Ortho Brush-B-Gone is a good product. Many have talked about how to avoid a rash. Here is good advice from the FDA - http://www.fda.gov/fdac/features/796_ivy.html: Because urushiol can penetrate the skin within minutes, there's no time to waste if you know you've been exposed. "The earlier you cleanse the skin, the greater the chance that you can remove the urushiol before it gets attached to the skin," says Hon-Sum Ko, M.D., an allergist and immunologist with FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. Cleansing may not stop the initial outbreak of the rash if more than 10 minutes has elapsed, but it can help prevent further spread. If you've been exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, if possible, stay outdoors until you complete the first two steps: * First, Epstein says, cleanse exposed skin with generous amounts of isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol. (Don't return to the woods or yard the same day. Alcohol removes your skin's protection along with the urushiol and any new contact will cause the urushiol to penetrate twice as fast.) * Second, wash skin with water. (Water temperature does not matter; if you're outside, it's likely only cold water will be available.) * Third, take a regular shower with soap and warm water. Do not use soap before this point because "soap will tend to pick up some of the urushiol from the surface of the skin and move it around," says Epstein. * Clothes, shoes, tools, and anything else that may have been in contact with the urushiol should be wiped off with alcohol and water. Be sure to wear gloves or otherwise cover your hands while doing this and then discard the hand covering.

I had to laugh at your sudden knowledge of what your DH has been doing, yet to that moment, no one had come down with raging reactions. Of course, you know how it is. Now that you're aware, it'll happen. I was also not allergic to PI until I moved to the country and rubbed it all over my body with my cell phone. Long story. I learned that PI can be steroid resistant. I learned that like humans have blood, plants have urushiol oil. For example, my friend reacts to the morning glory family like it was PI. I learned that if you get PI on your forearms or your stomach, it's more likely to go systemic. I also learned that you don't need "generous swabbings" of alcahol or bleach, or hot towels, etc. Or to carry it around with you. Why waste time? All I/you need is a degreasing soap. Oil + degreaser = no oil. oil + water or not enough bleach or alcohol = spread it all over yourself. Follow me? I had PI all over our 6 acres, to the point where it covered the house we bought. I had these gorgeous, weeping trees along my fence lines we learned were actually fence posts with PI growing up them so thickly it rose over 15' into the air. Ick. Makes my hair stand on end. Now, if I think I'll be working near PI, pulling out the roots (I can get PI from the dirt the roots are in) or mowing the field where it hides in the clover? I used to use Technu before hand, but now? I just rub degreasing Dawn dishsoap on my arms and exposed areas. Less expensive and washes off pretty well.:) If I even think I've been near PI, I go into the house and rub dishwashing soap or Lever 2000 all over me using as little (cold) water as possible. I wait a few minutes, brushing my teeth or something, then hop into the shower. Don't forget to wash your hair well! Although I've flirted with PI since I had a huge, total-body reaction, I can guarantee you if you use some sort of degreaser after you're done gardening, you won't react. If you did (and not from the clothes someone leaves lying around) I'll buy your soap. Another myth is that you can catch PI from someone's outbreak. No. Our bodies don't produce urushiol; it's not parasitic. That's just your body reacting. Put on a space suit and pull out the roots. If you don't, it grows back from the tiniest little root hair. ICK! Good luck with your giant pile in the field, 'cause even dead, those leaves can get you. Christine

The cure to removing poison ivy from your body! I'm not sure about bleach, but I know that I wouldn't want it near my eyes... The Key to not breaking out with poison ivy is to get the urushoil off of you ASAP. DO NOT USE HOT WATER. The irritant in poison ivy is urushoil. It is a sticky oil. If you come into contact with it, it will cause problems until it is removed from your skin and anything that comes in contact with your skin. There are several products sold just for this. I'm very allergic to urushoil and have tried many. The best and most readily available is the same soap that your mechanic uses to remove motor oil from their hands. Because urushoil is a sticky oil it does require a little more scrubbing but it works 100%. Directions for removal: 1.Apply the soap dry (DO NOT ADD WATER) to the affected area. 2. Scrub for 2 minutes. The soap needs to get between the urushiol and your skin. It will temporily break down the oils ability to stick. 3. Wash off completely with COLD water. If you use hot water, then you may be in for an unpleasant surprise! Note: The residue soap will now contain the urushoil, and when the residue drys it may become sticky oil again. 4. All itchiness should be gone. If not repeat the process. I like Lava and JoJo brands the best. The grittier the better. Walmart, KMart, Your local auto parts store will all carry this soap. I usually buy the 16 oz squeeze bottles for around ~$2. This soap also gets the urushiol and many stains out of clothes. Just be sure to hose the residue off the clothes before adding them to your laundry.

Desensitizing remedies have been looked at for many years with no success. Your best defense is to know what Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, and Poison Sumac look like and avoid making contact with them, or know what to do right away of contact is made. Spraying bleach to kill plants is an inappropriate use of the product and is not an environmentally sound practice. kimmq is kimmsr