Ask the Experts About Poison Ivy and Oak

Tecnu sponsors the Cascade Cream Puff

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 28 May 2008 21:37:00 +0000

Tecnu Extreme is proud to sponser the Cascade Cream Puff Adventure Race in Oregon.

This year will be the 13th annual Cascade Cream Puff (a 100 mile mountain bike race). Held outside the town of Westfir/Oakridge Oregon, Sunday June 29th 2008. Participants come from all over the United States, Canada, and this year one person registered from Russia! The Cascade Cream Puff is one of the toughest 100 mile mountain bike races in the U.S.A. and maybe the world! Half of the race course is held on single-track trail. In the past there has been 18,000 feet of cumulative climbing over the full length of the course, this years course has not been determined yet...

Many racers have commented that the Cascade Cream Puff is the best race that they have every been participated, in or spectacled at. The racers are supported with the "Best aid stations ever!"

Finishers receive the coveted 100 mile finishers hat. They wear there hats until and beyond they are thread bear...much the way they look and feel at the completion of the event. Ask yourself this: do I have what it takes to be a Cream Puff? http://www.cascadecreampuff.com/

Common Tecnu questions

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Sea Otter Classic 2008 was once again a fantastic event. The weather was nice and the turnout was great. Many of the Sea Otter racers were more than happy to see the Tecnu exhibit since one of the courses was covered in poison oak. We had a multitude of suffering poison oak victims uncovering their rashes hoping for relief. We had plenty of Tecnu Extreme on hand so we sent them off to the bathroom with some so they could wash up.

Through interacting with so many loyal users, some of the common misunderstandings about Tecnu and poison oak came up. Here are some of the questions that were asked:

Can Tecnu be used as a preventative before I’m exposed to poison ivy or oak?

Tecnu is designed to be used after exposure to poison plants. After you know you have been around poison ivy or oak, use Tecnu to remove the urushiol (the plant’s oil). By removing this toxin from your skin you can prevent a rash.

How long do I have to use Tecnu after being exposed to poison ivy or oak?

We recommend washing with Tecnu 2-8 hours after exposure to the plants. However, it really depends on how sensitive you are to the urushiol.

The rash continues to spread and I can’t figure out why.

Poison ivy and oak rash is spread from urushiol, which is why it is so important to wash it off your skin. Urushiol can also stay on surfaces such as tools, equipment (like your mountain bike), clothing, shoes and pet fur. It is important to remove it from these surfaces so you don’t get the rash through secondary contamination. Unlike most products on the market, Tecnu Original Outdoor Skin Cleanser can be used on these items to remove urushiol.

If you have a question about poison ivy or oak, add a comment here and we will post the answer.

You can see our event photos on our MySpace page at www.myspace.com/tecnuextreme.

Ales and Trails

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 16:18:00 +0000

Mountain biking, barbeque and beer?

That's the plan at the annual event "Ales and Trails" held at the China Camp State Park in San Rafael, CA, on June 28, 2008. It includes guided rides and clinics in the morning, a gourmet barbeque with Chef Patrick Clark of the Cliff House, live music, beer tasting from six local breweries and a silent auction.

Tecnu Extreme is helping to sponsor this event which raises money to support mountain biking in California and the International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA). Free samples of Tecnu Exteme will be given away and we are donating a cooler pack full of products from Tec Labs.

For more information on this event, visit http://www.alesandtrails.net/.

For more information on IMBA, visit http://www.imba.com/.

Visit us at Sea Otter Classic!

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 21:41:00 +0000

The crew from Tec Labs will be at the Sea Otter Classic from April 17-20 in Monterey, CA.

Visit our booth to receive free samples of Tecnu Extreme and other products made by Tec Labs including:

Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser

Calagel Medicated Anti-itch Gel

Corticool 1% Hydrocortisone Gel

StaphAseptic First Aid Antiseptic / Pain Relieving Gel

The Sea Otter Classic is an annual event held in Monterey featuring mountain bike races and a feastival full of fun, music and entertainment. For more information on Sea Otter, visit www.seaotterclassic.com.

Poison oak and ivy are not the only plants that can cause irritation

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 16:25:00 +0000

Photo courtesty of the Dept of Forestry

To all of our friends in Orange County, beware of a pretty flower blooming in the hills known as the poodle dog bush, and don't forget to wash with Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser when you come inside after being outdoors. See this article from the OC Register:

Flower danger: 'If you touch it, it's going to get you'

Purple-flowered poodle-dog bush, growing in burn areas, is hazard to humans.
By EUGENE W. FIELDS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A pretty purple-flowered bush blooming on the hills of the burned areas in Santiago and Modjeska canyons is a danger to people, according to the Department of Forestry.
The flower, commonly known as poodle-dog bush, is an irritant akin to poison oak, said forester Eric Oldar.

