Take the sting out of summer - MyFoxTallahassee.com

By Diane Griffith
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With all the good times summer has to offer, why let Mother Nature spoil the fun with those pesky insects and poisonous plants? Here's how to avoid the itching and stinging.

Poisonous plants
The popular saying, "Leaves of three, let them be" refers to poison oak and poison ivy. But this little ditty ignores poison sumac, which has 7 to 13 leaves and is just as bothersome. Urushiol, an oil from the sap of these plants, causes a rash after contact with the skin.

In spite of the summer heat, cover up to prevent exposure to poisonous plants. Wear long sleeves and long pants if hiking. Consider trying IvyBlock, a cream that may help keep urushiol from getting on your skin.

If you touch a poisonous plant, clean the area with soap and water right away. Alcohol wipes can help remove oils. Wash all clothes and items that may have touched the sap in warm sudsy water.

If you get a rash, take cool showers and bathe in oatmeal or baking soda. Calamine lotion can help relieve itching. Call your doctor if the rash becomes severe, infected, or is near your eyes or genital area. A non-prescription medicine, Zanfel, may help remove urushiol from your skin.

Preventing insect bites
You can't escape mosquito bites and bee stings completely, but you can lower your risks:

• Wear light-colored clothing. Insects like bright pastels, flowery prints, and dark colors.
• Leave the perfumes, lotions, and scented hair products at home. They attract insects.
• Avoid contact with plants, bushes, and vegetation.
• Don't swat at buzzing insects. They'll sting if they feel threatened.

Use insect repellents containing DEET. Follow directions carefully, because DEET can be toxic if used improperly. Don't use it on children under 2 months of age.

Sorry to say, insect repellents can't protect against bees, wasps, hornets, and yellow jackets.

Mosquitoes
Empty out puddles of stagnant water near your home. These are breeding grounds for mosquitoes. They also live in your lawn, so keep the grass short.

Wash mosquito bites with warm soapy water. For itching, try a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream. Don't scratch; it can cause infection.

A small percentage of mosquitoes carry West Nile virus. Most often, West Nile causes flu-like symptoms. But in rare cases, it can cause encephalitis or meningitis. Symptoms may include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, and convulsions. Seek medical care right away if you have any of these symptoms.

Mosquitoes can also carry St. Louis encephalitis. At highest risk are the people living in low-income areas and those working outdoors in affected areas. Symptoms include high fever, stiff neck, and convulsions. The elderly are more likely to develop severe disease. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical attention right away.

Bee stings
A bee, wasp, hornet, or yellow jacket sting injects a tiny amount of poison into the skin. For some, this can cause a life-threatening allergic reaction. But most reactions are minor, causing red, swollen, itchy skin.

If you see a bee or wasp, stand still or move away slowly. Moving quickly can provoke an attack. Don't crush a bee or wasp. An "alarm pheromone" can be released into the air, causing others nearby to attack.

To remove a stinger from your skin, scrape the area gently with a credit card, ruler, or butter knife. Removing it with tweezers could release more venom into your body. Wash the wound, elevate the area, and apply an ice pack covered with a thin towel. If you have diabetes, poor circulation or blood vessel disorders, ask your doctor before using an ice pack.

If you have shortness of breath, wheezing, swelling, hives, nausea, vomiting, or fever, call 9-1-1. If you have been prescribed an emergency epinephrine kit, use it as instructed and call 9-1-1.

View the original Take the sting out of summer article on myOptumHealth.com