With summer in full swing and the Zika virus on everyone's mind, Us Weekly has your foolproof guide to treating mosquito bites — and how to avoid them in the first place. (Just look at poor Hilary Duff's back!) Read on for prevention tips, product recommendations and more.
How to Treat (and Prevent!) Mosquito Bites This Summer
With summer in full swing and the Zika virus on everyone's mind, Us Weekly has your foolproof guide to treating mosquito bites — and how to avoid them in the first place. (Just look at poor Hilary Duff's back!) Read on for prevention tips, product recommendations and more.
With summer in full swing and the Zika virus on everyone's mind, Us Weekly has your foolproof guide to treating mosquito bites — and how to avoid them in the first place. (Just look at poor Hilary Duff's back!) Read on for prevention tips, product recommendations and more.
As we all know, mosquitoes go for blood, and they're known to like one type most of all: O. "Since mosquitoes harvest proteins from our blood and have recoveries to detect these, it makes sense that they would find one type more appealing than another," NYC-based dermatologist Dendy Engelman tells Us Weekly.
Additionally, the insects have receptors for both sweat and body heat, so an increase in either will make you more likely to get nibbled on.
"If the venom is irritating you, try an anti-itch cream. This will take your mind off the bite and reduce your likelihood of touching it," Engelman tells Us. While Hope Solo armed herself with a whole slew of products for the Rio Olympics, where Zika is a concern, scroll for Us Weekly's picks.
The all-natural balm boasts a mix of camphor and peppermint oils to clean the bite, plus witch hazel to numb it. Bonus: It comes in an easy-to-use roll-on applicator. ($15, farmaesthetics.com)
This effective alternative to DEET will help you avoid the one thing you never want to do: Pick at the wound. "Scratching will only irritate the skin more and, in extreme cases, cause scarring," Engelman tells Us. ($10, avon.com)
To make sure you don't get bitten in the first place, Engelman has three tips: Wear protective clothing, invest in a good antibug candle and spray before you ever walk outside. And if you aren't into the smell of the usual antibug products, pack a perfume and repellent hybrid. Aromaflage offers two scents — a warm vanilla and a spicy cedarwood. ($30 each, aromaflage.com)
Have you ever tried to make an X over a bite with your fingernail? No, because it sounds crazy? Think again! "There is actually research on this!" Engelman says. "For most people, this technique provides relief. Making the cross disrupts the irritation, while topical medicines only work to relieve the itch."
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