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Bugs don’t do much harm other than being pesky, do they?

Bugs don’t do much harm other than being pesky, do they? Yes, they are pesky. Bugs are pesky and they come with their own inherent risks. Bugs can cause skin irritations such as stings and bites, which can range in danger from itchy/painful bumps to disease or anaphylaxis for those who are allergic. The bite of a mosquito, along with its itchiness and swelling, can carry Zika or West Nile viruses.

You better sit down for the list of diseases you may develop from the bite of a tick.

They include, Alpha-Gal Syndrome, Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Borrelia Maroni, Borrelia Miyamoto, Bourbon Virus, Colorado Tick Fever, Ehrlichiosis, Heartland Virus, Lyme Disease, Powassan Disease, Rickettsia Parkeri Rickettsiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever (RMFS), STARI, Tickborne Relapsing Fever (TBRF).

While all are scary, the one that gives me the most pause is Alpha-gal syndrome. Alpha-gal syndrome is a recently identified type of food allergy to red meat and other products from mammals. In the United States, the condition is most often caused by a Lone Star tick bite. The bite transmits a sugar molecule called alpha-gal into the person’s body. For some people, this triggers an immune system reaction producing mild to severe allergic reactions to red meat, such as beef, pork or lamb, or other mammal products. www.mayoclinic.org

Bugs don’t do much harm other than being pesky do they? Protect yourself from stings, bug bites and more!

  1. Clothing

Whether you are spending time working or playing outdoors (especially during the hours when mosquitoes are typically biting) wear long sleeves, pants, and socks to reduce your risk of being bitten. Bug clothing with special woven barriers, covered by netting is also a cool effective, chemical free option. According to experts, light colored clothing may be less attractive to insects and can help you spot any critters trying to hitch a ride.

  1. Bug Spray

Use bug spray on your skin and clothing. Sprays will vary depending on what you are trying to repel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers a list which will assist in determining the best repellent for you. The EPA and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend repellents that list any of the following ingredients – DEET, picaridin, IR3535 or plant-based oil of lemon eucalyptus. Natural Oils are a great chemical free option as well.

  1. Candles and Electronic “Spatial” Repellents

Citronella candles can be affective in repelling mosquitoes and other bugs. Thermacell products also offer excellent repellents.

Through research on plants, scientists with Thermacell were able to identify the component responsible for repelling mosquitoes. They replicated it in the lab and created a natural mosquito repellent.

  1. Be aware

Common sense goes along ways here. Be aware of your surroundings. Pay attention for creepy crawlers…especially the 8-legged kind that may be poisonous. Check things like shoes left inside or outside. Depending on where you are in the world, use bed nets for protection as well.

To read more about how to protect our skin, check out this article How Much Damage is the Sun Doing to my Skin?.

SLG2, Inc may receive a small commission from any purchases made through article links.

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