An Ounce of Prevention

by Andrew Philpot

As a frequent hiker and nature photographer, I run into poison ivy quite a bit.

I have not found a cure, but have found that ounce of prevention.

A few summers ago I was introduced to a product called "Poison Ivy Block". This comes in a bottle and is applied like sunscreen, but instead of protecting you from the sun, it blocks the oils in poison ivy from getting to your skin.

I have found that this product works well and kept me from getting poison ivy, except for a few single bumps of poison ivy rash. I used to get poison ivy very badly and have had to take steroids a few times because it swelled my eyes shut.

I would advise anyone hiking in shorts to at least put this stuff on your legs to keep that itchy rash away. I'm sorry if this sounds like an ad for this stuff, I just like it and it works.

Andrew Philpot