Category Archives: Tips and Fun Facts

Tick bites are more than just an annoyance, they are potentially dangerous for humans and pets. Ticks are known transmitters of various illnesses, such as Lyme disease, which has been the most commonly encountered tick-borne illness in Connecticut.  While many precautions can be taken to avoid contact with ticks, sometimes, people do get bitten by them regardless. Here are the major steps to take if you should, unfortunately, have an encounter with a tick.

Finding and Removing a Tick

First, remove the tick.  If the tick is not yet attached and just on the skin, simply remove it and dispose of the tick, as they can only spread disease to humans when they attach to the body and bite.

If the tick is attached, it will be more work to remove it. There are many at home remedies on how to remove ticks, but these methods have been proven ineffective and potentially dangerous. They can agitate the tick, causing it to burrow deeper into the skin. There is only one proper way to remove a tick, according to experts. Use a pair of fine-tipped tweezers and firmly grab the tick as close to the skin as possible, being careful not to squeeze the tick’s body. The tick should pull away from the skin, which will form a “tent like” appearance when the insect is being removed. With luck, the whole tick will be removed, but if any parts are left behind, leave them alone to avoid further irritating the area.

What to do Once the Tick is Removed

Once the tick is removed, it can be disposed by placing in a sealed container or Ziplock™ bag, wrapping it tightly in tape or flushing it down the toilet. The skin should be cleaned gently with rubbing alcohol as well as soap and water, then watched for any signs of infection. For example, one of the first signs of Lyme Disease is a circular rash that is clear in the center and gets progressively more red in color as the circle expands. Other symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle and joint pain, or fatigue.

Doctors say…

Most doctors will recommend a course of antibiotics for someone who has been bitten by a tick as a preventative measure. When taken right away, the antibiotics can help prevent Lyme disease from developing. While there are blood tests for Lyme disease, they are not effective for two to six weeks after the person is bitten. Therefore, if you or someone you know has been bitten, it is best to monitor their health for any signs of illness.

It does take a little bit of time to contract a disease from a tick bite. The tick must start feeding, as doing so releases an organism into their saliva that is transmitted to the host. However, according to the CDC, this can take as many as 48hours or more from when the tick attaches to the host – which is a relief for many people who find an attached tick on their body. This does not mean there is no risk of illness – it just means chances decrease if the tick is found and removed within that time frame.

How Mosquito Joe Can Help

Mosquito Joe of Gold Coast CT helps Fairfield County and Western New Haven residents add an extra layer of defense with our barrier and all-natural tick, mosquito, and flea control treatments. Don’t get ticked off this season, instead enjoy your yard worry-free with Mosquito Joe! Reach out to us today at 203-890-0034 to arrange your first service.

Itching and Scratching

When you get a mosquito bite, the first impulse is to scratch it – and that’s the last thing you should do. The reason mosquito bites itch is because the mosquitoes release an anticoagulant and proteins when they bite the skin. These proteins are foreign to our bodies and cause a histamine reaction, which will always itch. Scratching the bites, as much as you may want to, will just irritate the skin more. As a general – and first – rule, don’t scratch those annoying bites! Instead, try one of these home remedies.

Home Remedies

There are plenty of remedies that can be found around the house to deal with the itching and burning of mosquito bites. They all work to different degrees and the effectiveness tends to depend on the person, as everyone has different body chemistry. If you have any of these common household items, they’re definitely worth a try to alleviate that irritating bite.

Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol is especially effective on a fresh bite, as the alcohol will clean the bite and it has a cooling effect. You do not need to use much; just enough to cover the bite. Alcohol can be drying to the skin, so for this reason, do not apply it frequently.

Toothpaste

This may sound strange, but apply some regular toothpaste to the bite and let it dry. It will not only help stop the itch, but it will also form a protective barrier over the bite to prevent it from coming in contact with other irritants. It will also make the bite much more difficult to scratch if you get the urge!

Oatmeal

Not the sugary sweet kind that you have for breakfast, but rather, plain oatmeal. Just add some to a bath if you have many bites (oatmeal baths are also commonly used for chicken pox and other skin rashes) or make a small batch of paste to apply to single bites. Mix together equal amounts of oatmeal and water to make a paste. Then, simply apply it using a washcloth or your fingers, and wash it off after fifteen minutes for the best outcome.

Basil

It’s not just for spaghetti sauce… Basil has naturally occurring chemicals that help treat itchy skin and is an excellent choice for a home mosquito bite remedy. You can use basil oil, rub fresh basil leaves on the affected area, or make a tincture by boiling two cups of water and adding ½ ounce of dry basil leaves. Make sure the tincture has cooled before putting it on your skin!

