32 replies to this topic

[terrydodge]

HELP!

I got it some how and now I would like very much to get rid of it.
Any tricks that anybody uses out there to get rid of it fast?
Fire! I wonder if fire fire will work?

[Mike G]

Terry,

I feel your itch as on who used to get it all the time. I do not get it as much since I wash up after being in the brush and shed any clothes I was wearing. That won't help you now that you got it.. My second trick to kill the itch is using Solarcain sunburn spray or Americain ointment. Benadryl and Cortizone creams will help too.

[Tom L]

Terry,
Try soaking youself in oatmeal bath. You can get it from Walgreens.
http://www.walgreens...d353119-product

That was what I used when I got poison ivy.

[Dana Lee]

Not sure your pain tolerance, but scratch it raw and make sure to clean under your nails with a brush after. Then use bleach or brake cleaner on it. Works for me, and gone in a day. Be warned, it is not comfortable.

[mikea]

I'm really really suscetible, it's one of the main reasons I dont bushwack on smaller flows. I use http://www.walgreens...1385962-product Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub its the only thing I could find in years pas that actually extracts the oils and drys it out.

Do a quick web search, opening up that stuff or heating it aint the answer.

[Rob G.]

Get an Rx for oral Prednisone, nice loading dose then taper.

And are you serious about the brake cleaner and bleach

[scotth]

1/2 shot of Jack, 1/2 shot of Jim, and a paste of Crest toothpaste...take the shot, rub the toothpaste on the area....you will forget the itch and smell pretty good...

[klrbaer]

Hey Dana Lee, I've got a very good friend that does the bleach and It works great for him. I'm not so keen on rubbing bleach on my body.

[Dana Lee]

Funny thing is I am dead serious about brake cleaner or bleach. I did it once and it was gone the next day. Anymore I just let it run its course and scratch the living hell out of it. It does dry quicker when scratching it a lot. Just make sure to wash ur hands and nails afterwards.

[terrydodge]

I went the mikea way with the Tecnu Extreme.
A good friend of mine spoke with a tree doctor and says that the tree doctor uses bleach.
I may try the bleach if this Tecnu stuff doesn't give me the results I want.
Now that I know using bleach is doctor approved that is.

[Eric]

I feel your pain. I get it every year, no matter how careful I am. I try to stay out of the woods but seems like no matter what I end up with it. My kids' pediatrician gave me same samples of a corticosteroid salve that helped to ease the symptoms. I normally have to just deal with it and let it run its course.

One more reason to kayak -- keeps me away from the vegetation!

[Rob G.]

Funny thing is I am dead serious about brake cleaner.

Brake cleaner, don't be ridiculous, but now automatic transmission fluid......there's a winner!

[Jack T]

Try Calamine Lotion

[Mike G]

WD 40

It does everything else; so it should work.

[terrydodge]

WD 40

It does everything else; so it should work.

....and after spraying the infected areas with WD-40, I will then wrap those same areas with duct tape.

[Dana Lee]

I used brake fluid once. I'll never do it again. The things you'll do in an auto shop to get rid of the darn itching. Woke up the next day and it was gone tho. I get it so bad, I usually have to get the shot in the emergency room. Ohh the joys of being an outdoorsman!

[terrydodge]

3 days after Dana Lee's original post/suggestion he writes this...........

I used brake fluid once. I'll never do it again.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Dana Lee]

Haha. That's cuz brake fluid didn't work, just hurt... It's brake cleaner that hurts bad but works very effectively... My mess up, I apologize.
P.s. I'm not a fan of pain if that helps. Bleach doesn't feel good either.

You could also try a branding iron or a fillet knife. Scarring isn't permanent with the right plastic surgeon...

[Jim J]

HA

Seriously though..

I assume you guys are wearing waders when crashing through brush etc. Do you then contact your waders with your hands etc?

Is it your hands or legs or what?

If you're not wearing waders then I get it. (I think)

[terrydodge]

Left hand and top of head. I personally think that I got it off of a large weed that kind of grew into a tree that I cut down last week in my back yard.
Wife don't believe that though. Of course i had to have gotten it from fishing. Yes wear waders when fishing and I also wear a hat too.
When cut down the large weed I had no hat on. After 26 years of marriage I"ve learned not to argue.