Poison ivy protection for arborists

01 · The work

Vines on the trunk, ticks in the brush

Tree work puts you where poison ivy grows: on the trunk, along fence lines, in disturbed ground. Climbers, groundies and mow crews touch it with hands, ropes, saws and sleeves, often without seeing it.

The same brush and leaf litter is where ticks wait. And up in the crown or on a mower, the sun is on you all day.

Poison ivy grows as a vine that climbs trees or as a shrub, and it favors disturbed ground.R&R Lotion, Guide to Poisonous Plants white paper, Identifying Poisonous Plants

02 · The exposure

An oil that travels, a tick that waits

• Urushiol oil
• Tick

Poison ivy, oak and sumac carry urushiol, an oil that sticks to whatever touches the plant: gloves, ropes, saws, sleeves, boots. From there it gets onto your skin, where it bonds fast. Last week’s gloves can still carry it.

Ticks can’t jump or fly. They crawl up low brush and grass and wait with their front legs reaching out, called questing, then grab on as you pass. A tick generally has to be attached for more than 24 hours to pass on an infection, which is why prompt checks matter.

Urushiol can stay active on tools, clothing and dead plants for up to five years.As reported on the R&R Lotion blog: The Persistent Threat of Urushiol Oil (2024)

03 · What develops

Allergic contact dermatitis

• Urushiol
• Immune cells
• Inflammation

Urushiol isn’t a poison in the usual sense. It’s an allergen. It binds to proteins in the skin, and the immune system reacts to the changed proteins. The result is allergic contact dermatitis: a red, itchy rash with blisters that can last for weeks.

Repeat exposure is what drives the reaction, and a bad case can keep a climber off the crew.

Ticks bring a different risk. Lyme disease, the most common vector-borne disease in the U.S., often starts with flu-like symptoms and a “bull’s-eye” rash. See a clinician if you get sick after a bite.

Get medical help right away for a rash over a large area, or for swelling of the face or throat or trouble breathing.

Poison ivy rash can be debilitating and last for several weeks.R&R Lotion, Guide to Poisonous Plants white paper, Introduction

04 · Why we built it

Block before, cleanse after

Urushiol bonds fast, so the two things that work are keeping it off your skin and washing it off quickly. We built a product for each, then added sun and bug protection so one kit covers the truck.

About the ingredient: bentonite is a natural clay that absorbs oils, which is why it sits at the center of the barrier.I.C. Ivy Block product data, R&R Lotion

A barrier isn’t foolproof. Long sleeves, gloves and washing up still matter.

05 · On the job

Block, work, cleanse, check

1. 1
   Before the jobI.C. Ivy Block on all exposed skin before you go into the brush, and let it dry. Sunscreen and repellent on exposed skin too.
2. 2
   On the jobLong sleeves and gloves. Keep gloved hands off your face. Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours.
3. 3
   Right after contactWash with I.C. Ivy Cleanse and cool water as soon as you can. Cool, not hot.
4. 4
   End of the dayWash ropes, saws and gloves, and wash work clothes separately. Then check for ticks: knees, groin, armpits, behind the ears and scalp.

Found an attached tick? Grab it close to the skin with fine-tipped tweezers and pull it out slowly and steadily. Follow each product’s label directions.