Prevent Bug Bites When Outdoors

Summer brings sun, fun, sand, swimming……… and BUGS! We all struggle with managing outdoor excitement while swatting away mosquitoes, black flies and gnats. Or dealing with the aftermath of an attack of chiggers or noseeums. Or, worse, finding a tick embedding itself into your skin. YUCK!

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are flying parasites that feed on blood. Gross, right? Well, they are also very problematic because of 1. Itchy, red, irritating skin reactions that are caused by their saliva, and 2. They can transmit terrible diseases like West Nile Virus. The most recent threat of mosquito borne illnesses is the Zika virus. Cases of Zika in the United States can be contributed to travel, and women (especially pregnant women) are at the greatest risk of effects. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk.

Gnats, Black Flies, Midges

Gnats are a family of flying insects, and can include black flies, sand flies and midges. Gnats are small, biting insects. Their bites can be extraordinarily itchy and inflamed, especially if there have been multiple bites concentrated in one area. They are typically found in wet or swampy areas.

Ticks

Ticks are a type of arachnid (like spiders). Ticks can carry all kinds of nasty diseases, but the one of most concern is Lyme. There are a variety of species of ticks, but the one of most concern is the deer tick. Deer ticks are called deer ticks because they exist primarily in areas where deer are found. There are other types, including dog ticks, and lone star ticks, but I always just assume that all ticks are bad, and all ticks can carry some type of disease, so avoid them or remove them all! Seriously, who wants any tick on their skin?! Deer ticks specifically, however, can be identified by its 8 black legs, black head and brown rounded body. And it is really really small. I hate to say this; because it will forever affect the way you look at watermelon, but a deer tick kind of looks like a tiny watermelon seed. (Sorry!) An engorged tick will look MUCH bigger, sort of like a small grayish ball. GROSS!

Disclaimer: If a tick is attached to your skin, YOU MUST REMOVE IT! Using tweezers, grasp the tick gently near where it is attached to the skin and pull straight out. Do not twist, do not rupture the tick, and the head must be fully removed from your skin to help prevent exposure to Lyme. After you have removed the tick, disinfect the area using rubbing alcohol. If you are concerned, or if you think the tick has not been fully removed, keep the tick (put it in a small unused container with some rubbing alcohol) and take it with you to a doctor. If you have been outside, always check your skin for ticks!

  

Are you at risk? These maps show the areas of the United States with higher concentrations of tick carrying Lyme and mosquito carrying West Nile Virus. Where are you? (This doesn’t mean only these states have insects, obviously. These are the higher risk/concentration areas.)

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Gear up with BUG SPRAY! But what does it all mean? There are so many options, how do we choose what is best for our area and our family?

First of all, insect repellents are *chemicals*. Because they are chemicals, they can cause adverse reactions, damage certain types of products, and have health side effects. Any chemical can do this. However, expert organizations have found that the diseases are far worse than the effects of insect repellents. It’s always a personal choice, but there is research available for us, as consumers, so that we can be best educated to make the best choices.

I will be referencing several organizations within this blog article, so I wanted to use their acronyms. These organizations are:

• Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

DEET

Diethyltoluamide, created by the US Government and first used by the public in 1957. Use less than 30% concentration and reapply every 3-5 hours. Do not use on children under 2 months old, and AAP recommends not using on children’s face or hands.

Pros

• Considered safe by the CDC, AAP, EPA and WHO
• Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks

Cons

• Significant odor
• Greasy residue
• Cannot be sprayed directly on skin, spray only on clothing
• Must be washed off at night
• Can cause physical side effects (some evidence it has been linked to seizures)
• Concerns about toxicity
• European Union classifies DEET as Harmful (Xn)
• Will dissolve plastics

Picaridin

Piperidinecarboxylic acid, developed by Bayer in the 1980s. It has been available in the United States since 2005.

