Tick bites were never something I thought I’d potentially have to deal with until a friend spotted a tick semi engulfed in her stomach while poolside in Southampton. What should you do if this happens to you? See below, along with fixes for seven other common summertime ailments.
Mosquito Bite
As soon as you notice the bug bite, ice it to prevent inflammation. Then, get an over-the-counter itch relief cream like this one from Burt’s Bees.
Tan Line
Exfoliation helps you shed the outermost tanned layer of dead skin cells so it will help speed up the process of your tan fading. Another option is to use a sunless tanning product to even out your skin tone, but this can be tricky when it comes to blending, so go with something like Guerlain Terracotta spray, which acts more like makeup and is easy to remove.
Sunburn
If you’re blistering, see your doctor. If you’re just red, take a bath, avoid the sun and pop an aspirin, which will act as an anti-inflammatory. Then, apply a cooling aloe vera product (make sure it’s 95-100% aloe) and avoid any product with alcohol in its formulation. Another favorite is Korres Yoghurt After-Sun Cooling Gel, inspired by the Greek tradition of applying yoghurt onto sunburned skin (tip: place it in the refrigerator for maximum cooling).
Razor Burn
The best way to avoid razor burn is to invest in something other than a cheap, disposable razor and to avoid putting too much pressure when you shave. If you have razor burn already, however, apply a calming toner to the irritated area. Paula’s Choice and The Body Shop both have good options.
Poison Ivy
It’s imperative that you scrub the contacted area with soap and water. The chemical in poison ivy responsible for irritating skin, urushiol, is oily, so water alone won’t suffice. Then, apply dandelion greens, honey and/or aloe to soothe the affected area or get an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.
Melasma
The best way to treat and prevent melasma is to wear sunscreen every day and reapply it every 2 hours. See here for help picking the best sunscreen.
Chlorine Hair
Hair is like a sponge, so it’s key to drench it in unchlorinated water and apply a leave-in conditioning product (like this one from Fekkai) before jumping into the pool to build a barrier and help protect it from possible damage. Immediately after your chlorinated swim, wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner or, if you have color treated hair, ones targeted to that.
Tick Bite
Remove the tick (see here for more information on how to do this). If you don’t remove the tick in time and get bitten, call your doctor immediately — should you develop a rash or symptoms of Lyme disease, treatment is most effective when started early.