"This time of the year, the floral stalk is brilliant and it's very attractive, especially along hiking trails or roads where people make a stop," Oldar said. "They'll go out and actually pick it and take it home as a flower arrangement, not knowing that contact, for the vast majority of the public, will cause a poison oak reaction."

Symptoms range from itching to a rash or blisters lasting as long as two weeks. George Ewan with the Orange County Fire Authority said the pain is reminiscent to coming in contact with stinging nettles.

"It's like that that except it doesn't wear off," Ewan said. "It goes for quite a while."
Oldar said the bush is typically dormant, but bloomed as a result of the Santiago Canyon fire in October.

"It becomes prevalent after a major disturbance like fire or something that takes the area back to the barren ground," Oldar said. "It will blossom, grow, and eventually be replaced by other dominant vegetation until another disturbance occurs."

Oldar said the prevalence period could last as long as a decade, which is one of the reasons his department is trying to get the word out about the bush. Another reason is because of the attractiveness of the flower.

"This time of year, it can be a greater attracting to the public," he said. "Later in the season, the flowers drop and the shrub will continue to exist, but it has no particular characteristic that would cause the public to come in contact with it."

Oldar said people should go to their doctor if they start to itch. An over-the-counter remedy is calamine lotion or anything that has a cortisone derivative.
Ewan said avoidance is the best remedy.

"If you're going to go out into the foothills or into the burn area, be careful," he said. "There's a cute little flower out there that's purple and if you touch it, it's going to get you."

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/oldar-flower-bush-2001799-people-fire#

Come visit us at Sea Otter Classic

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:09:00 +0000

Sea Otter Classic - April 17-20 2008 - Monterey, CA

Tecnu Extreme Medicated Poison Ivy Scrub is proud to sponsor the 2008 Sea Otter Classic.

More than just a bike race, the Sea Otter Classic is an event.

Those seeking competition can compete in mountain bike and BMX races, or you can take a recreational mountain bike tour. There will also be competitive cycling in a Dual Slalom race format. This timed competition includes two racers who will compete side-by-side on 400-ft long courses scattered with elements like wooden bridges and dirt jumps. The competition is for the pro's by invitation only.

Along with the competitions, there is an entire festival full of fun, music and entertainment. Come and visit the Tecnu Extreme booth for free samples! Tecnu is the leading brand in poison ivy, oak and sumac treatment.

Sea Otter Classic's profits support environmental and youth programs. For more information, visit http://www.seaotterclassic.com/.

Not everyone gets poison ivy, oak or sumac rash

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:05:00 +0000

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, up to 50 million people get the poison ivy or oak rash each year. However, not everyone will get the rash.

Expert opinion varies slightly as to how many people are immune to getting the rash. The estimates vary and suggest that between 3% and 15% of the population is immune to urushiol. However, even those immune people may get the rash if exposed to the plants enough.

The rash causing substance, urushiol, is in every fiber of the poison ivy or oak plant and can come into contact with skin in many ways. A person can get the urushiol on the skin by coming in “direct” contact with the plants--either by touching or rubbing against the leaves. You can also get the urushiol on the skin through “indirect” contact. For example, the urushiol may get on clothing, tools, or your pet's fur. Then, when you touch these items you end up getting the poison ivy or oak's rash causing urushiol on your skin.

For other frequently asked questions, visit http://www.tecnuextreme.com/faq.htm

Too Cool Racing

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 19:00:00 +0000

Tecnu Extreme is proud to support the Too Cool Racing series.

"Too Cool Racing is grass roots adventure racing that strives to give each and every racer quality, challenging races in and around central Texas. For 2008 we have some exciting news. First, we are proud to be part of the Checkpoint Tracker Adventure Racing Series. Go head-to-head with some of the best teams in the country and compete for points and cash!"

Visit upcoming events and receive free samples of Tecnu Extreme:

Upcoming Events for 2008:

Sprint Cameron Park - March 1
Sprint Canyon Park - March 29
Sprint Inks Lake - April 12
Spread Your Wings 14-24 Hour Adventure Race - May 24-26
No Sweat 12/24 Hour Adventure Race - August 23-24

For more information on Too Cool Racing, visit http://www.toocoolracing.com/.

