Poison Oak Club

Just like any allergy, different people react differently. I grew up in Arkansas and encountered poison ivy often without any reaction. I don't know about poison oak but I've probably encountered it and just not known due to the lack of reaction.

I guess I can just count myself lucky.

 

^^^ I grew up in Washington state. I used to trim the poison ivy bed my grandparents had in their yard with no gloves, no shirt. I did not know better, and it never had an effect either. My cousin helped me one time and he got it real bad.

 

I used to take 2 bottles of these just prior to the PO season, and it did minimize the effects. Just enought or the urushiol to build a tolerance.



Available at Phoenix Pharmacy in Pasadena!

 

If you got it real bad, the dr can prescribe prednizone. Clears it up real fast and makes you feel like the Incredible Hulk! Otherwise...DON'T SCRATCH!

 

Stay away from it. Nothings works but some things seem to help. As mentioned above you do not build up a immunity you become more susceptible with repeated contact. For me, being near it takes me 2-3 weeks to break out and as long for the rash to go away. Very concerned of direct contact. Some trails I do not ride because of it. I love the middle part Los Pinos Trail but I go slow and walk if needed to avoid PO contact.

Dean

 

you can become desensitized to it. i used to get it growing up--midwest, poison ivy--and got p.o. occasionally in central and northern ca. but i haven't had a reaction in about 15 years. and i know i've come in contact on trails like holy jim...

 

No remedies but yet a piece of advice:

After playing in the PO, don't touch your junk!

 

eesh, the last time i got poison oak was when i did brush clearance when i used to do ranch work. i looked like i had a huge sweater on and had popeye arms.

feel your pain guys... feel your pain.

 

So how does it start out? After riding yesterday, involving a couple spills into brush etc. while driving home, I notice an itchy/burning sensation on my lower forearm, just above the wrist.

It never showed color and subsided, within about 4 hours it was gone. I did some reading and found the reactions can be severe, to "virtually non-existant" from one person to another. Also, it appears to be cummulative with exposure.

This is the first time I have had any ride damage that was not scrape or bruise related so I am curious of what I contacted :?:

 

I am not only a member of the Poison Oak, I am the president. :lol:

Don't know if that's been posted but all those pix and just talking about it made me itch. Two thumbs up on the TECHNU EXTREME before & after every ride that you think you might come in contact with that horrid plant.

On a some what positive note, those fires get rid of poison oak. I know not very positive.:?:

 

Sorry to say the fires just burn whats on the surface. The PO will be back first and with a vengence.

Funny I haven't got any since the fires???

Earlier in the year I managed to get it a few times but I knew I'd got into it, so I took a Tecnu shower. This stuff is a miracle fix for me.

 

Poison Oak usually gets people in the legs as it lies in low-lying areas and brushes your legs as you go by. I imagine when you get it, you get it all over, big Mike! :lol:

 

Knowing that you live in the Seattle area, very possible it could have been stinging nettles. They used to get me all the time when I lived up there.

 

I have hit them while hiking, it did not quite feel the same, but maybe it was :?:

 

Keep some Technu in your car, apply before the ride ALWAYS

 

Don't do this!

No, no , no ,no!!!


Where do folks get the idea to apply Technu before the ride??? Read the label folks. Technu is for after the ride.
Removing your body's protective ils before the ride with soap, alcohol or mineral spirits will only make the PO worse.

Use Ivy Block before the ride and Technu after the ride.

 

Well, Maybe Yes . . .

Turns out that Tecnu makes (or made) a separate pre-exposure product that is supposed to buy you some extra time to get scrubbed up and out of trouble. I've used it before when riding in PO intense areas. Didn't have any problems but hard to say if it was because of the Tecnu or because I just didn't get into the PO badly enough.

It sounds like the Tecnu product may be very like your Ivy Block.

 

They must have discontinued this product. All the Technu products for PO are for post exposure use.

 

http://www.poisonoakandivysoap.com/

Have any of you guys tried this. Works pretty dang good. Just keep it away of the twig and berrys cause it has twigs in it.

 

i had to get an injection in my eye. I touched it with my mtb gloves and went dirt biking for the weekend with those same gloves...so yea i had it every were...literally :-k. I got on my face and i couldnt even see out of my left eye...wasnt fun