Yes, this article is not for everyone. Every summer, lucky little ones pass through this scourge of insect bites. Conversely, some people subscribe to it and in this case, meals on the terrace in the evening or at lunchtime promise to be a real nightmare...
In this article, we will give you some tips to enjoy this summer as serenely as possible.
The main bites in summer are caused by mosquitoes or wasps. These two types of insects have totally different ways of doing things, so the treatment and management will be different.
Mosquitoes !
Hmm, at the mention of its name, I imagine that you can already hear this little hum emitted which clearly indicates its presence but which, once the room is lit, turns out to be nowhere to be found... We are indeed talking about mosquitoes here!
There are several types of mosquitoes:
The so-called "common" mosquito also called the "Culex Pipiens",
The tiger mosquito named "Aedes Albopictus",
And his cousin the "Temples of the Egyptians". The latter is a carrier of diseases such as dengue fever, zika or even chikungunya. In France, the mosquito that we encounter the most is the first.
Only the females bite to have the necessary proteins to nourish their eggs.
Why do mosquito bites itch?
Before pumping blood, the mosquito injects saliva which will thin the blood and allow it to pass through its tube without clotting. However, this saliva, unknown to our body, will put our immune system on alert and will requisition cells releasinghistamine. It is a molecule that brings in immune cells by causing vasodilation and an increase in vascular permeability. In addition, it is also responsible for the pain, redness and swelling so characteristic of bites.
What to do in case of a bite?
Apply cold: this will reduce the swelling and itching,
Disinfect the bite well and avoid scratching because bacteria could enter and cause an infection,
Aloe vera gel or linseed gel are very good healers and moisturizers.
Tips for repelling mosquitoes
THE essential oils effectively fight against bites.
However, these pure essential oils should absolutely not be applied to the skin! For safe use, it is strongly recommended to dilute them invegetable oil. Your mosquito repellent should only contain 5% to 10% essential oil.
To help you, we have selected a recipe made up of a mixture of ingredients to help repel mosquitoes of all types. This recipe combines classic essential oils with others less common, but very effective, especially for the toughest of them!
Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:
- 80ml d'jojoba oil or coconut oil: if you live in a hot country, favor coconut oil. It allows to better associate the essential oils in case of high temperatures.
- 2ml of geranium essential oil
- 2ml cajuput essential oil
- 2ml lemon eucalyptus essential oil
- 1ml palmarosa essential oil
- 1ml clove essential oil
Namely : 1ml corresponds to approximately 30 drops of essential oil.
This recipe can be used for any adult or child over 10 years old.
You will first need to introduce your essential oils and then your vegetable oil. We advise you to use a pump bottle in 100ml glass. Mix your preparation to obtain a homogeneous protective oil . Once your preparation is ready, you can apply it to the areas exposed to mosquitoes. However, be sure to avoid the eye area!
wasps and bees
You wonder what could have stung you?
Here are the small differences: the wasp has a bright yellow and black striped dress. She is relatively thin. The bee, on the other hand, is often striped brown and yellow and is a bit thicker than the wasp.
The bite, unlike the mosquito, is made through a stinger. So be careful!
What to do in case of a bite?
It is necessary to check that the sting has not remained in the skin and if necessary, gently remove it using tweezers then, disinfect the area well.
The venom of wasps and bees being heat sensitive, approach a heat source 1 or 2 mm from the sting so that the heat emitted degrades the injected venom.
The trick to repel wasps is to place half an orange or lemon cut in half on a table and place cloves in it.
The other trick is to burn coffee grounds. The smell will repel them.
You have all the secrets to spend a serene summer!