts and be waist deep in brush and never got it. Helped my dad deforest and brush-cut a 1+ acre lot when we built our house and in short sleeves. Then I hit my 30s and all of the sudden I had my first ever poison ivy infection. Yes no exposed skin while doing this job. Head to toe will be covered in something. Looking forward to this in summer weather. Hurray for lost immunity! :-(

 

[Ruptga]

I use this stuff:

And yes, it does work before the reaction starts. If you know you've suffered some exposure just take it into the shower and use it like a body wash. It does a great job.

How is the homeopathic version better? Is there also an active ingredient in there?

 

[pontifex]

What about something like this?

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0008F4HNS

But then I guess you have to worry about getting caught on branches and briars, etc.

Another, slower option - buy some kind of plant killer and spray the area. then when it's dead, go in and cut it down?

 

[Dirigible]

Ivy Block before.

Tecnu wash in a COLD shower after. I follow up with something like Dawn in the shower.

I'd also use something more than those little paper masks.

 

[NetWareHead]

Ivy Block before.

Tecnu wash in a COLD shower after. I follow up with something like Dawn in the shower.

I'd also use something more than those little paper masks.

What kind of mask do you have in mind?

 

[cabri]

Unless you are going to create smoke (burning); ivy has to come in contact with your skin.

What you stated for clothing will work fine. Face gear is an overkill.
After you finish, strip off the clothing and take a shower with a good scrub.

 

[Jodell88]

I'd recommend a face shield. Debris from the trimmer can fly anywhere.

 

[_Rick_]

Face mesh is always a good idea when trimming, might also throw up nuts or rocks or bark, which will cut.

If in doubt, don a raincoat

 

[Dirigible]

What kind of mask do you have in mind?

Something more along the lines of this sort of thing:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Paint-Proje...s_2257619011_3

It might be overkill, but I always feel like those little paper masks do little.


More important is that you take a COLD shower. Do NOT take a hot shower to wash the urushiol off.

 

[GrumpyMan]

I even look at poison ivy, I break out. Got it on my face once, looked like "The Elephant Man" for the next couple of weeks. And the itching, horrible.

 

[zerocool84]

Something more along the lines of this sort of thing:
http://www.amazon.com/3M-Paint-Proje...s_2257619011_3

It might be overkill, but I always feel like those little paper masks do little.


More important is that you take a COLD shower. Do NOT take a hot shower to wash the urushiol off.

LOL you don't need that type of respirator just to cut down some poison ivy. The little paper masks are more than overkill for that. All he's trying to do is keep it from getting in his mouth/nose, he's not burning it.

 

[Raizinman]

An old outdoorsman trick is to spray PAM (the spray food lube) on either or both your body or clothing and the poison ivy or poison oak oils won't be able to attach itself. I've never done it but heard it works.

 

[OverVolt]

Its not inevitable. Some people are resistant. I lived in poison oak country for many years (Sierra Nevada of California) and I never had a reaction after stomping around the woods. Other people I knew would puff up like a balloon and itch like crazy. Read that about 15% of the population is resistant to the oil from the plants.

Mostly the Rock, water, and psychic types.

 

[Schmide]

I get it for like 2 weeks then I'm immune for a long time. (repeat)

 

[CurseTheSky]

I'm nearly immune. I can literally chop it up and then roll around with it, and only end up with some between my fingers or on the inside of my elbows - basically places where skin touches skin constantly. My wife, on the other hand, is severely allergic. If a leave even brushes up against her skin, a huge portion of her body will react and swell up with horrendous blisters.

The most important thing is to know how you're going to react (if you're an outdoors type and haven't had a reaction yet in your life, you might be ok). The second is to wear clothing that will keep it off your skin. Keep in mind that you will be tempted to wipe your brow of swear or scratch your nose - DON'T, not even with the back of your wrist. The third important thing is to immediately wash up with soap as soon as you are done. I normally head in and wash any exposed skin with dish soap, then jump in the shower right after.Remember that your sweat can carry oils from one area to another, so if your face is exposed, sweat can carry the oils down to our chest or back.

Again, it REALLY depends on how you react. For most people poison ivy is an annoyance at most. For some, it can mean Dr. visits at a minimum, or even ER visits. In my experiences, the people that have really bad reactions already know that by the time they're old enough to be running power equipment. YMMV.

 

[gorcorps]

You're going to throw clothes knowingly covered in poison ivy oils into the washer you share with your family? Dick move

Just use old clothes and throw them out. Go to goodwill if you have to.

 

[DrPizza]

The oils easily wash off with rubbing alcohol after exposure. I get exposed a lot when working in certain areas of the farm, especially when running new fence lines where "go around" isn't an option.

 

[NoTine42]

I use this stuff:

And yes, it does work before the reaction starts. If you know you've suffered some exposure just take it into the shower and use it like a body wash. It does a great job.

Looks like Zanfel (Zanfel was the 1st poison ivy scrub to actually work for me, there is also a Cortaid poison ivy scrub)

Right away, I think any gritty soap/scrub will help remove the oils

Personally, I would start by making a batch of glycophospate and Dawn(I got some 41% stuff at TSC) to kill/dry out mous of the poision ivy a week before chopping.

 

[Broheim]

Protect yourself with this OP