Protecting Your Family from Bug Bites

Most people who have been cooped up in their homes for months on end joyfully embrace summer’s warm weather.  It’s the Lyme-ridden ticks, obnoxious bees and pesky mosquitoes that they can live without.  If you want to avoid being a buffet for hungry bugs this summer you need to take preventive measures. 

Years ago spraying on any ol’ insect repellent was the way most people protected themselves from bothersome bugs while participating in summer activities in the great outdoors.  However, recently a lot of attention has been paid to insect repellents containing DEET.  DEET (or N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide) has been used for decades to ward off a variety of common critters. But according to some health care experts, the compound is less than perfect.  A study done in 2002 by researchers at Duke University found that prolonged exposure to DEET can hinder brain function and could result in problems with muscle coordination, muscle weakness, walking or even memory and cognition.  The study notes that limiting exposure to repellents that contain DEET and using products with less than a 30 percent concentration of the substance “does not appear to be harmful,” but warns against using products containing DEET on children less than 6 months old.

Enter the world of DEET-free insect repellent.  After that study was published a slew of manufacturers kicked into overdrive to create organic insect repellants made from all-natural products such as soybean and geranium oil.  DEET-free insect repellent like Jason’s “Quit Bugging Me” is one of the most popular organic bug sprays on the market today.  The company claims the spray protects adults and kids from mosquitoes, gnats, horseflies, black and biting flies.

Another way to keep bugs at bay is to avoid smelling like a flower.  Bugs are extremely attracted to sweet-smelling scents, so if you douse yourself in lilac perfume you can bet that more than a few biting bugs are going to want to be your best friend.  It’s also a good idea to skip flower scented laundry detergents, shampoos and deodorants. 

If you feel the need to place some type of scent on your body stick to essential oils that bugs can’t stand. The most popular is citronella, which is usually found in the form of a candle, but it’s also used in some bug sprays. Eucalyptus essential oil has also been proven to ward off mosquitoes, while basil and lavender have been shown to keep biting flies away.

See Also:

Tips for Protecting Your Family from Lyme Disease
Learning About Lyme Disease
How Do I Know if My Child has Lyme Disease?