Pros

• Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, black flies
• Works as well as DEET, without the negative effects of DEET
• Considered safe by the EPA
• Endorsed by AAP as an alternative to DEET
• Will not dissolve plastics like DEET does
• Does not irritate skin, and can be directly applied to skin
• No significant odor

Cons

• Needs to be reapplied more frequently for effectiveness (every 2-3 hours)

Permethrin

Phenoxybenzyl, an insecticide rather than an insect repellent.

Pros

• Kills mosquitoes and ticks

Cons

• Known to be toxic to cats
• Toxic to fish
• Can ONLY be used on clothing, tents, etc.
• Not suitable as a personal insect repellent

IR3535

Ethyl ester, developed by the Merck company, and used in the United States since 1999. As far as I have been able to tell, AVON SkinSoSoft Bug Guard is the only product available with IR3535. Many people prefer IR3535 primarily because it has the most effective insect repellent in comparison with the least level of toxicity.

Pros

• Effective against mosquitoes, some gnats, ticks
• Considered safe by the EPA
• Does not irritate skin, and can be directly applied to skin
• No significant toxicity has been found

Cons

• Does not repel black flies
• May be less effective than DEET or Picaridin, particularly against mosquitoes
• Can be irritating to eyes
• May dissolve plastics

Other options, such as Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is a plant based insect repellent that has been approved for use as an insect repellent by the EPA. It is important to note that the Environmental Working Group does not advocate using any other “organic”, “botanical” or “natural” insect repellents to ensure that disease carrying insects are repelled because 1. They are not approved by the EPA for use as insect repellents, and 2. There is no evidence that they repel insects effectively.

Sources:

Environmental Working Group. "EWG's Guide to Better Bug Repellents." Environmental Working Group, July 2013. Web.

Ogg, Barb, PhD. "What's the Scoop on Insect Repellents?" University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Aug. 2008. Web.

Scutti, Susan. "The Four Best Bug Repellents: DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, Oil Of Lemon Eucalyptus Most Effective, Says EWG." Consumer News (2013): n. pag. 18 July 2013. Web.

Stafford, Kirby C., III. "TICK BITE PREVENTION & THE USE OF INSECT REPELLENTS." The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (2005): n. pag. June 2005. Web.

Hair Removal Cream To The Rescue

For whatever reasons, many people choose to remove facial hair. Men typically shave their facial hair if they don't want beards, but shaving for women is often not the best choice. The other ways to remove facial hair are waxing, lasers, electrolysis and creams.

Facial hair removal creams are actually pretty hard to come by. I don't usually go to Google first thing, but I didn't know much about hair removal creams and wanted to see what was out there.

So I Googled "facial hair removal cream". Surprisingly, Avon Skin So Soft came up first with the highest review ranking.

There are other hair removal creams: underarm, bikini, and leg depilatories. But those are often too strong for the sensitive facial areas like the upper lip, where facial hair tends to be a problem. So choosing a hair removal cream that is specifically for facial areas - or even better! specifically for sensitive skin - will help reduce the sensitivity.

How To Use Facial Hair Removal Cream:

1. Apply a thick coat to completely cover the area where you want hair removed. 
2. Wait several minutes. (Test an area after 2 minutes and do not exceed 8 minutes)
3. Wipe the cream off with a bit of pressure, using a cotton pad. 
4. Rinse the remaining cream with water and pat dry.
5. Moisturize the area with a facial moisturizer.

Avon Facial Hair Removal Creams:

SSS facial hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin facial hair removal cream

Avon Hair Removal Creams:

SSS body hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin body hair removal cream

SSS sensitive skin bikini line hair removal cream

Summer Buggin’

Summer brings sun, fun, sand, swimming……… and BUGS! We all struggle with managing outdoor excitement while swatting away mosquitoes, black flies and gnats. Or dealing with the aftermath of an attack of chiggers or noseeums. Or, worse, finding a tick embedding itself into your skin. YUCK!

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are flying parasites that feed on blood. Gross, right? Well, they are also very problematic because of 1. Itchy, red, irritating skin reactions that are caused by their saliva, and 2. They can transmit terrible diseases like West Nile Virus. Mosquitoes are most active during dawn and dusk.

