Published June 17, 2009 09:00AM
With the advent of summer, we welcome warmer weather and longer daylight hours – a perfect
backdrop for our trail running adventures. But one pitfall of swishing through
the single-track is the risk of exposure to poison oak or poison ivy.
Over the past few years I’ve become hyper-sensitive to these nasty natural hazards, and thus I’ve
tried my fair share of over-the-counter treatments. Washing with Tecnu is often
recommended as the best defense just prior to potential exposure, or
immediately following any suspected brush against the plants. Unfortunately,
I’m not usually aware of my exposure until I have a full-blown rash, at which
point I resort to the pricey, yet oh-so-satisfying relief of Zanfel. This scrub
seems to help reduce the severity and longevity of a poison oak/ivy reaction,
and more importantly, it provides a few glorious itch-free minutes as I
vigorously rub it into the affected area.
Of course there are other options – topical creams and oral antihistamines abound on pharmacy
shelves. But I bet there are also a variety of lesser known and alternative solutions
to combat this summertime itch – old wives tales, if you will – and I’d love to
hear about them. Please leave a comment if you have any unique suggestions to
share!