We know that poison ivy can cause a nasty allergy reaction called “contact dermatitis”. People with eczema is especially vulnerable. Allergic reaction to poison ivy is not immediate, it can be delayed for a couple of hours or even a full day. Therefore, it might be difficult to determine the allergy cause as the sufferer might not even aware that he or she has come into contact with poison ivy.

The culprit which causes the nasty itch is urushiol. Humans especially is especially sensitive to it. Over 50% of the people are allergic to poison ivy when they touch it for the first time. Urushiol is a sticky sap of poison ivy. If not wash off immediately, it can be absorbed through the surface of the skin and binds with body proteins to create a new substance. At that point, it cannot be scrubbed off. When your body starts to recognize this foreign substance in the body, the reactions will start. The delay window between the contact and the actual reaction is the opportunity to apply treatment to stop further allergic reaction.

Tecnu Extreme Poison Ivy Scrub is a very popular treatment for poison ivy allergy. It has added micro fine scrubbing beads to help remove the rash causing oils that are embedded in the skin, and added the itch relieving active ingredient Grindelia. Its a one-step solution to remove urushiol oil and relieve itching and burning from the rash. If you know you have been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, you can wash with Tecnu Extreme to remove the urushiol oil before your rash begins.

Zanfel Poison Ivy Cream is another popular poison ivy cream. Zanfel helps lift the toxin, urushiol, common to poison ivy, oak and sumac from the skin where it has come into contact and bound to the epidermis. This binding of plant toxin creates the allergic rash known as poison ivy. By washing the urushiol oil out of the skin cells, relief comes more quickly.