I second the Tech-Nu product and Benadryl to releve the itch.  If
going the perscription drug route, I highly recommend Predeisone
(spelling may be wrong). It is a hard duty drug, a steroid, but is
very effective.
Rex

>Be sure to check out a product called Tech-Nu.  I learned about it years ago
>from National Park Service folks, who told me it has cut employee lost time
>due to poison ivy exposure by up to 90 percent.  Tech-Nu comes as a lotion.
>It breaks down erushiol chemically, on contact--even subcutaneously--and
>it's effective when applied to exposed skin as long as 3-4 hours after
>exposure.  It's possible that I may be part of the 15 percent who are immune
>to poison ivy, however, I use Tech-Nu when I know I've been exposed--and
>that's pretty often!--and I haven't had a problem.  I've not seen Tech-Nu
>advertised, but I have seen it for sale at Wal-Mart, of all places.
>
>--Bill Witt
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   Iowa Discussion, Alerts and Announcements
>[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ericka
>Sent:   Tuesday, June 12, 2001 9:08 AM
>To:     [log in to unmask]
>Subject:        Poison Ivy, Oak & Sumac - Resources & Relief?
>Importance:     High
>
>I'm working on an article re: "Irritating Plants"- would love to receive
>personal experiences and/or comments on the information below...
>Thanks -
>Ericka
>----------
>http://www.healthy.net/asp/templates/article.asp?PageType=article&ID=1320
>
>For weeping blisters:
>*    Mix 2 teaspoons of baking soda in 1 quarter (4 cups) of water.
>*    Dip squares of gauze in this mixture.
>*    Cover the blisters with the wet gauze for 10 minutes, four times a day.
>(Do not apply this to the eyes.)
>
>*    Make sure you wash all clothes and shoes with hot water and a strong
>soap. Also, bathe pets who have come in contact with poison ivy, oak or
>sumac. The sap can stay on pets for many days.
>*    Keep your hands away from your eyes, mouth and face.
>*    Do not scratch or rub the rash.
>*    Apply any of these to the skin rash:
>*    Calamine (not Caladryl) lotion
>*    Zinc oxide ointment
>*    Paste made with baking soda - mix 3 teaspoons of baking soda with 1
>teaspoon of water
>*    Take a bath with lukewarm water and an over-the-counter product called
>Aveeno colloidal oatmeal
>*    Take an over-the-counter antihistamine such as Benadryl, as stated on
>the label
>
>If self-care/first aid measures don't bring relief, call your doctor.
>----------
>http://www.aad.org/pamphlets/PoisonIvy.html
>
>Poison Oak
>In the West, this plant may grow as a vine but usually is a shrub.
>(pictured). In the East, it grows as a shrub. Hair grows on its fruit, trunk
>and leaves, which have three leaflets.
>
>Poison Ivy
>In the East, Midwest and South, it grows as a vine. In the far Northern and
>Western United States, Canada and around the Great Lakes, it grows as a
>shrub. Each leaf has three leaflets.
>
>Poison Sumac
>Grows in standing water in peat bogs in the Northeast and Midwest and in
>swampy areas in parts of the Southeast. Each leaf has seven to 13 leaflets.
>
>Poison Plants: Ivy--Sumac--Oak
>
>Those nasty weeds - poison ivy, poison sumac and poison oak - are the single
>most common cause of allergic reactions in the United States. Each year 10
>to 50 million Americans develop an allergic rash after contact with these
>poisonous plants.
>
>Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac grow almost everywhere in the United
>States, except Hawaii, Alaska and some desert areas of Nevada. Poison ivy
>usually grows east of the Rocky Mountains and in Canada. Poison oak grows in
>the Western United States, Canada and Mexico (western poison oak) and in the
>southeastern states (eastern poison oaks). Poison sumac grows in the eastern
>states and Southern Canada.
>
>For the sake of convenience, poison ivy in this pamphlet will refer not only
>to ivy but to sumac and oak as well.
