Product Description
If you know, or think you have been, exposed to poison ivy plants (or poison oak and sumac) apply Tecnu Original to dry skin, rub vigorously for two minutes, then rinse with cool or tepid water. Although it is a soap, it can also be used without water. If you do not have access to water, you can remove Tecnu Original by wiping it off with a cloth.
The magic rule with Tecnu and poison ivy oil is, the sooner you wash the better! Wash within 8 hours for your best chance to avoid a poison ivy rash. After 8 hours, the likelihood of developing a rash drastically increases. Remember, even if you do break out, wash with Tecnu to remove any excess oil that may be on the skin; this will keep the oil from spreading to other areas.
Don't be fooled by the power of urushiol! The resin from poison ivy (oak & sumac plants) is incredibly potent and lasts for months, even years on certain items. If you touch something that has been contaminated with urushiol, you can develop a rash. Therefore, we recommend cleaning items that could be contaminated, with Tecnu Original to avoid secondary contact.
Hey Canada! Tecnu Original Outdoor Skin Cleanser is now available for sale at www.tecnu.ca.
Fun fact: The name "Tecnu" was given by its inventor (Doctor Robert Smith), meaning "technically new"; you have likely seen it misspelled as Tech Nu or Technu Outdoor Skin Cleanser.
Ingredients:
deodorized mineral spirits, water, propylene glycol, octylphenoxy-polyethoxyethanol, mixed fatty acid soap, fragrance
Uses:
- Removes poison oak and ivy oil, urushiol, that causes rash and itching
- Tecnu is most effective when used within the first two hours after exposure or as soon as rash appears
Warnings:
- Keep out of reach of children.
- For external use only.
- Should not be applied to raw or oozing area of skin.
- If redness occurs, discontinue use and consult a physician.
- Keep out of eyes and other mucous membranes.
Directions:
Before the rash has started:
- Apply Tecnu to exposed unwetted skin within 8 hours after exposure to poisonous plants.
- Rub vigorously for 2 minutes to remove oil and other contaminants from skin. If hyper-sensitive, wash entire body with Tecnu.
- Rinse skin clean with cool running water or wipe off with a cloth. Repeat.
As soon as rash appears:
- Apply Tecnu to affected skin and surrounding areas. For best results apply to entire body. Rub in for 2 minutes but avoid breaking the skin.
- Rinse with cool running water to remove Tecnu and poison oils. If itching persists, reapply Tecnu, then rinse in a very warm shower (not a bath).
- Towel dry gently
- Repeat as necessary and before retiring.
To clean pets:
- Saturate a cloth with Tecnu and wipe down the pet's coat.
- Follow with pet shampoo and water bath.
- Tecnu can also remove skunk spray from your pet's fur.
To clean clothing:
- Saturate unwetted clothing with Tecnu in a bucket for several minutes.
- Launder by itself with detergent and hot water.
- Check for color fastness by testing a concealed corner of the fabric.
To clean tools:
- Wipe down tools with a cloth saturated with Tecnu.
- Wash with soap and water.
To remove sap and pitch:
- Apply Tecnu directly and rub until stain dissolves to clean pitch, tree sap, road tar, grass stains and other substances from skin, tools and clothing.
- Wash with soap and water.
Scott Nemtzow (verified owner) –
I have used your product (Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleanser) for about four years and have had great success with it. Ever since I was a little boy I have had poison ivy. It got so bad that when I was about 10 years old the doctor gave me shots to prevent it. The shots did not work. I suffered every single summer form severe cases of poison ivy until I found your product at CVS.
This letter is to thank you and to say that I use it every time I work in our yard and the woods. Your product works wonders!!!
P.S. I am 54 years old now!
DH in Austin, TX (verified owner) –
Greetings! I was just going to send a quick THANK YOU for developing the first product I have ever used that keeps poison ivy from infecting me, and am quite pleased to see I am not the only VERY HAPPY customer!! I have used products like Calamine Lotion to help me stop itching for many years, and was very interested when I spotted your product in a pharmacy (I was really kind of doubtful when I spotted it, but anything that would help me avoid the ITCH was worth the try). I bought it last summer and put it on a shelf, and I immediately forgot about it. Well, last week I walked my dog along the creek behind my house. After walking a mile from the house my dog decided to chase a squirrel, and I had to go get her when she ignored my calls. When I bent down to get her, I noticed too late that ALL of the plants I was in contact with (it was touching my legs, arms, and FACE) were poison ivy. When I got home I washed the dog, and then I took a shower. After I was done I looked in the medicine cabinet for Calamine, but I spotted your product (Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleaner)and gave it a try. After I was finished, I rubbed some on the dog too. I followed the instructions to the letter, and one week later I can happily report that I HAVE HAD NO RASHES AT ALL! I am amazed and impressed! Thank you for a great product! I am actually going to BUY a bottle for a friend of mine - telling him about it just isn't as convincing as giving him a bottle to try.
DH in Austin, TX –
Greetings! I was just going to send a quick THANK YOU for developing the first product I have ever used that keeps poison ivy from infecting me, and am quite pleased to see I am not the only VERY HAPPY customer!! I have used products like Calamine Lotion to help me stop itching for many years, and was very interested when I spotted your product in a pharmacy (I was really kind of doubtful when I spotted it, but anything that would help me avoid the ITCH was worth the try). I bought it last summer and put it on a shelf, and I immediately forgot about it. Well, last week I walked my dog along the creek behind my house. After walking a mile from the house my dog decided to chase a squirrel, and I had to go get her when she ignored my calls. When I bent down to get her, I noticed too late that ALL of the plants I was in contact with (it was touching my legs, arms, and FACE) were poison ivy. When I got home I washed the dog, and then I took a shower. After I was done I looked in the medicine cabinet for Calamine, but I spotted your product (Tecnu Outdoor Skin Cleaner)and gave it a try. After I was finished, I rubbed some on the dog too. I followed the instructions to the letter, and one week later I can happily report that I HAVE HAD NO RASHES AT ALL! I am amazed and impressed! Thank you for a great product! I am actually going to BUY a bottle for a friend of mine - telling him about it just isn't as convincing as giving him a bottle to try.
Darren (verified owner) –
I just mainly wanted to let you know how much I appreciate what a great product you've made.
The Tecnu outdoor skin cleanser was SUCH a lifesavor for me this past weekend. I decided to help a friend remove some panels off the side of a barn that had been falling apart. Not knowing there were large amounts of poison ivy vines that have been growing along the side of this barn over a period of time, right there I KNEW my arms and face had been exposed to the oils when I had to remove the vines from the panels. Luckily I had a bottle of the Tecnu skin cleanser in my first aid kit. As soon as I got home from doing this job, I IMMEDIATELY applied the cleanser to my hands, arms, and face and rubbed it in, then rinsed. As of now I STILL don't feel any itching.
Before I discovered your product, I use to have to resort to getting rid of poison ivy by stratching my skin until it literally was bleeding, then poured bleach on it. What a PAINFULL procedure to say the least. But now thanks to your Tecnu skin cleanser it's sooo much easier to deal with any poison ivy when ever I feel like I'm exposed to it. Keep up the GREAT work. Thanks again.
Rachael Parker (verified owner) –
Dear Tecnu, I wanted to thank you for sponsoring the Wicked 24 adventure race as part of the 2008 gorge games. Also, I wanted to let you know that the sponsored Tecnu team were a delight to race along side of. Our paths crossed many times over the grueling 24hr race and they were always cheerful, motivated, and good ambassadors of your product. They handed out trial samples before the race that I used afterwards and I have not had any outbreak at all even though I did substantial bushwhacking and certainly was exposed.