What precautions should be taken to avoid insect bites ?

© National Institute Of Allergy And Infectious Diseases/Unsplash

More or less painful, insect bites leave spots or redness, itch and make you want to scratch regularly. While most are not very dangerous, it is still recommended to do your best to avoid them in order to have a more pleasant summer. Whether it is bee or wasp stings, ticks or mosquitoes, here we go over the steps to follow to best protect yourself from these daily nuisances.

How to protect yourself from mosquito bites ?

Note that two types of mosquitoes are the most common : tiger mosquitoes and common mosquitoes. They can be differentiated by their size: the tiger mosquito is 5 times smaller. To avoid mosquito bites, you can wear clothes that completely cover your skin, which is a bit counterproductive in the summer, when it is already very hot.

You can also use lavender or lemongrassto keep them away (place some near your window). Finally, the simplest solution to avoid being bitten at night remains the mosquito net. The latter directly blocks mosquitoes that would like to enter to bite you, giving you some peace of mind at night.

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Finally, there remains the solution considered to be the most effective if you do not have a mosquito net: DEET . This product is one of the references in mosquito repellents. Be careful, however, it can cause an allergic reaction, since it is a molecule that irritates the skin and mucous membranes. It is therefore important to use it sparingly.

There are also a few measures to take to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your environment:

• reduce humidity by avoiding materials that can accumulate water
• cover your trash cans
• maintain your swimming pool well if you have one
• clean the gutters of your house well

By following these tips, you should have fewer mosquitoes in your home, and therefore less the need to protect oneself from it.

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How to protect yourself from bee and stings wasp ?

Before knowing how to protect yourself from bee or wasp stings, you still need to know why these insects bite. Unlike mosquitoes females that sting to feed on blood and reproduce, bees and wasps only sting if they feel threatened. It is therefore important to understand them differently from mosquitoes: do not try to kill them or make sudden movements towards them, they could then respond by attacking you.

In addition, take some precautions on your outfit: Avoid wearing loose clothing with bright colors, which attract bees and wasps. Similarly, avoid perfumes and scented care products when you go out. On the other hand, if you eat outdoors during the holidays, there is a chance that you will attract these beasts if you leave sugary foods, meat or beer out in the open. Also, check an open can or bottle for insects before drinking.

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By taking all these tips into account, you drastically reduce the chances of being bitten by bees or wasps. But remember: the most important thing is not to be aggressive towards them, because they will respond with the offensive.

How to protect yourself from tick bites ?

Ticks are mites that feed on the blood of other living beings. They are mainly active between May and October, and are particularly annoying because their bites can transmit various more or less serious diseases. For example, this could be Lyme disease, which is transmitted if the tick is infected with the Borrelia bacteria.

Ticks are mainly found in wooded, humid areas and meadows with tall grass. They attach themselves to the skin of animals (or even humans) and then gorge themselves on their blood. Thus, the people mainly exposed to these bites are forest professionals, or campers and hikers.

© Marino Linic M/Unsplash

To avoid tick bites, it is recommended toavoid walking in bushes and vegetated areas dense, and to stay in cleared areas in the forest. If you do go out into the wilderness, wearing long, covering clothing will protect you from tick bites.

Note thata tick bite is not necessarily dangerous, provided it is treated quickly. It is therefore important to inspect your skin carefully after a walk in nature to determine if the tick is still attached to the skin.

What to do in case of a bite ?

If all these tips were not enough and you have finally been bitten by an insect, what to do ? If it is a bee sting, the stinger sometimes remains in the skin. In this case, remove it and then apply ice to prevent the venom from spreading. If the symptoms become severe, it will then be recommended to go see a doctor to receive special medicinal treatment.

In the case of a mosquito bite, no problem, unless there is an allergic reaction. Indeed, in the event of a severe allergic reaction to an insect bite (fainting, difficulty breathing, swelling of a part of the body, hives, nausea, etc.), it is necessary to go to the emergency room to treat the reaction as quickly as possible.

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