comments:
I'm pretty much this allergic. Get it from the dogs in winter, after they go running in the woods brake ivy stems, and bring the oils back to me. Got it from touching a metal wire that had been drug through ivy. I never once was more than 10 feet close to the stuff that day. But my arm touched the wire and that was that. We have 1.5 acres with a creek, and some spots along the edges have quite a bit of poison ivy. I've used a multi-prong approach to prevent getting it, when I work up the courage to attack it. My doc knows how allergic I am. If it gets to my face, it will be BAD. So, every summer she gives me a course of steroids so if I do start getting blisters, I can go ahead and start treating myself. That usually takes care of that. You're on the right track with Tyvec (approved by my OSHA spouce...). They make disposables. At ~$10 each from Amazon, it's worth it to spend $50-100 bucks, and throw away the suit at the end of each day. Much cheaper than a doctor or ER visit (in the US at least). Look up also proper way to remove gloves so as not to contaminate. YouTube has videos. Ivy Block X: Pre contact skin barrier. Lotion you put on before engaging the enemy. I won't sear by it, as with all the other measures I am taking, I can't say for sure how helpful it is. But, as long as it doesn't hurt, I'll keep using it. Not just rubber gloves, chemical resistant gloves: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007VR5ETC?th=1 . They are a little more spendy than the suits, so I do try to make them last a couple-few days by washing with item #5, and then washing them with dawn dish soap, while they are on my hands (all this is prepped for when I finish before I ever start to pull a sinlge leaf) Poison Ivy Wash/dawn dish soap. There are a number of decent brands out there. After I strip everything off (very, very, very carefully...after double bagging anything I have pulled...)I get into a cool shower (so my pores don't open as much). I use the ivy wash. And then I use the dawn dish soap. Depending on how itchy I feel (psychologically from simply working around in it) I will then use ivory soap. I could probably use just the ivy wash or the dawn, but I don't like the way the ivy wash feels after rinsing. Shoes: I like the painter's booties idea someone mentioned, but I have some water proof rubber exterior work boots. I wash those off with dawn dish soap, as well (usually the first thing that is taken off and washed. It's been a very long time since I've had it bad enough to worry about breathing problems (I think b/c I'm careful). I do still get patches on my legs, arms, &/or hands, randomly from the cats. The itching drives me out of my mind-I can't sleep and I can't think about anything else. About twenty years ago, I finely found a way to deal with the itch when it is on my extremities: Run one of the patches on your legs/arms/hands under water faucet. Gradually increase the heat til it is as hot as you can stand it, (don't scald yourself, but get as close to as hot as you can stand). Do that for 5-10 minutes. It will itch-BAD. You will want to rip your skin off. scream if you must. But after that, no more itching anywhere you have the icy blisters, for the next 6-8 hours. A lot of people just hop in the shower and do this over their whole body.The theory is, (not a doctor or scientist so don't know if true-just know it works for me) the itch is a histamine reaction, and this is depleting all the histamine in your body. It takes your body6-8 hours to recharge its histamine. Once I discovered this, I stopped being afraid of the barn cats rubbing my bare legs. But I don't put my face in theirs. Still too cautious. yes, your friends pulling the ivy for you should take the precautions of #1-6. Even those who are generally not allergic casually can prompt a physical reaction for themselves to the oils by being exposed to a large concentrated amount. Forgot about one item: swimming goggles, especially if it is hot enough to sweat (and in all that gear its usually guaranteed.) & a plastic face protector. The oils can become airborn depending on how they are being pulled, if they are folded (to be put in trash) and are wet and get flung around. And when I'm really hot, my eyelids sweat. It is uncomfortable, but before I wipe my eyes, the googles remind me to be careful how I do it (rag set aside, ask friend to come help move the goggles and wipe my eyes for me.) It seems like a lot, but if you are ER level allergic, much better to be safe than sorry. (Usually cheaper too) Good luck. You have my sympathies.