Tecnu is the leader in poison ivy and oak treatment. For more information on Tecnu Extreme, visit http://www.tecnuextreme.com/.

Tecnu Extreme is sponsoring the NORCAL Adventure Racing Series

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Tecnu Extreme is the proud sponsor of the NORCAL Adventure Racing Series.

The NORCAL AR Series was created to meet the demand for more, professionally organized adventure races throughout Northern California.

The NORCAL AR Series is headed up by Rich Brazeau and a collection of experienced adventure athletes. For more than 10 years, Rich and the NORCAL staff have competed in, organized, and provided support for events in Northern California, North America and beyond.

In the past 5 years, Rich has successfully organized the Sierra Extreme Adventure Racing Series and founded the Explore California Racing Series. From 2005-2006, was the CEO of Primal Quest - overseeing all aspects of the world's largest (and, arguably the toughest) expedition race, Primal Quest Utah.

We sincerely hope to see you racing or volunteering for one of our NORCAL AR events this year!

For more information visit http://www.norcal-ar.com/

What causes poison ivy, oak and sumac rash?

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:24:00 +0000

It all boils down to the skin’s reaction to a nasty little oil called urushiol (ooh-roo-she-all). Urushiol is a toxic, resinous type substance that is found in all parts of the poison ivy, oak and sumac plants. When urushiol gets on the skin it binds to the skin within 10-20 minutes. At that point the urushiol becomes extremely difficult, if not impossible, to get off the skin with soap and water.

The rash from poison ivy, oak and sumac is the body’s natural reaction to the toxin. Contact with this annoying oil produces a rash in three out of four people. The rash can begin within a few hours after contact, or it can start three to five days later.

For more frequently asked questions about poison ivy and oak, click here to visit the FAQ's on Tec Labs' website.

Big Chill Adventure Race - January 26, 2008

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:16:00 +0000

In 2008, Too Cool brings a newer, cooler Big Chill Adventure Race back to beautiful Bastrop, Texas. This year we will offer both a sport and an adventure class. Expect 6-12 hours of river paddling, trekking and biking in the sport class with beginner to intermediate navigation. The adventure class will feature intermediate to advanced navigation and have race participants river paddling, trekking and biking for up to 24 hours. Of course, participants can expect ropes and special tests along the way as well as over $2,000 dollars in awards and prizes! The race will happen rain, snow, or shine, so be prepared for any type of weather. No support is necessary for this race.

For more information visit Too Cool Racing.

FREE Tubes of Tecnu Extreme

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:29:00 +0000

Do you have a MySpace account? If so, add Tecnu Extreme as your friend and receive a free tube. To request yours:

Go to www.myspace.com/tecnuextreme and add Tecnu Extreme to your friends list.
From the Tecnu Extreme MySpace page, click on the ad to request your free tube.

Note: You must be on the Tecnu Extreme friends list to receive your free tube...

Tecnu Extreme relieves itching and removes urushiol in one step! For more information on Tecnu Extreme, visit http://www.tecnuextreme.com/.

Could Poison Ivy Take Over?

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:17:00 +0000

Recent studies have shown that increased levels of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere have caused poison ivy and oak to grow larger and stronger. Here is a recent article documenting these findings:

Poising ivy spreading in area

Savannah Morning News

By Rob Pavey

January 10, 2008

Increased level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere causing more vines to grow.
Global warming has spawned all sorts of gloomy predictions for the future, but relatively few of them hit close to home.

We know the polar ice caps are melting faster, and that disease-carrying mosquitoes are spreading into new territory in Africa.

Locally, though, there are some consequences - and one of them is a huge increase in one of our most hated plants, Toxicodendron radicans, also known as poison ivy.

Bruce Allen, a post doctoral researcher at the University of Georgia's Department of Plant Biology, documented a 10-fold increase in poison ivy and other vines in forests at Savannah River Site in recent years.

The theory, he said, is that increased levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere (caused by man-made emissions) tend to accelerate growth of vines more than trees.

"Vines don't have to support themselves and can have seven or eight times the leaf area than stem area," he said.

Carbon dioxide, Allen added, is known to increase the efficiency of water use by plants, especially vines.

"Anything that improves its efficiency makes it grow faster, and it doesn't need as much water."
Allen and his colleagues studied forests along the Savannah River below Augusta to calculate growth rates of poison ivy and other vines.

What they found was a 10-fold increase in vine density in just two decades.

The researchers also cored poison ivy and trumpet creeper vines to determine age and rate of growth, and found that diameter growth rates increased each decade, with a slight drop off after 2000.

