How to Arm Yourself Against the Mosquito

July 3, 2008 — -- Ah, summer has arrived. Time for swimming, barbeques and, if you're not careful, mosquito bites. Some are hunkering down for a bug-filled summer, thanks in part to increased rain, which creates more stagnant pools of water that mosquitoes use as breeding grounds. If you live in a wet area and staying inside is not an option, here are a few ways experts say you can beat the mosquito:

Wear an effective bug repellant.

Don't mix sun block and bug spray. Bug spray can decrease the efficacy of the sunscreen by 50 percent. Don't load up with bug spray until dusk.

Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants when you can.

Is Deet Safe?

And if all else fails, here are some bug bite remedies and tips that are known to relieve pain and itch:

Aloe vera

Ice (it cools the skin, and covers it so you can't scratch)

Topical Benedryl

Moisturizer

Over-the-counter Cortaid [or prescription-strength verdesophone]

Cut your nails! (if you don't have a weapon you can't go to war)

Zyrtec [an antihistamine, can relieve itching]

And here some myths about bug repellants:

Keeping sheets of fabric softener in your pocket. It does not work.

Mixing mouthwash with water on your skin. This can irritate your skin.

Industrial-strength soaps, such as the West Indian remedy, "black soap." These sulfur-containing products have never been proven to repel mosquitoes.

Dietary choices such as chocolate or bananas. There is no evidence that foods with sugar, processed or natural, help.