The weather is getting warmer, and the days are getting longer. Many families are enjoying the outdoors while sheltering-in-place with walks and BBQ-ing (while maintaining social distancing of course). The change in seasons brings back memories of outdoor revelry... but also bugs.
Despite our best bug spray efforts, bug bites are sometimes unavoidable. It's a good idea to have some bug bite relief tucked away in your medicine cabinet to decrease scratching and skin irritation, but animal-free bug bite relief is very rare! Many formulas include glycerin and beeswax. The VeganMed team is just as susceptible to bug bites as the rest of you, so here are a few of our favorite products.
Please speak to your healthcare provider and discontinue use if you have an adverse reaction to bug bite relief.
Teresa Henry (you may remember her from our previous Meet the Team blog post) is an avid outdoors person. She regularly hikes and kayaks, and she is no stranger to bug bites. Teresa always stocks two bug bite remedies: Nature’s Willow Bug Bite Balm and baking soda.
Biting bugs, such as mosquitoes, inject saliva containing anticoagulants, proteins, and histamines into the wound. The histamines create the itchiness, swelling, and inflammation that make bug bites unbearable.
Products like the Nature’s Willow Bug Bite Balm use menthol (an analgesic) to combat the pain and discomfort of a bug bite.
Teresa also carries a small bag of baking soda in her first aid kit. Baking soda is an alkaline product that can help neutralize the acidic pH in the bite (Ryther 2012). Baking soda is a common ingredient for many bug bite remedies (DerSarkissian 2017), but Teresa's favorite recipe is homemade:
Teresa's Bug Bite Remedy
1. Mix one part baking soda and three parts water to make a baking soda paste.
2. Rub the paste onto the affected area and let it sit for about 15 to 20 minutes.
3. Wash the baking soda off with water (DerSarkissian 2017).
If you are making the paste at a campsite, wash off the paste at least 200 feet away from water sources (REI).
Dani Pender, who also enjoying hitting the trails, prefers to use ammonia on her bug bites. Like baking soda, ammonia neutralizes the pH of the bite, providing relief. She'll also often carry a stick of StingEze MAX Bug Bite Relief Pen Dauber in her bag. Combining benzocaine, phenol, and camphor helps provide maximum bug bite itch relief and bee sting relief. StingEze is also less messy than a small bag of baking soda and easier to apply.
Don't let bug bites ruin your summer! Try one of these products and #goanimalfree!
Disclaimer: The product and/or information provided on VeganMed is of a general nature and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not lab test the products to confirm that they are free from animal ingredients, and it is possible that the formulation and ingredients could have changed. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or product. The information provided in this post is accurate and up to date as of the date it was written. However, please note that circumstances and facts may change over time, and new information may become available that could alter the accuracy or relevance of the content. We encourage readers to verify and cross-reference any information provided here with trusted sources or consult relevant professionals for the most current and accurate updates.
Want to see more animal-free products? Visit our online marketplace!
----------------------------------------------
References
DerSarkissian , Carol. “How Can Baking Soda Treat Insect Bites and Stings?” WebMD, WebMD, 29 Oct. 2017, www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/qa/how-can-baking-soda-treat-insect-bites-and-stings.
REI. “Leave No Trace Principles.” Leave No Trace Principles | REI Co-Op, www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/leave-no-trace.html.
Ryther, M. B. The Dynamic Duo: Vinegar and Baking Soda. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2012.
コメント