>
>Poison Ivy Rash
>
>Poison ivy rash is an allergic contact rash (dermatitis) caused by contact
>with an oil called urushiol (you-ROO-shee-ol). Urushiol is found in the sap
>of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. It is a colorless or pale yellow
>oil that oozes from any cut or crushed part of the plant, including the
>roots, stems and leaves. After exposure to air, urushiol turns
>brownish-black, making it easier to spot. Contact with urushiol can occur in
>three ways:
>
>*    Direct contact - touching the sap of the toxic plant.
>*    Indirect contact - touching something to which urushiol has spread. The
>oil can stick to the fur of animals, to garden tools or sports equipment, or
>to any objects that have come into contact with a crushed or broken plant.
>*    Airborne urushiol particles, such as from burning plants, may come in
>contact with your skin.
>
>Once urushiol touches the skin, it begins to penetrate in minutes. In those
>who are sensitive, a reaction appears as a line or streak of rash, usually
>within 12 to 48 hours. Redness and swelling occur, often followed by
>blisters and severe itching. In a few days, the blisters may become crusted
>and begin to scale. The rash takes 10 days or longer to heal.
>
>The rash can affect almost any part of your body, especially where your skin
>is thin, such as on your face. A rash develops less often on the soles of
>your feet and palms of your hands, where the skin is thicker. The rash does
>not spread, although it may seem to when it breaks out in new areas. This
>may happen because urushiol absorbs more slowly into skin that is thicker,
>such as on your forearms, legs and trunk.
>
>Who's Sensitive, Who's Not
>
>We are not born with a sensitivity to poison ivy. Sensitivity develops after
>the first direct skin contact with the oil urushiol. An allergic reaction
>seldom occurs on the first exposure. A second encounter can produce a
>reaction, which may be severe. About 85 percent of all people will develop
>an allergic reaction when adequately exposed to poison ivy.
>
>This sensitivity varies from person to person. People who reach adulthood
>without becoming sensitive have only a 50 percent chance of developing an
>allergy to poison ivy. However, do not assume that you are one of the few
>people who are not sensitive. Only about 15 percent of people seem to be
>resistant.
>
>Sensitivity to poison ivy tends to decline with age. Children who have
>reacted to poison ivy will probably find that their sensitivity decreases by
>half by young adulthood without repeated exposure. People who were once
>allergic to poison ivy may even lose their sensitivity later in life.
>
>Some people are very sensitive to poison ivy. They can develop a severe rash
>with blisters and extreme swelling on their face, arms, legs and genitals.
>Such severe cases need medical treatment.
>
>Treatment--A Poison Ivy Primer
>
>A typical case of poison ivy
>
>If you think you've had a brush with poison ivy, poison oak or poison sumac,
>follow these simple steps:
>
>*    Wash all exposed areas with cold running water as soon as you can reach
>a stream, lake or garden hose. If you can do this within five minutes, the
>water may keep the urushiol from contacting your skin and spreading to other
>parts of your body. Within the first 30 minutes, soap and water are helpful.
>
>*    Wash your clothing with a garden hose outside or in a washing machine
>with detergent. If you bring the clothes into your house, be careful that
>you do not transfer the urushiol to rugs or furniture. You may also dry
>clean contaminated clothes. Because urushiol can remain active for months,
>wash camping, sporting, fishing or hunting gear that was in contact with the
>oil.
>
>*    Relieve the itching of mild rashes by taking cool showers and applying
>over-the-counter preparations like calamine lotion or Burrow's solution.
>Soaking in a lukewarm bath with an oatmeal or baking soda solution also may
>ease itching and dry oozing blisters. Over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams
>are not strong enough to have any effect on poison ivy rashes.
>
>In severe cases, prescription cortisone can halt the reaction if used early.
>If you know you have been exposed and have developed severe reactions in the
>past, consult your dermatologist. He or she may prescribe cortisone or other
>medicines that can prevent blisters from forming. If you receive treatment
>with a cortisone-like drug, you should take it longer than six days, or the
>rash may return.
>
>Scratching poison ivy blisters will spread the rash. False. The fluid in the
>blisters will not spread the rash. Before blisters form, the rash is spread
>by urushiol on your hands, for instance, by scratching your nose or wiping
>your forehead. Avoid excessive scratching of your blisters. Your fingernails
>may carry bacteria that could cause an infection.