Gnats, Black Flies, Midges

Gnats are a family of flying insects, and can include black flies, sand flies and midges. Gnats are small, biting insects. Their bites can be extraordinarily itchy and inflamed, especially if there have been multiple bites concentrated in one area. They are typically found in wet or swampy areas.

Ticks

Ticks are a type of arachnid (like spiders). Ticks can carry all kinds of nasty diseases, but the one of most concern is Lyme. There are a variety of species of ticks, but the one of most concern is the deer tick. Deer ticks are called deer ticks because they exist primarily in areas where deer are found. There are other types, including dog ticks, and lone star ticks, but I always just assume that all ticks are bad, and all ticks can carry some type of disease, so avoid them or remove them all! Seriously, who wants any tick on their skin?! Deer ticks specifically, however, can be identified by its 8 black legs, black head and brown rounded body. And it is really really small. I hate to say this; because it will forever affect the way you look at watermelon, but a deer tick kind of looks like a tiny watermelon seed. (Sorry!) An engorged tick will look MUCH bigger, sort of like a small grayish ball. GROSS!

Disclaimer: If a tick is attached to your skin, YOU MUST REMOVE IT! Using tweezers, grasp the tick gently near where it is attached to the skin and pull straight out. Do not twist, do not rupture the tick, and the head must be fully removed from your skin to help prevent exposure to Lyme. After you have removed the tick, disinfect the area using rubbing alcohol. If you are concerned, or if you think the tick has not been fully removed, keep the tick (put it in a small unused container with some rubbing alcohol) and take it with you to a doctor. If you have been outside, always check your skin for ticks!

  

Are you at risk? These maps show the areas of the United States with higher concentrations of tick carrying Lyme and mosquito carrying West Nile Virus. Where are you? (This doesn’t mean only these states have insects, obviously. These are the higher risk/concentration areas.)

---

Gear up with BUG SPRAY! But what does it all mean? There are so many options, how do we choose what is best for our area and our family?

First of all, insect repellents are *chemicals*. Because they are chemicals, they can cause adverse reactions, damage certain types of products, and have health side effects. Any chemical can do this. However, expert organizations have found that the diseases are far worse than the effects of insect repellents. It’s always a personal choice, but there is research available for us, as consumers, so that we can be best educated to make the best choices.

I will be referencing several organizations within this blog article, so I wanted to use their acronyms. These organizations are:

• Center for Disease Control and Protection (CDC)
• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

DEET

Diethyltoluamide, created by the US Government and first used by the public in 1957. Use less than 30% concentration and reapply every 3-5 hours. Do not use on children under 2 months old, and AAP recommends not using on children’s face or hands.

Pros

• Considered safe by the CDC, AAP, EPA and WHO
• Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks

Cons

• Significant odor
• Greasy residue
• Cannot be sprayed directly on skin, spray only on clothing
• ·Must be washed off at night
• Can cause physical side effects (some evidence it has been linked to seizures)
• Concerns about toxicity
• European Union classifies DEET as Harmful (Xn)
• Will dissolve plastics

Picaridin

Piperidinecarboxylic acid, developed by Bayer in the 1980s. It has been available in the United States since 2005.

Pros

• Effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks
• Works as well as DEET, without the negative effects of DEET
• Considered safe by the EPA
• Endorsed by AAP as an alternative to DEET
• Will not dissolve plastics like DEET does
• Does not irritate skin, and can be directly applied to skin
• No significant odor

Cons

• Needs to be reapplied more frequently for effectiveness (every 2-3 hours)

Permethrin

Phenoxybenzyl, an insecticide rather than an insect repellent.

Pros

• Kills mosquitoes and ticks

Cons

• Known to be toxic to cats
• Toxic to fish
• Can ONLY be used on clothing, tents, etc.
• Not suitable as a personal insect repellent

IR3535

Ethyl ester, developed by the Merck company, and used in the United States since 1999. As far as I have been able to tell, AVON SkinSoSoft Bug Guard is the only product available with IR3535. Many people prefer IR3535 primarily because it has the most effective insect repellent in comparison with the least level of toxicity.

