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#97104 - 05/31/08 06:03 AM Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock.
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
I don't know if there are any doctors, pharmacists, or chemists that can answer the following 4 questions.

1) Does anyone make a sunblock with a poison Ivy, Oak, and Sumac block? Or in other words a 2 purpose lotion in one?

2) If they don't make this lotion. Can you mix the brand Ivy Block lotion into a sun block lotion? If so, I was thinking about mixing blockers together and putting them in a small bottle to reduce having to carry two bottles by saving weight and pack space.

The Ivy Block lotion and the chemical Bentoquatam 5%. I was figuring if I mix it with a water proof sunblock the Ivy Block will also be water proof.

Or now that I think of it...

3) Can you mix a insect repellent lotion with Ivy Block lotion? If most of my hiking is under tree cover, then there may not be the need for sun block. Mixing two lotions that block poison ivy, sumac, and oak as well as deterring bugs.

4) Or what about the trifecta??? Mixing all three lotions???

Would that be too many chemicals to mix causing a bad chemical reaction? I wouldn't want to melt my skin off...lol.

I avoid going off the trail, and don't care to go bushwhacking so I'm usually not trudging through thick vegitation.

I am full of ideas, perhaps some of them are not good ones.


Tom
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#97105 - 05/31/08 09:35 AM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
I'm none of the above and this isn't the answer you want to hear, but instead of smearing all of those chemicals on your skin, some of which will find their way into water and soil, why don't you just wear long sleeve clothes? There are many cool, light, quick drying UV protective garments out there.

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#97106 - 05/31/08 03:40 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
jshannon Offline
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Registered: 02/14/06
Posts: 410
Loc: North Texas
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#97107 - 06/01/08 04:32 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Trailrunner]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
Quote:
I'm none of the above and this isn't the answer you want to hear, but instead of smearing all of those chemicals on your skin, some of which will find their way into water and soil, why don't you just wear long sleeve clothes? There are many cool, light, quick drying UV protective garments out there.


Which you have to wash with Tecnu after contact, so you don't get the oil off your clothes and get a post-trip rash.
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#97108 - 06/01/08 05:36 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: lori]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods
TR, I have to agree with Lori on this one. I am highly allergic to poison ivy and have had it get on my long sleeves and pants and then had it later transfer to my skin.

I have learned to spot PI, PO, PS from 10-15 ft away and avoid it like the plague if at all possible. If not, then I have to wash my clothes right away in hot water (not fun on the trail) to try and break down the oils or switch close and put the contaminated ones in a bag for later washing. I've been fortunate so far and have only gotten into it once on the trail.

I'll definitely try out these products as well as continue current precautions: long sleeves, long pants, and gloves. Why use both? Just in case it does get on my clothes, I can hopefully keep it away from my skin. If I'm not carefull, I'll end up having to get a shot of steroids and take a steroids dose pack. Not fun.

I'll post pictures of my poison ivy rash when I get back to my home pc.

Happy trails to all!
Tango

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#97109 - 06/01/08 07:48 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: lori]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
Quote:


Which you have to wash with Tecnu after contact, so you don't get the oil off your clothes and get a post-trip rash.


No need to use expensive Tecnu to wash your clothes. Any detergent with hot water will wash out the uroshiol just as well. Tecnu is labeled as a "skin cleanser". I just use my normal laundry soap on my clothing. Twice for good measure.

I'd rather risk a secondary exposure from clothing than direct exposure on my skin. Check any website on poison oak/ivy prevention and you will find the phrase "protective clothing" quite often.

I'm hard pressed to believe that anything you apply to your bare skin provides protection superior to clothing.

But whatever works for you is what counts.

Last winter I had a bad case. Picked it up from my dog in Montana de Oro State Park. I knew it was there and took precautions but didn't think about my low slung Dachshund walking off trail. Yes he was on a leash. It was a lesson learned.

