Does anyone know something that REALLY works to stop the itch from poison ivy?  Any recommendations will be GREATLY appreciated.

Oh oh. Maybe know what it looks like all year round to be able to avoid it at all times? Joking aside, cortizone cream and a lot of patience. You may be better off consulting a doctor if its really bad.

I have to second montcheval.....only thing that works for me is prevention. There are a ton of things on the net and old wives tales. Tech Nu soap works well if used after exposure but the time between exposure and effectiveness of the soap varies by individual. Like montcheval stated, if it is bad, go see a doctor.

There is a cream called Zanfel, it is spendy - but worth it.  Available at most stores; Walgreens, Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite Aid.

 

You place a small dot of the cream on the spot, rub it a bit then wash it off.  Immediate relief.  Have a tube on hand at all times - as it washes away the oil and provides relief from the itch.

 

GOOD LUCK.

Prevention & treatment - Oral Ivy drops
(Available at Sunflower Market, this is what the PG&E crews use prior to po season)

Hylands Poison Oak/Ivy tablets - available at OH Market and Sunflower.

Tecnu Extreme is good for rash treatment, available at Ace.

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  Actually, we were cleaning up around the place and pulled out some poison ivy that was dead and dry but apparently still had some oil in it.  Tried to be very careful with it, and  I can kick myself for not using my Fels Naptha soap!  Got it all around my wrists behind my gloves and on my legs where it went thru my jeans.

I vote for ZANFEL too you wont believe how well it works

MKS, thank you for recommending the Tecnu. I ran up to Ace and got the spray and it works great to stop the itch. :o) I will also get some Zanfel when I go into town to use in the future.

I SECOND THE USE OF TECNU. WE GET OURS AT ACE JUST USE THAT A FEW TIMES A DAY......I HAVE USED ZANFEL ALSO BUT ITS PRICY....ALSO WHEN ITS REALLY BAD, I USE STRAIGHT BLEACH ON MY SKIN. IT BURNS BUT IT DRIES UP QUICK......

FORGOT TO MENTION THAT DR. CRAIG RUSSELL (Chiro doctor) HAS SOME TYPE OF "TREATMENT" IN HIS OFFICE THAT HE DOES THAT IS SUPPOSE TO STOP BREAK OUTS FROM POISON OAK, ETC. THE SAME PROCEDURE IS SUPPOSE TO CURE ALLERGIES AND I EVEN THINK I HAVE HEARD IT HELPS YOU STOP SMOKING......IF YOU CALL HIS OFFICE, THE STAFF CAN EXPLAIN IT BETTER THAN I CAN......

I use bleach as well, hurts, but its over quick and dries it out

Poison Oak can keep it's oils for up to 7 years after cutting, so two recommendations. First avoid all contact until the time is up unless covered. But MOST important, don't burn it. If oils are left and you inhale the smoke, image the effects but on your insides. Hope these cures work out for you.

To show you how dumb I am, I have lived in the foothills for 20 years and didn't know we had poison Ivy. I only knew of poison oak. If we have poison ivy do we also have poison sumac?

My doctor has treated both my husband and my son for it with injections of Decadron. GREAT STUFF.

i get it really really bad. if i get it one spot, i got it everywhere. the only thing i have found that works for me is to wash with really Technu and while i am running the cold water over it, i scratch the crap out of the affected area . Then i rub on more technu. About two times a day for a week or so and its gone.... the scratching opens any little hidden blisters of oil and relieves some of the itch. then pouring the technu over it and rubbing it in really well after helps keep the itch tolerable for a while... i hate oak! :(

bvjack said:
To show you how dumb I am, I have lived in the foothills for 20 years and didn't know we had poison Ivy. I only knew of poison oak. If we have poison ivy do we also have poison sumac?

You are not dumb, I have live in foothills in El Dorado county and Here  all my life and only know of the same... we dont have poison ivy or sumac just oak. Unless somehow it traveled here then I don't know but Just to let you know I went a website:

Don’t touch me there
   Although the three plants are all related as members of the cashew family, not all are found throughout the United States. Hawaii and Alaska are free 
of the three. Poison sumac is mostly found east of the Mississippi River and in the Southeast. Poison ivy is rarely found west of the Rocky Mountains. That is poison oak country. There is neither poison ivy nor poison sumac in California, only poison oak. Usually none of the three can be expected above 5000 foot elevations.
   The plants are hardy and can grow almost anywhere. They like water and ravines and are easy to miss among the more harmless vegetation. Still, the best way to avoid getting a dose of dermatitis is to avoid the plant and its toxic oil.

Good to know, I thought we had both. We have some that seem to grow as a bush and then we have the type that sends a runner up the trees so I assumed that was poison ivy and the bush type is poison oak. I spray it all with poison several times a year and am getting it pretty well under control. I got my worst case from unknowingly getting the oil off one of my horse's neck. I still have scars from that bout with it. I took a Benadryl this morning and it helped tremendously.

I have been lucky to be resistant to it, I pay no attention at all in fact I don't even wear gloves while clearing it. with that said bout three years back i was clearing a hill side and created a large pile of brush mostly poison oak. the day after burning the pile I was hurting probably should have went to the doc but i'm a bit hard headed. the smoke i inhaled i couldn't hardly breath my eyes swelled almost closed could not talk for a week. I found my limit, won't do that again!! but it still has no effect on me thank God. just a bit more careful when burning. I heard ppl say that goats love to eat it, friend said goats ate all poison oak on his property did a good job on weeds also

They say if you drink milk from goats that have been feeding on the stuff it helps you not get it.I have not found that to be true. In my case They are where I get it every year. They run through it and I touch them...
If you suspect exposure wash immedietly with lye soap or dish soap if you dont have it and cold water. you need to cut that oil and remove it. At the first sign of rash I start with pure tea tree oil. Dont scratch...makes more iritation more itching. Hot baths DO NOT make it worse so long as the oil is gone. use cortizone along with the tea tree. take benadril every 4 hours.It will help if it makes you sleepy...take it only at night and you may sleep better(you can take two at a time)as it seems to itch worse at night. It it gets really bad go get seen. My friend puts bleach and clear nail polish on hers...She says it helps..I think not. Good luck.

sorry I ment....benadril will help, but may make you sleepy...

Just a warning that Benadryl can have the opposite effect on young children and make them hyper. My daughter had a terrible cause of poison oak when she was 4 or 5 and her pediatrician recommended Children's Benadryl. While it helped stop the itch sensation, it turned her into a wild child until the medicine wore off.

poison oak-this really works-once you know you have been exsposed to it you take your old iron skillet and about 2 or more cups of flour-cook it until it burns,it will turn greyish black-let it cool then start rubbing it on your skin ,all over -youll look like a pastry puff tuned grey butthe burnt flour absorbs the oils and saves you about 3 weeks of misery,try it its cheap and works.sounds silly but it does the job.