My reaction to Poison Oak does not come out for two to three weeks after exposure. So I feel I am very lucky and near immune to it. I do understand that repeat exposure to PO lessons the immunity. Precautions I take is number 1 stay away from some trails that have a ton of it until trail crews come thru and brush it back. Never just splash thru a water crossing in the trail the oil floats on the water and is one of the easiest ways to unknowingly get it. And never pet trail dogs. The best soap I have found is the old fashion Castile Soaps, the easiest to find at Health Food Stores and Traders Joe's is Dr. Bronner's Magic Soaps. http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/OLPE32EA/PeppermintLiquidSoap.htm Dean
Those are some gnarly pics. I had it quite a few years ago and my understanding is that the oils are the only things that cause it. I had it for what seems like forever, the damn blisters would not go away. Then just one day in the shower I was massaging the area due to itching and said screw it and went to town. (lol sounds bad after rereading it) Cleared all of the blisters off and walah a day or two later it cleared up. Can anyone else confirm that if you do pop the blisters that it does not spread it anymore? Its just from the original oils right?
Most important peice of advice in the whole thread right there. If you jumo into a hto shower after coming into contact with PO or PI, your going to make is substantially worse. you NEED to wash with cold water to start off with. You get this oil into your pores, it gets bad fast.
Just the oils. Once you've cleaned with some oil based cleanser, your good. I find that my patience with the itch and "don't scratch it" runs out fast. I end up just getting in a hot shower and scratching the heck out of it. It feels so good. And like you said, it seems to heal up faster that way.
It is just the oil doing it. Reason it seems to spread when you get home is two reasons, your sweating and its running down your leg, and two, you took a hot shower to start with, allowing it to soak into more pores as you were trying to wash it off in the first place. Cold shower to clean the initial contamination, hot shower to get it out of the pores its already in. My brother got it inside his knee pad once, started getting a snty blister on his right shin, and on the back of his left calf, He cross's his legs when he sits. He didnt know he had it, while getting somehting to eat he stretched back, crossed his legs, there it is on both sides. Fun stuff, too bad its out there. Its a great way to ruin a ride
I followed MTB bill trail in Idyllwid and ended up in creek with boulders and waist high poison oak, luckily I did not look this bad. Woe to the one with this poison oak, WOW......
Another fact you should be aware of, grasshoppers: If there are new lesions popping up, you have what is called "systemic poison oak" which means that it has gotten into your entire body and continues to spread. Others have told me about a product called Zanfel. Most doctors have never heard of this stuff so you may need to go armed with information - do some internet research yourself, print out the information and take it with you to your doctor.
The guy in the picture needs a safety pin. Also, I was sure I made repeated contact with PO at SJT, and I did the cold shower and Palmolive after. Lucked out, no reaction.
When I last rode that trail was before I developed a sensivitity to PO. I did not even notice the stuff then. I am in middle of fight off a good bout of the stuff right now and it sucks. Nothing like the pictures, but it is bad enough that pedaling would not be fun. I;m too puffy, oozy and crunchy into too may places like the back of my knees lower legs, arms as well as tiny patch near my left eye. I got into the stuff being someplace I really should not have been investigating some old trails. Trail Karma biting me I suppose.
I have one solution for the itch (not just poison ivy/oak, but for anything like a bug bite). I can't claim that this will work for anyone else. After taking a shower, turn the water to high. Hot enough that you feel the pain, but not so hot that you burn yourself. Then spray the water with the shower head on the itchy parts. Hot and long enough that you feel the pain. I can't explain it, but this hot water treatment works for me. For any kind of itch. It kept me from scratching my entire leg when it got exposed to poison oak. The treatment lasts for at least 12 hours for me.
Apparently that soap has some good herb in it. I'm gonna get me some.\\/ INGREDIENTS: Water, Saponfied Organic Coconut Oil*, Saponified Organic Olive Oil*, Organic Glycerin, Organic Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Mentha Arvensis Extract, Organic Mentha Peperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol (* Certified Fair Trade by IMO)
I try to keep a small bottle of Palmolive and a jug of water in my truck when i'm doing rides where PO may be an issue. The toxic oil (I think its called Urushiol) is evidentally one of the most toxic substances on earth. Think of it on your skin like a grease stain on a t-shirt: the only way it's coming off is by being disolved with a grease cutter and washed away with water. The problem with baby wipes and alcohol is that they merely dilute the oils and in some cases, drive it into the pores of the skin. One of the worst bouts of PO i've had lately happened after using baby wipes. The best results i've had are when I soap my arms/legs/etc thoroughly with diswashing liquid and rinse with water right after a ride.
Anyone have any opinions on the effectiveness of those citrus-based hand cleaners you can get at Pep Boys, Kragen et al? I figure if that stuff can cut through automotive grease and motor oil with no problem, it should work for removing any trace of PO oil. Also, you'll get to smell Sunkist fresh after using it. (^_^)d
I lived on the Central Coast of CA for a few years and was exposed to PO all the time. I have had it many times. I found that my constant exposure lessened my reaction, but that may have been to the care I took after. THE KEY is taking a shower in water that is as HOT AS YOU CAN STAND IT. The idea is that this is an oil contact problem, so soap with really hot water gets the oil off. I do not fear PO anymore...it is manageable. That photo is awesome, but not the standard reaction (obviously). When I was first exposed my reactions were pretty bad with blisters and all, but no more. Here is a picture I took today. She's a beauty and she is everywhere. This was in San Luis Obispo county.
The Dr. can help. If you get it badly, go to the doctor. They will prescribe pred and it will be gone in days not weeks. I got it about 18 months ago..crashed into the stuff and then soaked in a hot bath after. (trying to nurse the separated shoulder, without thinking about the oak)... It wasn't as bad as the pics, but then...I didn't let it go long as it was ALL OVER my body. Doc actually gave me an injection of pred, and then pills for 21 days, but the oak was gone and stopped itching in two. FWIW.
One thing no one mentioned. (I'm not a Dr. so this might not be true, but I have heard that) You have several hours to wash it off before it can infect you. You should wash your hands before you, ah, go the bathroom, but you don't need to shower at the trailhead.
I'm pretty sensitive to it as well. I've had it four or five times now and have learned to go see the doc quick - if I do that then the prednisone he prescribes usually knocks it out fairly quick. First time I had it I wasn't so smart and let it get bad; had to go to the ER. #-o Somebody mentioned rubbing alcohol and simple green which are both great ideas. Cheap and effective. Remember to bring a gallon of water or something else to rinse off after you simple green yourself.
Other Poison Oak threads Lots of threads and good info here: what to do about poison oak My best poison oak experience Is this a Poison Oak Reaction? One man's poison (oak)is another man's pleasure... NOT! Removing Poison Oak from your bike... I fall victim to poison oak yet again Poison Oak