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#97110 - 06/02/08 03:15 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
billstephenson Offline
Moderator

Registered: 02/07/07
Posts: 3917
Loc: Ozark Mountains in SW Missouri
That's a really good question. I occasionally use sun block or ivy block, but bug repellant is a must if you even walk on forests trails in the Ozarks this time of year. The active ingredients in all three should be easy to research, but the interactions might not.

I'll have to poke around myself for the answer now too I guess.

Bill

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#97111 - 06/02/08 06:47 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Trailrunner]
Tango61 Offline
member

Registered: 12/27/05
Posts: 931
Loc: East Texas Piney Woods


Quote:
didn't think about my low slung Dachshund walking off trail.


Ok TR, now you've piqued my interest. How did your dachschund fair with the poison ivy? Any ill effects? I've only had to deal with skunk spray.

Tango

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#97112 - 06/02/08 08:06 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Tango61]
Trailrunner Offline
member

Registered: 01/05/02
Posts: 1835
Loc: Los Angeles
The doxie had a few slight bumps on his snout but otherwise no ill effects or discomfort. After we realized he had been exposed we gave him a good bath as well as his harness and leash.

When I picked him up that day (after I had removed my long sleeves) I slid my left arm under his rump to support his weight as I always do. Within 24 hours the skin that contacted him was breaking out in a rash. The worst part was, without knowing I had urushiol on my hands, I rubbed my eye and urinated. Within 2 days my eye looked like "Rocky" after 15 rounds. As for the other body part I'll spare you the details but it wasn't pretty <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

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#97113 - 06/03/08 09:27 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Tango61]
scottyb Offline
member

Registered: 05/28/08
Posts: 278
Loc: Texas Hill Country
I think the PI sunscreen sounds like a good idea.

With that said, the Israelis developed a chemical to prevent jellyfish stings that is now widely available in sunscreen products. However, the volunteer list was short for people to jump in a tank full of Box Jellys.

Point is; use it wisely. Maybe it will prevent the "I didn't get within 10 feet of it" cases.

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#97114 - 06/04/08 04:04 AM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Tango61]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
I'm 34 years old and I didn't get Poison Ivy, Oak, and/or Sumac until last week. I was brush cutting the back part of my yard in t-shirt and shorts knowing that I had probably all three of the nasty plants. Since I never had it before, I was arrogant assuming I was immune to it. Half way through the job, I had to go to the store and get a new spark plug for my weed eater. As I'm driving home, I look down on my arms and see red splotches. Even worse I look up in the mirror and see the same splotches on my face! The splotches on my face were from plant matter spraying in my face from the weed eater, (I wore eye protection, thank God).

While still driving, I called my doctors office on my cell phone, they called in a script for steroid creme, and when at the pharmacy I bought tecnu and Ivy Block lotions. I peeled off my clothes, threw them down into the basement, and took a cold shower scrubbing my body. I'm grateful the pharmacist advised me to take a cold shower and not a hot one, (hot water opens your pores).

That incident is the whole reason I created this thread in the first place.

Strange enough, by the following day you could barely see the splotches on my skin, and the following day they were gone. I told my neighbor about the incident, and she said last year she was cutting brush along the fence line and got it so bad she was practically bedridden for 3 days!!!

I learned a lesson. I'm not "Ivy proof".



Tom
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"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

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#97115 - 06/04/08 07:02 AM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
lori Offline
member

Registered: 01/22/08
Posts: 2801
No one is immune to PO/PI/sumac. When you are exposed repeatedly at some point you hit the threshold and start to react to it. I haven't yet gotten a rash, which is why I'm extra careful about not getting into it; I want to preserve my "immunity" for as long as possible.

Poison Oak
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http://hikeandbackpack.com

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#97116 - 06/04/08 07:52 AM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
dkramalc Offline
member

Registered: 09/19/03
Posts: 1070
Loc: California
USUALLY (but not always) poison oak takes 3-5 days for the rash to appear - though my nephew, who is extremely allergic to it, does react within 24 hours. So it's possible that you were just reacting to other plant matter sprayed onto you by the weed eater. I often get a short-lived rash when I've been out in my backyard attacking the brush (and those are fairly civilized plants). Also got a poison-oak like rash (though it didn't open and weep) on my fingers last week after pulling weeds barehanded (and there's no way there's any poison oak in my suburban backyard).