Baking Soda

Much like with oatmeal, you make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda (you only need approximately 1 tablespoon) and apply it to any bites you have. Leave it on for about ten minutes and then wash it off – sooner if any further skin irritation occurs.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a lovely houseplant that happens to have a cooling gel inside of each one of the plant’s thick leaves. The gel can be used for cuts as well as bites because it has anti-inflammatory properties. Cut off a small piece of the plant and rub the gel found inside on the bite. It will help it to heal and calm the itch (and yes, the plant will recover and continue to thrive after that piece is used). You can use more gel from the plant as needed to soothe the bite, as it is also an excellent skin moisturizer.

Witch Hazel

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that can be purchased over the counter. It is used to soothe cuts, scrapes, and of course, mosquito bites. Dab a cotton ball in the witch hazel and swipe it over the bite. Once dried, this can be repeated as often as necessary to soothe the itch of mosquito bites and help them to heal.

There is a myriad of other home remedies that people swear by, such as honey, tea bags, garlic, onions, ice – and many more. If your family has had a remedy handed down through the generations, it is definitely worth trying in addition to our suggestions! To help control the mosquito population and enjoy your yard or deck bite-free, be sure to call Mosquito Joe of Gold Coast CT at 203-890-0034 for a free quote.

No one wants ticks in their backyards, nor do they want to worry about the diseases many species of ticks carry. This includes Lyme disease, which is a concern for those living in the state of Connecticut. Ticks can often be found in low-lying shrubs, long grass, brick walls and piles of wood, and they can attach to a person without them noticing. Here are ten handy tips to reduce the risk of an encounter with a tick when out and about!

1. Keep Your Lawn and Shrubbery Manicured

Make sure the grass is regularly mowed and the trees and shrubbery are trimmed – especially shrubs and plants that are low to the ground. Ticks are known to breed in densely covered areas and prefer to seek coverage in lower areas as opposed to higher ones.

2. Move Any Wood Piles Away from Your Home

Piles of wood are an ideal hideout for ticks, mosquitoes, and other pests. Keep any wood piles away from areas that are in frequent use, such as the house itself, decks, pools, play areas, and backyard furniture. This will lower your chances of coming into contact with ticks when enjoying the outdoors.

3. Keep Kids and Pets Out of Highly Wooded Areas

As we said, ticks love densely covered areas. Wooded areas and areas with long grass are a hotbed for tick activity. Move swing sets, sandboxes, and other play equipment away from areas with a lot of trees and dense shrubbery so the ticks cannot easily make their way to where your kids and pets are regularly playing.

4. Wear Protective Clothing When Spending Time in Wooded Areas or Hiking

Experts recommend wearing long sleeve shirts and pants when hiking or walking – especially in the spring and summer. Tuck pants into socks for extra protection around the ankles and lower calf areas. When less skin is exposed, it makes it harder for ticks to attach themselves to your skin.

5. Wear Light Colored Clothing

It is easier to see the black ticks on light or white colored clothing than it is on darker colors.  By wearing light or brightly colored clothes, you will be more likely to spot any ticks that may be on your clothing before they are able to find their way onto your skin.

6. Wash Clothing After Being Outdoors

After spending time outdoors, change out of the clothes you were wearing and wash them. Doing this removes any ticks that may have attached themselves to your clothing. It is important to dry clothing on high, as the heat will kill off any ticks that may be hiding in clothing.

7. Check Kids and Pets for Ticks

When they come in from the outdoors, be sure to check pets and children for ticks, as they can be on clothing and fall off onto a rug or furniture in the house. If this happens, they could unexpectedly attach to and bite a person or pet at a later date. This extra step is worth it to avoid unwanted ticks in the house.

8. Don’t Forget Flea and Tick Collars

Make sure your dogs and outdoor cats have on a flea and tick collar at all times, as they help to repel ticks and fleas, so they do not attach to a pet’s skin. Pets should still be checked for ticks – especially if they are out or walked in a high-risk area, but the collar will help reduce their chances of contracting an illness from a tick.

9. Wear a Tick Repellent

Make sure the product you use contains at least 20% DEET and wear it on both skin and clothing. Parents should use caution when applying to children, avoiding their faces and hands. Permethrin treated clothing can cause ticks to become immobilized and even fall off the clothing, preventing them from attaching to the skin.

10. Treat Your Yard for Ticks

Use a professional pest control service, such as Mosquito Joe of Gold Coast CT, to treat your yard and help keep the tick population under control. Our barrier spray treatment is effective against ticks, as well as mosquitoes and fleas, for up to 21 days. Call us today at 203-890-0034 for a free quote and to get on the schedule.

*All-Natural service requires treatments every 14 days.