What’s bugging you? While enjoying the Dallas summer, you may have noticed a host of others are doing the same – bugs. Insects in the D/FW area are notorious and out in full force this summer, emphasizing the need for effective bite prevention techniques and bug repellant. Here’s some bug spray tips from your Plano family doctors to keep you from swatting.
When selecting a bug spray keep in mind that the higher the concentration of DEET, less frequent applications are necessary. Here are some great tips on picking the right bug spray for your family from the outdoor experts – REI. A summer myth is that higher concentrations of DEET can be toxic. This is false – toxicity issues are actually related to application frequency.
The CDC shows products with 24% DEET provide an average of 5 hours of protection from mosquito bites; 20% provides approximately 4 hours; 7%, 2 hours; and 5% and hour and a half. What’s most important? Choose your bug spray to match the amount of time exposed to minimize the number of applications you will need. For a natural alternative equivalent to low concentration DEET bug spray, use lemon eucalyptus based repellant. Check out You can find out more about natural alternative bug sprays from Organiworks.
So get out and enjoy the Texas summer. There’s plenty to do, but make sure you follow the following instructions:
DO
Apply bug repellant to clothing; apply bug spray after sunscreen.
DON’T
Use over 30% concentrated DEET; inhale or swallow insect repellant; apply to hands as you may rub your face or contact food; apply on children younger than 2 years old more than once a day; apply any on children under 2 months old; use combined sunscreen/bug spray – sunscreen needs reapplied more often than bug repellant; use bug zapper lights – light is proven to attract more bugs and kills good bugs like moths.
How to keep mosquitoes away
Put out a fan. Mosquitoes are not strong flyers so this can minimize the amount of bugs around you. To treat mosquito bites, use cold cucumber slices, calamine lotion or an antihistamine to soothe irritation and itchiness.
How to handle ticks
Use tick repellant on pets to prevent them from tracking in ticks. To treat, do not apply Vaseline, alcohol or a burning match to a tick. This can cause the tick to excrete its bacteria into the open wound, making insect-borne disease much more likely. Simply use tweezers to remove it, then disinfect the wound and keep an eye on it the next few days. If redness or swelling occurs, particularly in a bull’s eye shape around the initial wound, have your Plano family doctor check for infection and Lyme disease.
With these summer health and safety tips on applying bug spray and preventing bug bites, you can enjoy your summer to the fullest!
About Village Health Partners:
Village Health Partners is a Plano family medicine provider. Village Health Partners is committed to improving your health by focusing on prevention and overall wellness.
Our family medicine physicians and staff are here to get you back on track. From well child, well woman, physical exams, weight loss/management, flu shots, and urgent care needs, to more complex health issues including cardiology and physical medicine. Find out more at VillageHealthPartners.com and connect with us on Facebook at Facebook.com/VillageHealthPartners.
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