Tecnu
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Tecnu is an over-the-counter skin cleanser manufactured by Tec Labs, a pharmaceutical company based in Albany, Oregon, and marketed as a cleanser intended for use by humans and furry pets after topical exposure to urushiol, the active ingredient in poison oak, poison ivy, and poison sumac. [1] The cleanser was invented by former Mead Johnson executive and chemist Dr. Robert Smith during the early 1960s. Tecnu, for "Technically New," was intended to remove radioactive fallout dust from skin. Several years later, his wife discovered another use for the cleanser. After an exposure to poison oak, she washed with Tecnu and did not get urushiol-induced contact dermatitis. [2]
In 1977 the company began to market Tecnu to foresters, firefighters, surveyors, and utility crews. [3]
Tecnu is made from deodorized mineral spirits, water, propylene glycol, octylphenoxy-polythoxethanol, mixed fatty acid soap, and fragrance. It has a thick liquid consistency and is sold in the United States in 4-ounce bottles. [4]
