How to Prevent and Treat Common Summer Ailments From Bug Bites to Poison Ivy

From bug bites to poison ivy and sunburns, there are a lot of reasons to stay inside this summer. But with a bit of extra preparation and precaution, you can keep your kids' skin healthy and bug-bite-free. Read on for our best summer safety tips.

Swimming, exploring nature trails, or just playing tag in the backyard, summer is a blast for kids. But with the glorious sunshine and soaring Texas heat come a few classic summer bummers: itchy bug bites, sneaky poison ivy, and painful sunburns.

At Galaxy Pediatrics, with offices in Plano and Red Oak, Texas, our specialists keep your kids healthy year-round. Whether you’re planning a trip to the beach or a backyard barbecue, here are our best tips to keep you and your family ailment-free this summer.

The sun: friend or foe?

Even though the sun is your best source of essential vitamin D, it can also be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Your melanin is responsible for the color in your pigment, designed to absorb the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays (UV), preventing them from doing any internal damage.

People with darker skin tones absorb these damaging rays more readily than those with lighter skin tones, but the absorbed radiation is still harmful.

Keep your kids safe by practicing proper sun protection. An easy way to remember sun protection is with this phrase, “Slip! Slop! Slap!® and Wrap,” which means:

Slip on a shirt
Slop on sunscreen
Slap on a hat
Wrap sunglasses to protect your eyes and skin around them.

These rules are fundamental during peak sun hours, typically between 10 am and 4 pm.

Stay hydrated

You lose moisture much faster during the hot months than in winter. Make sure to drink lots of water throughout the summer to avoid dehydration and fatigue.

A nifty way to know if you’re drinking enough water every day is the 8-of-8 rule: you should drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Say goodbye to bugs

Stings and bug bites are other summer hazards. Bees, mosquitoes, wasps, ticks, and chiggers are everywhere.

These safety measures can make a big difference in keeping these pests away.

Insect repellent: Apply insect repellent with 20-30% DEET.
Cover up: with clothing like long sleeves, pants, and high socks. Wearing a hat is also incredibly important, as insects can enter from the air or drop from trees.
Skip golden hour: Avoid outdoor play during peak mosquito hours (dawn and dusk).

If you are stung by an insect, apply ice to reduce the swelling. If your swelling doesn’t subside or you develop hives, please visit us as soon as possible. If a tick bites you and you’re unsure how to remove it, don’t try to remove it yourself. Give us a call so that we can help.

Dangerous plants

Poison ivy is a robust plant that grows in vacant lots and throughout parks and nature preserves.

It’s a vine-like plant that leaves you with an itchy, miserable rash, treatable with over-the-counter (OTC) medications made especially for poison ivy. If your rash spreads or becomes infected, don’t hesitate to call us.

This itch-inducing plant has three-pointed leaves, so it’s easily recognizable if you remember “leaves of three, let it be.”