Pros

• Effective against mosquitoes, some gnats, ticks
• Considered safe by the EPA
• Does not irritate skin, and can be directly applied to skin
• No significant toxicity has been found

Cons

• Does not repel black flies
• May be less effective than DEET or Picaridin, particularly against mosquitoes
• Can be irritating to eyes
• May dissolve plastics

Other options, such as Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is a plant based insect repellent that has been approved for use as an insect repellent by the EPA. It is important to note that the Environmental Working Group does not advocate using any other “organic”, “botanical” or “natural” insect repellents to ensure that disease carrying insects are repelled because 1. They are not approved by the EPA for use as insect repellents, and 2. There is no evidence that they repel insects effectively.

What about the sunscreen? When using a sunscreen / insect repellent combination product, be sure to reapply every 2 hours to maintain the effectiveness of the sunscreen.

I recommend using AVON Skin So Soft Bug Guard with either Picaridin or IR3535.

Sources:

Environmental Working Group. "EWG's Guide to Better Bug Repellents." Environmental Working Group, July 2013. Web.

Ogg, Barb, PhD. "What's the Scoop on Insect Repellents?" University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Aug. 2008. Web.

Scutti, Susan. "The Four Best Bug Repellents: DEET, IR3535, Picaridin, Oil Of Lemon Eucalyptus Most Effective, Says EWG." Consumer News (2013): n. pag. 18 July 2013. Web.

Stafford, Kirby C., III. "TICK BITE PREVENTION & THE USE OF INSECT REPELLENTS." The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (2005): n. pag. June 2005. Web.

Stressed? Take A Bath!

I'm not joking.

Do you feel stressed? How do you know if you are stressed? Life has a way of making too many demands of us. The result is that we feel stress, which can have pretty harmful effects!

Am I Stressed?

Dealing with every day life can make us feel pressured, moody, worrisome, anxious, irritable, depressed, achy, sick or nervous. The way we react to stressors can be mental, emotional, physical or in the way we act. Stress overload can push us to a breaking point.

In a cruel, ironic twist of fate, my life has been going fairly smoothly, yet today something extraordinarily stressful happened. I am shaky, teary, sad, and definitely feeling fight or flight instincts. Stress happens because things in life happen. So, yes, I am very much stressed!

How Do You Cope With Stress?

It depends on the type of stressors in your life. Certain jobs people have result in more complex things to deal with, for example. Events occur that can create acute or sustained stress. The degree to which you are personally able to deal with stress can also determine how you cope. I feel stress mostly through muscle tension, which can lead to severe headaches.

If you feel like you are strained to the point of mental or physical exhaustion, you need some stress relief!

• Take time for yourself. I'm a working mom. Time for myself is sort of an oxymoron. You have to actively seek moments to relax. Go for a short walk outdoors. Find a relaxing hobby. Have conversations with your personal support network.
• Get rid of the stressors. Clear away negative people and situations as much as you  can. Set realistic goals and cross a few things off your to do list. Eliminate the source of your stress.
• Change what you can and ignore what you can't. Sometimes things can't be changed. If you work in ER, the trauma will continue to walk through the door. If you can't change your job, find a way to be at peace with what you do. You cannot control certain things!
• Try meditation and aromatherapy. Find a quiet space where you can be alone. Breathe deeply and visualize the stress going away. Certain aromas can be calming and will help to melt stress away. Scents such as peppermint, lavender, jasmine, geranium and chamomile are known for their pleasant and stress relieving odors. 

Coping with the pressures of life is hard. there is no doubt about that! But to ensure stress doesn't take over your life, you have to actively week ways to manage it.

In fact, just taking the time to have a luxurious bath can help reduce stress by improving circulation, relaxing muscles, enabling the use of aromatherapy, and allowing for personal meditation.

Skin So Soft Aroma + Therapy Stress Relief combines eucalyptus and geranium scents in bath foam, body wash and moisturizer.