Cumulatively, the radial growth rate doubled over the past 40 years.

Aside from more itchy vines to contend with, what does it mean?

"Over time, this pattern could change the landscape of our forests," Allen said.

A few years ago, Allen and his colleagues published a study suggesting that accelerated vine growth equates to a decrease in tree growth.

As more vines shade out the forest floor, competing plants get less sunlight and could be eliminated.

savannahnow.com

Free Tecnu Extreme Samples in Eugene, Oregon

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:46:00 +0000

Tecnu Extreme is proudly sponsoring the Superfly Adventure Racing Team for the 2007/2008 season. Visit them at the following upcoming events in Eugene, Oregon to receive free samples of Tecnu Extreme:

Nov 24th - Fox Hollow Cross Race at the Fox Hollow French Immersion School
Dec 9th - Wintercross Race at Camp Harlow
Dec 15th - Jingle Bell Costume Race & Party, location TBD

Poison Ivy and Oak in the winter

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 20:33:00 +0000

Here's a reminder to be careful of poison ivy and oak vines in the winter. All parts of the plant, including the vines or branches, contain urushiol oil which causes poison ivy and oak rash. The urushiol also remains on the plant when it's dead.

During the winter when the leaves fall off the plant, you may not recognize it and come in contact unexpectedly. Be especially careful of dead vines on firewood. To protect yourself wear long sleeves and gloves, clean your tools, and wash with Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser to remove urushiol oil from your skin after handling firewood or venturing out into the woods.

Can you use Tecnu Extreme on pregnant women?

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 20:21:00 +0000

One of the questions we have been receiving often lately is can you use Tecnu Extreme on pregnant women. There is a warning on the tube to consult a health professional before use for the following reason:

Because Grindelia is in our product, as a precautionary measure, pregnant and nursing women should consult a health professional before use since no studies have been carried out as yet to confirm its safety in these areas.

Original Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser does not contain Grindelia and is safe to use when you are pregnant.

Do you have questions about our products? Email us or add your comments to this blog!

Calagel Success Story

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 19:29:00 +0000

Just wanted to share with you one of our customer's success stories using Calagel® Medicated Anti-Itch Gel.

I recently bought a home in the suburbs with my wife as with 2 children under 4 years of age we decided we needed a home with a yard. Last weekend my wife and I began to do some yardwork, pulling up weeds, planting some flowers and so forth, of course she wore gloves and even advised that I should as well. Being too macho for gloves (I really should listen to her more often) I opted to tough it out. Well, that decision was not a good one, I'd say it was around late Monday that I started to 'itch', and noticed a small trace of poison ivy on my hands, figured it was no big deal and put some calamine lotion on it, that's what you use right? As of Tuesday, I noticed I had it on my lower legs, my left and right side of my stomach, and the painstaking area between the fingers of both hands.

I came into the office on Wednesday with my hands covered in 'pink' from the lotion, certain ridicule began from co-workers as they felt I was being a baby - need I mention I ride a Harley and have several tattoos, so they wait for moments like this believe me. Last night I couldn't sleep, my hands itched so badly, I was up at 4am pouring calamine lotion on my hands, and also applying cortizone-10 ointment on top of it, I felt like a mad scientist but was willing to try anything.

Today is Thursday, my hands still covered in poison ivy, look like a science experiment gone wrong, and basically making my hands unfunctionable as they are too slimy to touch anything. Finally a nice woman at work decided to show some mercy, she said, I have this stuff at home that I used for my kids, it's fabulous and it clears up in a day or so. Knowing that I have a golf tee-time this Saturday, I'll try any home remedy or product anyone can offer. She went home and brought it back to me this morning, I immediately went to wash my hands completely of my prior concoction, and began to apply the skin cleanser, following the directions on the box. Upon completion I applied the clear gel to my hands and worked it in between my fingers. I can state with 100% certainty this product works. Within 10 minutes I am no longer 'itchy', my hands are clear and dry, allowing me back to the normal routine of my day. I'll be buying this nice lady lunch today, and believe me, she can order anything she wants.

Regards, CE., Westford, MA

Do you have a story about Tecnu products? We would love to hear from you. Just click on "comments" below and add your thoughts!

Welcome!

noreply@blogger.com (Tec Labs) — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:39:00 +0000

Welcome to the new Tecnu® sponsored blog! Feel free to leave feedback, ask questions, and tell your poison ivy or oak story.

With over 30 years of experience and 45 million cases of poison oak and ivy treated we are here to serve you..