How to stop itch this summer
Spending time with your family outside is a great way to enjoy the season, but beware: Hungry bugs are out to eat you alive and leave you with unpleasant bug bites.
Prevention is the best medicine, so when slathering on sunscreen before heading outdoors, remember to apply insect repellent too. And if you get bitten, stop the itch with a topical treatment like After Bite, an advanced liquid formula that provides itch relief, or After Bite Kids, a gentle cream for children or sensitive skin.
A bug bite is essentially an open wound so scratching it, as temporarily satisfying as it may be, is an efficient way to spread dirt and germs into the body. While adults may resist the urge, little ones are likely to scratch the itch, which can lead to the following infections:
Cellulitis can be contracted through broken skin surrounding bug bites. Symptoms include chills, fever and swollen glands. Untreated, the infection can also enter the bloodstream and damage bones near the infection site.
Impetigo is a contagious skin infection that begins as small red spots and can develop into blisters that range in size and ooze fluids. Impetigo can be caught from untreated insect bites where the skin has opened and begun to bleed, allowing bacteria to enter.
Staph infections and MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, can be caused by bacteria entering broken skin near bite sites. MRSA are staph infections that have become resistant to antibiotics, but any such infection, left untreated, can escalate and lead to more serious conditions like sepsis or abscesses.
Be sure to stock your bag with After Bite and bug repellent to prevent bites from putting a damper on summer fun.