A few years ago, I read about some stuff that would make poison ivy stop itching, It was supposedly the only thing that would actually wash away the oil from the ivy. I found some online. It was about $50 for 2 ounces. And, besides, I didn't actually believe it would work.
Well, I got poison ivy again this week, and I have been quite miserable. Today, my Beloved found some stuff at the pharmacy called Tecnu, and got it for me. I used it to wash my arm, which was all red and blistery and itching hijjus, and it was immediately better. The red was gone, the blisters were receding, and the itch had stopped. Just like that. Gone.
I was still kind of skeptical, and, indeed, the itch has come back a little, but just a little, and only in the spots that I didn't wash as thoroughly, or the spots where the skin was already broken.
I'm truly amazed. If you suffer from poison ivy, you must try this stuff.
Tecnu comes from OR, Albany I think. If you spend time there with a mountain bike you will understand why it is the right place to have a factory selling anti-Poison Oak stuff. One day I should put up photos of what my legs looked like after a bad incident. Try washing your clothes in the stuff too.
I agree. I think it is from Albany, OR or maybe New York. I know it's Albany, however, just not sure of the state. They also make another version called Tecnu Extreme which I actually prefer. I'd used regular Tecnu for about 10 years but got some of the extreme at the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey. Anyhow, I think the extreme version is even better. SteveL is right about using the regular stuff on clothes. I keep a big bottle of Tecnu (about the size of a big Gulp) around and stick a sprayer bottle top on it. You can go to the dollar store and get a spray bottle for a buck and just use that sprayer. I guess you could just pour Tecnu in a spray bottle. Anyhow, I use that to spray down my bike and mountain bike shoes and my riding clothing. Let them sit for a few minutes and then wipe my bike down, and rinse my shoes off, to get rid of the poison oak sap stuff. Then I throw the clothes in the washer. Works like a charm.
July 4 - fireworks from skunk to Rottie - my dog got sprayed and my friends had Tecnu and on the bottle was a photo of a skunk - meaning that it would take care of that awful oil also. After about 5 appplications and rinses - my 110 pound dog is sleeping in the house and there is only a slight smell of wet dog and little if any of skunk. What a lifesaver - am ordering some tonight.