Regarding Bleach and Poison Ivy.

I have to agree with the first poster regarding Poison Ivy exposure and bleach clean up.

Contrary to scientific reasoning ... yes I have degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering ... so I do understand the principles ... washing with Bleach right after exposure is VERY effective at stopping poison ivy/oak contact dermatitis.

Yes urishiol is an oil ... and yes mild bleach with do little to 'solvate' the oil itself. And, counter intuitively and ironically the oxidized form of urishiol is supposedly even more potent and is the form of the molecule that binds to proteins once absorbed int the skin ... all this said ...

Washing with bleach directly after exposure is Extremely Effective in preventing a break out.

The reasoning goes like this. The bleach contact on the skin - saponifies the surface of the skin ... allowing all grease and oil and dead skin to wash off. Note that when you get some bleach on your skin it feels slimy ? Well that is the saponification of your skin ... you are actually making "soap" out of the fatty acids on surface of your skin. That is why it is so very dangerous to get bleach or caustic in your eye. Which brings out a serious word of caution.

BE VERY CAREFUL with bleach - dont use it near your eyes ... or other mucous membranes.

But if you get direct poison ivy exposure on you arms, hands, legs, feet ... etc ... then take the 5% household bleach - dilute with water about 3:1 water to bleach ... and take a cup in the shower with you. Rinse the areas in question in the shower with the dilute bleach - WATCH YOUR EYES ! ... and them rinse till the slimy feeling is gone. Then clean directly with a good bar soap like ivory or dial.

I have done this for YEARS ... and hae had very good success. It is not solvating the oils which works ... but saponification of the outer skin layers which seems to be the root of the trick.

Happy Summer !