>
>Poison ivy rash is "catching." False. The rash is a reaction to urushiol.
>The rash cannot pass from person to person; only urushiol can be spread by
>contact.
>----------
>http://www.yourhealth.com/ahl/2343.html
>
>AudioHealth Library Topic 2343
>
>Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac
>
>Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac plants can cause a severe skin
>reaction when their leaves come in contact with human skin.
>
>The result of contact with one of these plants is a red, bumpy skin rash,
>usually on areas of the body where the skin is thinnest, like the arms,
>shins and face. There may be swelling near the rash, which usually
>progresses to itchy blisters that ooze, harden and then crack. The rash may
>appear as early as a few hours or as late as 2 weeks after exposure. What
>determines how soon a person reacts after exposure is how sensitive he or
>she is to the plant and the number of previous times the person has been
>exposed to it.
>
>The rash reaches its peak about 5 days after it begins. The blisters break
>open, releasing a watery liquid. Healing usually takes 1 to 2 weeks.
>
>Most cases of poison ivy, oak or sumac can be cared for at home and don't
>require a trip to a doctor. However, a small percentage of people are highly
>allergic. If you break out in a rash within 4 hours of exposure and your
>eyes swell shut and blisters form, seek medical attention immediately.
>
>To care for poison ivy, oak or sumac at home:
>
>*    wash the area thoroughly with lots warm water. If the skin is washed
>immediately after exposure to the poisonous plant, a rash may not develop,
>*    to relieve itching: apply cotton cloths soaked in cool water or
>colloidal ointment like Aveeno bar to the area, or sponge the skin with
>alcohol,
>*    try soaking in a slightly warm bath with Aveeno or baking soda added to
>help with healing,
>*    apply calamine lotion or a paste of baking soda and water over the
>rash, and
>*    take an antihistamine like Benadryl or Chlor-Trimeton.
>
>Pregnant women should consult their physician prior to taking any
>over-the-counter medication. Other people, including those with medical
>conditions are advised to read product labels carefully and consult a
>pharmacist if they have questions about use.
>
>Clothing exposed to the poisonous plant should be washed. Shoes or clothing
>that can't be washed should be kept isolated in a well ventilated area for 3
>weeks.
>
>If the rash becomes extremely severe and painful, making normal activity
>difficult, or if any of the following symptoms appear, you should consult a
>doctor:
>
>*    the blisters continue to ooze longer than two weeks
>*    a fever develops, or
>*    lymph nodes in your neck, under your arms or in your groin area become
>swollen and sore.
>
>Any one or more of these symptoms could signal an infection, which may
>require antibiotic treatment.
>
>A doctor should also be consulted if the medication prescribed for the
>poison oak, ivy or sumac causes any of these side effects:
>
>*    insomnia,
>*    nervousness or irritability,
>*    stomach upset, or
>*    weight gain.
>
>In rare cases involving people who must come in contact with poison ivy, oak
>or sumac on a regular basis-like firefighters or park rangers immunization
>treatment is available. The procedure is difficult, since treatment is
>needed over a long period of time and requires continual maintenance. Also,
>immunization treatment can often have uncomfortable side effects. Therefore,
>the best advice is to try to avoid getting the rash in the first place. Here
>are some preventive tips:
>
>*    learn what each of the three plants looks like and avoid any contact
>with them. A poison ivy plant that grows in one area of the country may look
>different from one grown elsewhere. Learn what each plant looks like in your
>area,
>*    when in wooded areas, wear protective gloves, long sleeves and long
>pants tucked into socks,
>*    don't turn pets loose in the woods, since they may rub against the
>plants and pass the irritant along to other humans or animals,
>*    be careful not to touch dead branches from a poisonous plant since the
>chemical irritant on them lasts up to several years, and
>*    do not burn these plants. You could inhale the oil from the plants
>through the smoke and infect your lungs.
>
>###
>
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Photographer
The University of Iowa
University Communications & Outreach - Publications
100 OPL, Iowa City, IA 52242

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