I also am quite allergic to poison oak (end up looking like the inside of a roughly sliced ruby grapefruit) so I take precautions - day hikes ONLY when in poison oak territory, no backpacking, wear full cover clothing, and wash well with tecnu when I get home. I just don't take chances anymore with that nasty stuff. But I was thinking as I read this thread that I'm lucky to have high altitude (= poison oak free) territory nearby to backpack in, folks in other parts of the country just aren't that fortunate.
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#97117 - 06/04/08 10:07 AM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: dkramalc]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
I have used all of the cremes and lotions for ivy prevention in the past and found that covering up with clothing woeked out the best IME <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> You need to handle your clothing as 'contaminated' when in the backcountry regardless of whether or not you realized your exposure IMO <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Also, wear gloves to remove the clothing at the end of the day, and more importantly to untie your boots <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Your boots will be covered in urishiol by days end, and the laces more so. Pile up the clothing outside your tent and cover from the night dew. not ideal but better than getting the itch IME <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

speaking of pets, i have gotten poision ivy from just petting the farm cats outside <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> they are oblivious to their travels through it, but once your pet returns home it carries it on it's coat....which then gts on you, your clothes, furniture,etc <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> Best thing to do is get a cotton towel and dry towel off any indoor outdoor critters you have <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

With global warming comes the advancing territoy of the ivys. they are expanding their ranges because they grow best in warm climates so i' ve read. Also, goats are one of the critters who'll sometimes eat the ivys with abandon <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
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#97118 - 06/04/08 12:43 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
wandering_daisy Offline
member

Registered: 01/11/06
Posts: 2865
Loc: California
I have never had poison oak and travel in it a lot. We do not have poison ivy here. My time may come! So my suggestions may not be too useful to those who are super sensitive.

For what it is worth, when I am in oak country, I take a dip in cold water at the end of EVERY day and NEVER sleep in my clothing that I wear during the day. I remove clothing AS IF I did get it into poison oak, whether I did or not. I have "oak soap" at home but do not take it on trips with me. As for clothes, I just wash them in the washer in warm water when I get home.

You may also consider wearing knee-high gaiters - they are a lot easier to carefully take off at the end of the day and wash out and protect your pant legs from getting exposed.

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#97119 - 06/04/08 01:49 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
To tell you the truth, I no very little about the big three nasty plants. I do know that I have numerous different types of ivys one of them being poison ivy. I may have poison Sumac, I'm not sure. I looked up poison sumac and I may have that also, I live in Cincinnati Ohio so I have no real idea if this is the climate for it sumac. I know little about plants.
_________________________
"Let's not miss the beauty of the forest by the ugliness of some of its trees." Bill W.

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#97120 - 06/04/08 01:56 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: 12Step]
Earthling Offline
member

Registered: 02/22/03
Posts: 3228
Loc: USA
12step, you have poision ivy and poison sumac out your way, not sure about poison oak, that's a cali thing <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> yeah, as the weather warms you could just about sit and watch the ivy sprout and unfold it's leaves sinister little plant it is <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />
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PEPPER SPRAY AIN'T BRAINS IN A CAN!

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#97121 - 06/04/08 03:09 PM Re: Ivy Block Lotion and sunblock. [Re: Earthling]
12Step Offline
member

Registered: 03/04/08
Posts: 89
Loc: Southwest Ohio
I just checked a few websites on poison ivy. I was able to identify poison ivy along my fence without a doubt. I may have sumac also.

This is what I deserve for leaving the back part of my back yard go. I am currently spending the next few weeks brush cutting. It really sucks to have to wear long sleeve shirt and pants (breathable fabric or not), in 90 plus degree temperature and high humidity. But I guess it beats looking like a leper.


Tom


Edited by 12Step (06/04/08 03:09 PM)
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