The summer time months means spending extra time exterior doing the stuff you love. However, whether or not it’s a yard barbecue or a weekend by the lake, many of those seasonal out of doors actions pose a problem: elevated proximity to biting bugs.
Fortunately, there are efficient methods to stop — and deal with — bug bites. Victoria A. Perez, MD, a dermatologist at Columbia College/NewYork-Presbyterian’s The One well being heart in Westchester, New York, spoke with On a regular basis Well being to weigh in on widespread bug chew questions.
Q: Why Is It Vital to Forestall Bug Bites?
A: Bug bites are greater than agitating and itchy. They’ll unfold ailments, together with Lyme and malaria. Vaccines can defend in opposition to some ailments transmitted by bugs, however not all. That’s the place your prevention technique comes into play.
Q: How Can I Defend Myself From Bug Bites?
A: To keep away from bites, Dr. Perez says to recollect the three Ds: dressing, defending, and draining. Right here’s what they imply:
Dressing
In case you plan to be open air, put on protecting clothes, resembling loose-fitting shirts and pants, that cowl as a lot pores and skin as attainable, says Perez. This may be tough when it’s scorching exterior, so attain for breathable materials. Professional tip from Perez: Keep away from carrying orange and crimson, as mosquitoes are attracted to those colours.
Select insect repellent that incorporates an energetic ingredient on the Environmental Safety Company (EPA)’s listing of registered insect repellent components. Perez suggests merchandise that comprise DEET, a chemical compound that deters bugs. Based on the EPA, DEET is protected and efficient and is available in lotions, sprays, and extra.
Merchandise that comprise “10 to twenty p.c of DEET ought to cowl you for just a few hours of summertime enjoyable,” says Perez. “Greater concentrations imply longer protection, no more effectiveness.” So, be sure you apply sufficient insect repellent for the period of time you intend to be exterior. If utilizing a sprig, Perez suggests rubbing it in along with your palms to make sure even protection.
Draining
Mosquitoes like stagnant water as a lot as they like chemical substances people naturally emit. To maintain them at bay, Perez suggests draining any sources of nonetheless water, resembling leftover drinks, and transferring actions resembling picnics away from water sources, if attainable.
Q: Ought to I Apply Sunscreen or Bug Spray First?
A: The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends making use of sunscreen first, adopted by bug spray, to maximise the effectiveness of each merchandise.
Some analysis has instructed that utilizing sunscreen and bug repellent collectively can cut back safety in opposition to UVB rays, which trigger sunburn. So, chances are you’ll wish to slather on sunscreen, adopted by insect repellent, extra often.
Q: How Can I Take Care of Bug Bites and Relieve Itchiness?
A: “Ensure you in the beginning wash with cleaning soap and water,” says Perez. It’s additionally vital to keep away from scratching your bites. That is simpler mentioned than executed, nevertheless it’s essential: Scratching insect bites could make them itchier and enhance your danger of abscesses and an infection.
To alleviate the itch, apply a chilly compress or use over-the-counter hydrocortisone or a topical steroid, which is anti-inflammatory and anti-itch, she says.
“In case your insect chew isn’t therapeutic, may be very massive, or in case you are experiencing signs like a fever or chills, it is best to obtain additional care from a health care provider,” says Perez.
Q: Does Insect Repellent Additionally Work on Ticks?
A: Sure, so long as it’s an EPA-registered repellent containing one of many following components: DEET, picaridin (an artificial insect repellent), IR3535 (ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate, which is one other artificial insect repellent), oil of lemon eucalyptus, or para-menthane-3,8-diol (an insect repellent derived from lemon eucalyptus oil). For the very best safety in opposition to ticks, use a repellent that incorporates a minimum of 20 p.c DEET, picaridin, or IR3535.
Q: How Can I Inform If I Received a Tick Chunk?
A: Mosquito bites and tick bites can look very comparable. They normally seem as small, crimson itchy bumps in your pores and skin. A telltale signal of a tick chew that has transmitted Lyme illness is growing a bull’s-eye rash and experiencing signs resembling excessive fatigue, fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff joints, or swollen lymph nodes.
It’s vital to notice that tick bites don’t at all times trigger Lyme illness or a bull’s-eye rash. So be looking out for the opposite signs, and name your physician when you assume it’s a tick chew.
In any other case, you need to use cleaning soap and heat water, rubbing alcohol, or an iodine scrub to scrub the chew and apply an ice pack whether it is itchy or painful. Monitor the chew for a rash.
Q: What Ought to I Do If I See a Tick on My Physique?
A: In case you uncover a tick in your physique, use fine-tipped tweezers to take away it, greedy the tick as near your pores and skin as you may get. Don’t twist or squish the tick. As a substitute, pull upward, slowly and thoroughly. Think about taking an image of the tick or saving it. This may be useful to your physician when you develop Lyme illness signs, which usually seem inside 30 days of a tick chew. Price noting: Not all ticks carry Lyme illness.
The Takeaway
Sporting loose-fitting shirts and pants, utilizing an EPA-registered insect repellent, and both draining or transferring away from nonetheless water can cut back your danger of bug bites.
In case you get a mosquito chew, do your finest to not scratch it. As a substitute, use a chilly compress and hydrocortisone cream to handle itchiness, ache, and swelling.
In case you suspect you’ve got a tick chew, clear it with cleaning soap and heat water, rubbing alcohol, or an iodine scrub. You may then apply an ice pack whether it is painful or swollen. And monitor for a bull’s-eye rash, which might point out Lyme illness.
