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Beat the Bugs This Summer - courtesy of Yahoo! Health
By Arricca Elin SanSone, Woman's Day

There’s no bigger buzz kill (pun intended) at an outdoor get-together than a swarm of pesky mosquitoes and bugs. This summer, make your backyard a safe haven for soirées with these expert-approved tricks for keeping them out of your yard, off your skin and more. Plus, check out our bug spray chart to find out which products will really protect you this season—and for how long.

Make Your Yard Unfriendly
“Eliminate standing water, which mosquitoes need to reproduce,” says Nancy Hinkle, PhD, professor of entomology at The University of Georgia in Athens. “A few saucers under flowerpots can produce mosquitoes for the whole neighborhood.” Cut back weedy undergrowth where insects like to hide. And because mosquitoes are weak fliers, place fans around your deck to keep them away.

Wear Repellent
“Use enough to cover exposed skin lightly,” says Robert Brodell, MD, professor of Internal Medicine, dermatology section, at Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine in Rootstown, Ohio. “If you want to use a product containing both sunscreen and repellent, make sure it has an SPF of at least 30, and reapply as directed.”

Leave Stinging Insects Alone
“Wasps, hornets, yellow jackets and bees won’t bother you unless you bother them,” says Dr. Hinkle. To keep bugs away from temptations, cover trash cans and food, especially sweets and soda. If they buzz you, walk away (don’t swat—it provokes them).

Already bitten?
For a brand new bite, try After Bite; it contains ammonia, which helps relieve the stinging sensation, says Lynn J. McKinley-Grant, MD, an associate clinical professor of dermatology at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C. For bites that are getting itchy, New York City-based dermatologist Debra J. Wattenberg, MD, recommends spot treating with an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and, if necessary, taking an oral antihistamine like Benadryl or Claritin. If you have lots of bites and are very itchy all over, she suggests Sarna Anti-Itch Lotion; it provides a cooling sensation that can be very helpful. And remember, try not to scratch! Too much scratching can lead to infection. (If a bite starts to ooze, apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin or Polysporin, says Dr. Wattenberg.)

Bug Off! What Really Works
You’ll find insect repellents in sprays, lotions, sticks and wipes. “Choose one that provides protection for the amount of time you’ll be outdoors,” says Ulrich Bernier, PhD, research chemist with the Agricultural Research Service, USDA, in Gainesville, Florida. “Products containing 10 to 20 percent of the active ingredient are sufficient most of the time.”

Active Ingredient - DEET
What It Repels - Biting Flies, chiggers, mosquitoes, ticks
How Long It Lasts - From 1 to 12 hours

Active Ingredient - Picaridin
What It Repels - Biting flies, chiggers, mosquitoes, ticks
How Long It Lasts - About 4 to 8 hours

Active Ingredient - Oil of lemon eucalyptus (or PMD)
What It Repels - Mosquitoes, ticks
How Long It Lasts - About 2 to 6 hours

Active Ingredient - IR3535 (3-aminopropionic acid ethyl ester)
What It Repels - Biting flies, mosquitoes, ticks
How Long It Lasts - About 2 to 8 hours

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