In Our Backyard

Summer is in full swing in North Carolina and so are the good and not so good things that go with warm weather. Those not so good things? Bugs and poisonous plants.

My husband had an encounter with poison ivy and poison oak recently and was I ever glad I had these Ivarest products on hand. You see, I had received samples of them just a couple of weeks before but hadn’t had a chance to use them. Well, we got our chance soon enough and my husband can tell you he’s grateful to have the itch relief lotion on hand. Read my review here.

You’ll want to have the Ivarest Cleansing Foam and Ivarest Poison Ivy Itch Relief on hand this summer. Believe me. You can purchase these at select drug stores, supermarkets and mass retailers nationwide but you can also win some for free right here!

WIN A ‘SUMMER SURVIVAL KIT’ GIVEAWAY!

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND WINNERS NOTIFIED. WINNERS ARE:
Nikki of Nik Snacks
Jo of Jo’s Blog Spot
Janet of Grammy Janet’s Place
Congratulations! You have been contacted via email. Send me your mailing addresses so that you can get your kit.

Ivarest wants you to try out their new product so they have allowed me to giveaway 3 sets of these ‘Summer Survival Kit’ to my readers. Here’s what you need to do to win (each one will win you an entry):

1. Leave me a comment and tell me, “What are the chances that you’ll use this kit this summer?”
2. Follow me on Twitter and leave me your twitter name
3. Tweet this giveaway and leave me the url to your tweet
4. Use the share button below and share this giveaway in any of the sites listed. Make sure you come back and tell me where you shared it. URLs would be great so I can verify it.
5. Blog about this giveaway (will earn you three entries) - come back and leave me the url to your post

You have until July 15, 2009 to enter this giveaway. Winners will be chosen by Randomizer.org and will be notified by email and announced here as an update.

Ivarest will be mail the ‘Summer Survival Kit’ directly to you, so you must contact me within 48-hours or I will select another winner.

Here’s additional information about this product:

Warm Weather Warning: Be Prepared for Poison Plant Exposure

New Ivarest® Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam and Double Relief Treatment Cream

Prevent and Relieve Reactions

Oak Brook, Ill., – With the warm weather upon us, those itching to enjoy the outdoors to hike, camp, garden or simply play in the woods may get more than what they’ve bargained for. Approximately 85 percent of the population will develop an allergic reaction if exposed to poison ivy, oak or sumac, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. That statistic, coupled with the increasing number, size and toxicity of poisonous plants as a result of elevated greenhouse gases, underscores the need for outdoor enthusiasts and especially parents to be prepared.

Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam is a new poison plant cleanser that’s uniquely effective whether used immediately after exposure or once a rash has begun. For those who know they’ve been in contact with a poisonous plant, treatment can begin immediately to prevent an outbreak. If used soon after exposure, Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam’s special combination of cleansers lifts oily plant allergens from the skin surface to be easily washed away, minimizing any reaction and stopping the rash from spreading.

Unfortunately, the majority of poison ivy cases go undetected by consumers until a rash develops. Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam removes any remaining toxins to stop the spreading to other areas of the skin. Its medicated formula, which includes a proven topical analgesic, cools and comforts the skin throughout an outbreak and reduces its severity.

“An intense, itchy red rash is the hallmark of a poison ivy reaction,” says Dr. Charles Zugerman, associate professor of dermatology at Northwestern University Medical Center. “Eliminating the toxins causing the itch and alleviating skin discomfort expedites recovery. If you know that you have been in contact with poison plants, it’s important to have a cleanser, such as Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam, on hand to prevent an outbreak and further discomfort.”

Another unique aspect of Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam is its proprietary dispensing system. The foam offers a gentle application that eliminates the need for hard rubbing that can further irritate affected skin. Since additional water is unnecessary to generate lather, the foam also reduces the potential to spread the toxins to other areas of the body while washing. To use, rub the affected area with the foam and rinse the skin with running water. It also lends itself to easy application over large areas of the body, which is especially helpful when the exact area of exposure is unknown.

For those already experiencing poison plant rash and itch, Ivarest also offers Double Relief Treatment Cream. As the only poisonous plant treatment that contains both an antihistamine and an analgesic, Ivarest Double Relief Formula helps stop the reaction and quickly soothes the skin. The product also features calamine to dry out the rash. Its greaseless formula is tone-neutral and easily removed with water.

Identifying Poison Plants and Exposure Symptoms

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), poison plants are found throughout the entire United States, except Alaska and Hawaii. The symptoms of exposure include red bumps, blisters, patches, swelling and itching. The CDC offers the following information to help identify poisonous plants and prevent contact:

• Poison Ivy – Found across the entire United States. This plant often grows as low plants, shrubs and vines and is typically seen as three shiny green tapered leaves growing out from one node on the stem.  Poison ivy may also have yellow or green flowers and white to green-yellow or amber berries. Just keep in mind “leaves of three, let them be!”
• Poison Oak – Found along the entire West Coast and from the Mid-Atlantic states down through Florida. This plant generally has three oak-shaped leaves per stem similar to poison ivy. Poison oak may have yellow or green flowers and clusters of green-yellow or white berries.
• Poison Sumac – Found east of the Mississippi from Canada to central Florida. This plant can have seven to 13 leaves on a stem that are arranged in pairs. Poison sumac may also have light yellow or cream-colored berries.

Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam, available in May 2009, offers 50 percent more product than leading cleansers and retails for $5.97-$8.99. Ivarest Double Relief Formula retails for $4.37 - $6.99. Both products are available at select drug stores, supermarkets and mass retailers nationwide.

About Ivarest

Ivarest offers products to prevent and treat mild to moderate outbreaks from poisonous plants that includes Ivarest Double Relief Treatment Cream and Ivarest Poison Ivy Cleansing Foam. Whether dealing with an existing poison ivy rash or preventing a rash from developing, Ivarest has a solution. For more information on Ivarest products, visit www.blistex.com/ivarest.htm.