Let me add to Bob Hoover's suggestions my own personal savior, "TecNu
Oak-N-Ivy Outdoor Skin Cleanser." As someone who is instantly covered in
blisters if I so much as glance at poison ivy, I've never found anything
that works except this product. If you apply it within a few hours of
exposure, it absolutely does what it claims, which is remove the evil PI/PO
oil. Even after the rash has already appeared, it will reduce the symptoms,
though not as much as cortisone shots.

Needless to say, TecNu changed my life. Or rather, my so-called life.

It used to be available only from Forestry Suppliers, but now it's in most
drug stores. It's a little pricey for a 4 ounce bottle, but well worth it
in my opinion. Of course, it's now often bundled with a worthless bottle of
salve for the rash that doubles the price and doesn't have any discernable
effect. Forget that, just buy the skin cleanser.

Nick Honerkamp

At 07:52 PM 11/30/2003 -0500, you wrote:
>This often happens.  Pharmacies now have out two kind of medication.  The
>first is a preventative (Imunoak, etc.) that increases your tolerance
>level for
>the poison oak (ivy, sumac) oil by exposing you to small doses gradually.
>Sometimes it works or helps, but sometimes it doesn't.  The second type is
>a very
>caustic and abrasive remover of layers of the epidermis, useful if you use it
>right away, but I imagine that would only worsen your situation.
>
>  There is no substitute for scrubbing with Fels Naptha soap immediately after
>exposure to remove oils before they suppurate don't try to treat it at home
>with calamine lotion.  I nearly had a gangrenous wrist that way and healing
>took forever.  See a doctor for cortisone shots. I also experienced a
>resistance
>to poison oak as a child (son of a botanist), but got it bad when I was 20 and
>have done so ever since.  Must be age!
>
>Bob Hoover