How to Avoid Wasp Stings and Mosquito Bites:
Effective Tips for Prevention
Summer is the time when we enjoy nature and spend a lot of time outdoors. Unfortunately, with the nice weather come some uninvited guests: wasps and mosquitoes. Their stings are not only annoying but can also be painful and cause allergic reactions.
In this blog post, you will learn how to avoid wasp stings and mosquito bites and what helps prevent mosquito bites.
A summer without wasp and mosquito stings is better,
so here we show tips and tricks that help keep wasps and mosquitoes away from us:
1. Avoid Sweet Foods and Drinks: Wasps are attracted to sweet foods and drinks. Keep food and drinks covered outdoors and avoid drinking directly from cans or bottles, as a wasp might be hiding inside.
2. Proper Behavior Around Wasps: If a wasp comes near you, stay calm. Quick movements and wild flailing make wasps aggressive. Walk away slowly without sudden movements.
Never blow on wasps, because the carbon dioxide in your breath irritates wasps and makes them aggressive!
3. Avoid Fragrances: Strong perfumes, deodorants, and other scented cosmetics can attract wasps and mosquitoes. Use fragrance-free or lightly scented products when outdoors.
4. Clothing and Protection: Wear light-colored clothing, as dark colors and floral patterns attract wasps. Long-sleeved shirts and long pants provide additional protection against stings.
5. Avoid wasp nests: Stay away from wasp nests. If you discover a nest near your home, you should call a professional pest control service to safely remove the nest.
Avoid mosquito bites: Preventive measures
1. Insect repellents: Use insect repellents with active ingredients like DEET or Icaridin to protect yourself from mosquito bites. These products are particularly effective and offer hours of protection.
2. Mosquito nets: Insect nets over beds and strollers provide effective protection against mosquitoes. Especially in areas with many mosquitoes, this is a simple and effective method.
3. Clothing and protection: Wear long sleeves and long pants to cover the skin. Light colors attract fewer mosquitoes than dark colors. There is also special clothing with integrated insect protection.
4. Avoid standing water: Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Avoid leaving water in flower pots, birdbaths, and other containers. Regularly empty all outdoor water containers.
5. Essential oils: Some essential oils like lemon eucalyptus, lavender, and tea tree oil can repel mosquitoes. Use these oils in a diffuser or mix them with a carrier oil for application on the skin.
What helps prevent mosquito bites?
1. Vitamin B1: There is evidence that taking vitamin B1 (thiamine) can repel mosquitoes. Although scientific proof is limited, many people report positive experiences.
2. Nutrition: Some foods like garlic and apple cider vinegar are said to help keep mosquitoes away. This theory is based on the assumption that body odor is altered by consuming these foods, making it less attractive to mosquitoes.
3. Home remedies: Natural home remedies such as vinegar water, lemon balm, and clove oil can also be helpful. They are a good complement to other protective measures and offer a natural alternative to chemical insect repellents.
4. Hygiene: Sweat magically attracts many insects. Therefore, it is especially important in the summer months to shower frequently and change clothes sufficiently.
If you do get stung, it is important to stay calm and know the correct treatment:
- Removal of the stinger: If the stinger/insect is still in the sting site, it is important to remove it immediately.
It is important not to apply pressure to the stinger to avoid pushing more venom into the body.
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Disinfect: Disinfect the sting site. Hand disinfectant gels, which are available in all drugstores and ideally always carried in your pocket or backpack during summer, are suitable for this.
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Cooling: Immediately cool the sting with ice or cold compresses to reduce swelling.
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Antihistamines: These can help to alleviate the reaction to the sting.
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Local treatment with ointments: Cortisone-containing ointments reduce local reactions from insect stings. However, these should only be applied after disinfection and cooling.
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Onion: Cut an onion in half and place the cut side with slight pressure on the sting site. The juice of the onion relieves itching, is antibacterial, and reduces swelling.
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Medical help: In case of allergic reactions or stings in the mouth or throat area, you should seek medical help immediately or call emergency number 112 right away.
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Do not stay alone: If you are out without company, try to find other people to be with you so you can get help in an emergency.
HeatPens work by applying targeted heat to the insect sting. They generate a localized heat of about 50-53 degrees Celsius, which is applied to the affected area for a few seconds.
As the use of so-called "HeatPens" is becoming more popular, we explain here again the mode of action and application.
These small, portable devices (heat pen, HeatPen) use heat to reduce discomfort after an insect sting. But how exactly do HeatPens work and how should they be used correctly?
Destruction of proteins:
The main mechanism of action is based on the denaturation of the proteins injected into the skin by the insect sting. These proteins, such as histamines in mosquito bites, are responsible for itching and the inflammatory reaction. The heat from the HeatPen destroys these proteins, thereby reducing the body's reaction to the sting.
Pain relief:
The application of heat can also affect the pain receptors in the skin. The heat can provide temporary pain relief by numbing the nerve endings and thus reducing the sensation of pain.
Use of HeatPens
1. Immediate application:
To achieve the best results, the HeatPen should be applied as soon as possible after the sting. This prevents the proteins from spreading and worsening the inflammatory reaction.
2. Targeted application:
Place the HeatPen directly on the sting and activate the device. The application usually takes only a few seconds, often between 3 and 10 seconds, depending on the device and manufacturer specifications.
3. Repeating the application:
If the itching or pain does not completely disappear after the first application, the treatment can be repeated after a short break. However, it is important to follow the manufacturer's instructions to avoid skin irritation from excessive heat exposure.
Advantages of using the HeatPen
Quick relief:
Immediate application of heat can quickly relieve the symptoms of an insect sting, often within minutes.
No chemical substances:
Unlike creams and gels that contain chemical agents, the HeatPen works purely mechanically with heat and is therefore also suitable for sensitive skin.
Portability:
HeatPens are small and lightweight, making them ideal for on the go. They can easily be carried in a pocket or backpack.
Reusability:
A HeatPen is reusable and has a long lifespan, making it a cost-effective solution for treating insect stings.
Alternative to the HeatPen:
If you do not carry a HeatPen and have been stung, heat (do not overheat!) a metal coffee spoon and press the heated spoon onto the sting site (observe hygiene measures). The spoon must not cause burns but must be hot enough to achieve the desired effect (slight pain when applied).
