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How to Outsmart Poison Ivy

(ARA) – Outdoor enthusiasts look forward to summer with excitement – once the weather cooperates, they want to be outside enjoying nature. That can mean hiking, camping, biking and other fresh air activities.

As any experienced outdoorsperson knows, when exploring in the woods, it pays to be on the lookout for poison ivy, oak and sumac. “The rash, blisters and itching associated with these plants are caused by urushiol, a chemical in the sap,” explains Dr. Mark Christensen, associate professor of Pharmacy at Oregon State University. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 85 percent of the population will develop an allergic reaction when exposed to poison oak, ivy or sumac.

Obviously, the first line of defense against being affected is being able to identify these three plants. You can find photos of the offending plants in books or online, but here are some other tips for identifying the plants.

Poison ivy grows around lakes and streams in the Midwest and East. It can be a woody, ropelike vine, a trailing shrub on the ground, or a free-standing shrub. It normally has three leaflets, but may vary from groups of three to nine. Leaves are green in the summer and red in the fall, and it has yellow or green flowers and berries.

Poison oak grows as a low shrub in the eastern part of the country from New Jersey to Texas; it grows to 6-foot-tall clumps or vines up to 30 feet long along the Pacific coast. Its oak-like leave usually grow in cluster of three, with clusters of yellow berries.

Poison sumac grows in boggy areas, especially in the Southeast as a rangy shrub up to 15 feet tall, with seven to 13 smooth-edged leaflets and glossy pale yellow or cream colored berries.

Common advice for those who come into contact with one of the plants is to remove all clothes and shoes that have touched the plant; and wash the exposed skin within ten minutes with soap and water.

These steps are not always enough, however, to ensure that you won’t still suffer from the rash and itch of poison ivy, oak or sumac. “It can be very difficult to remove all traces of urushiol from the skin, but if a person removes it in time, the rash can actually be avoided,” says Christensen.

A new product called Tecnu Extreme can actually protect users from developing the rash of poison ivy, oak and sumac as well as stop the rash from spreading if used after exposure. Simply squeeze a marble-sized amount of the gel into the palm of your hand, add a slight amount of water and gently rub it over skin that has been exposed to the poison plants.

Tecnu Extreme is an entirely new formulation from Tec Labs, "The Poison Oak and Ivy Experts." It contains micro fine scrubbing beads to help remove the rash causing oils that are embedded in the skin; the itch relieving active ingredient Grindelia helps treat the symptoms. It’s a one-step solution for people to use to prevent the rash, stop the itching or heal the rash once it has started.

So don’t let poison ivy, oak or sumac take the fun out of your summer outdoor activities. Just be sure to keep a tube of Tecnu Extreme in your backpack or medicine cabinet so it is handy when you need it.

For more information, visit www.tecnuestreme.com or call (800) ITCHING.

Courtesy of ARA Content