If you can’t (or even after you do), rub down vigorously all over with a rough towel. Shower right after swimming, if possible.It seems to help prevent the flatworms from penetrating the skin. Slather on the “waterproof” sunscreen before you send your kids into lakes and ponds.Avoid swimming in areas where lots of ducks and/or geese congregate (usually because people are feeding them), or near marshy areas that may harbor lots of snails.If your computer has a Flash player, you can see an animated simulation of the organism’s life cycle. Swimmer’s itch is caused by the larvae of a flatworm whose life cycle involves both snails and (in most cases) birds, especially the geese and ducks that float so serenely close to shore on ponds and lakes. Much of your skin itches, or nothing seems to ease the itch.The rash develops anywhere on your face or genitals.You experience swelling, especially if an eyelid swells shut.You have trouble breathing or swallowing.The American Academy of Dermatology suggests going to an emergency room with a poison ivy rash if So if you’re susceptible, you may find your next poison-ivy rash quite a lot worse than the last. Recent research indicates that inceasing carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere is making poison ivy grow bigger and faster, as well as intensifying the potency of its rash-causing oil, called urushiol. Afterwards, separate clothing that may have come into contact with poison ivy from the rest of your (or other people’s) laundry, and wash it separately in cool water. Poison ivy prevention involves learning to recognize the plants and stay away from them.īefore you head out to mow a poison-ivy infested lawn or you plan on bush-whacking an area rife with the toxic weed, cover all areas of exposed skin and wear eye protection. That should trap most of them and keep them from biting you.” “Smear some Tanglefoot on a hardhat or helmet, or even a large 15-ounce plastic drinking cup tied on your head like a party hat. Jim Dill, the extension entomologist for the University of Maine, suggests trapping these large, annoying flies instead. Repellents have little effect on deer flies and horse flies, either of which can deliver a powerful bite that swells and itches for days. (Warning: Some people will have an allergic reaction to the repellents themselves, especially DEET.) Used as directed, they work well, as long as every inch of exposed skin is covered. The best-tested of the commercially available repellents contain either DEET or Picaradin. Entomologists say these products don’t actually repel the insects, but rather confuse them by blocking the receptors they use to detect appropriate hosts for their next blood meal. (Plus, it adds a good 15 pounds if you want a photo of yourself wearing one.)įor biting flies, gnats, and mosquitoes, an array of insect repellents line the store shelves. I love the Bug Baffler suit, but it does have its drawbacks: it’s somewhat claustrophobic with the headgear zipped up it’s stifling on hot days, and I do feel a bit like the village eccentric if people come by and see me working in the get-up. Pull socks over pants legs and don gloves for full protection. You can buy a head-covering or a complete suit, including a zippered head covering, called the Bug Baffler (see photo). The best prevention for insect bites: Cover up completely, leaving no exposed skin. As with most afflictions, prevention beats any amount of treatment or cure.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |