Review of Ivy-X Cleansing Towelette
The longer you wait to treat your skin after you think you've been exposed to poison ivy or poison oak, the more time you give the harmful urushiol secreted by the plants to be absorbed and cause that dreaded itchy rash associated with poisonous plants. That's why the key to reventing the rash is a fast response – and also why products such as Ivy X Cleansing Towelettes are ideal to have around if you live in or are on vacation in an area where poison oak, ivy or sumac are known to grow.
Most people who live in these areas tend to have some kind of treatment stored at home in case of accidental exposure to poisonous plants. The treatments most commonly come in liquid form, and are then applied liberally to the skin in order to remove urushiol before it has time to be absorbed and cause a rash. It's always advisable to have a product like this at home, just in case! However, they can be inconvenient to take with you if you're out and about and have limitations on what you can carry with you. Ivy X Cleansing Towelettes provide a solution to this problem, since they're light and compact enough for you to slip into your purse, glove compartment, or bag. You can keep them there all the time, so that you'll always have a remedy to hand if you accidentally come into contact with poison ivy.
A speedy response is important if you're going to be successful in your attempt to prevent poison oak/ivy rash. The longer you leave the urushiol on your skin, the more time it has to soak in – and you can't get it off once it's done that! Not only that, but you're likely to accidentally transfer it to other parts of your body while it remains in the skin's surface, as it is very easily spread via touch. It's recommended, therefore, that you educate yourself about poison ivy, oak and sumac – learn what they look like, so that if you do accidentally brush against some, you'll be able to spot it and take appropriate action. Otherwise, you won't know anything about it until you break out in a rash, and it'll be too late for preventative measures then!
Unfortunately, urushiol is pretty tricky to get rid of. It binds on the skin, transfers easily to anything it touches, and works quickly to soak into the skin. Some people make the mistake of trying to remove it by scrubbing with warm water, but this can actually make matters worse, as the warm water opens up the pores, making it easier for the oil to be absorbed, and the scrubbing will then cause it to be rubbed in rather than wiped off. Always use a specialized product if you can. If you do carry around wipes like Ivy X Cleansing towelettes, simply wipe one over the exposed skin to loosen and remove the urushiol. Wipe thoroughly, and be careful not to touch the parts of the towelette that have rubbed the affected skin – you don't want to spread the oil about. Always dispose of the cloth carefully.
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