Can you truly avoid mosquito and tick bites?

Summertime means gardening, hiking or just sitting out on the patio for a barbeque. But shortly after your time outdoors, you may be descended upon by mosquitoes. And if you’re not careful, you may get several itchy bites all over your arms and legs or possibly a tick lodged in your skin.

Though mosquitoes and ticks are common pests, they can cause a variety of health problems, including infections and diseases, such as West Nile disease, Lyme disease and Zika virus. When you avoid mosquito and tick bites, you reduce your risk for these health conditions.

Dr. Jūratė Kunickaite, a family medicine physician at Advocate Health Care, provides the following tips to prevent bites:

• Wear protective clothing. Wear breathable, long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and socks to cover as much of your skin as possible. Light-colored clothes are less attractive to mosquitoes. Tucked-in pants or ones that can cinch around the ankles can prevent ticks from crawling up your legs.
• Use mosquito and tick repellent. Apply insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin to exposed skin and clothing. Follow the instructions on the product label and reapply as needed.
• Treat your clothing with permethrin. Permethrin is a pesticide that can be applied to clothing to repel ticks. Follow the instructions on the product label and do not apply directly to skin.
• Avoid peak mosquito hours. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk. If possible, avoid spending time outdoors during these times.
• Eliminate standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so eliminate any sources of stagnant water around your home, such as empty flowerpots or buckets.
• Check for ticks. After spending time outdoors, thoroughly check your body and clothing for ticks. Pay special attention to areas such as the scalp, armpits and groin.

“Following these simple steps can help you avoid mosquito and tick bites,” says Dr. Kunickaite. “Plus, research has also found that mosquitoes may be repelled by certain aromas, like coffee. A cup of coffee a day might keep a few mosquitoes away!”

Studies have also found that coconut may be a scent that deters mosquitoes from ruining your favorite outdoor activities.

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