Insect bites are a common problem for many people, especially in the warmer months of the year. The pain associated with the itching and swelling from these bites, ranging from mosquitos to ants to fleas and ticks, the welts that can become infected, the recovery time and then it happening all over again is enough to drive anyone crazy. Below are some tips for dealing with bug bites when you get them, as well as some tips for how to ensure that you don’t get bug bites in the future, so it is one less thing to worry about.

Determine What Is Biting You

First, figure out what the heck it is that is giving you these bites in the first place. There are many reasons for this. For one, you want to make sure these are bites and not just an allergic reaction. That’s pretty easy to determine based on what the welts or skin reaction looks like. Next, try to figure out what types of bites they are so you know how to treat them. Different bites require different attention to ensure they get treatment in the best way possible.

Put Ointments, Creams or Medicine on the Bite

There are whole rows of pharmacies dedicated to products that treat all types of bug bites. So once you have determined what exactly is biting you, get some of these products and apply them to the bites. The itching should be the first thing to stop and then you should concentrate on trying to get the bite to heal over the next week or so. Apply the ointment, cream or other medicine to the bite with regularity.

Don’t Scratch It

Whatever you do, don’t scratch. It will feel good for a moment when you do it, but it will only make things worse in the long run, as it can cause your skin to break and blister and then get infected. This is easier said than done as the itching is sometimes reactionary and something you will do without even knowing it. But try not to scratch as it will only make the whole bug bite experience easier.

Identify Where Bugs Are Coming From

Now that you have dealt with the individual bite, you should try and figure out how you were bitten in the first place, especially if it occurred in your own home. Look at where you sleep, as that is usually where you are the most vulnerable to a bug munching on you. Also, think back to environments, like did you go camping or hiking recently, a place where you could be exposed to bugs that bite and sting.

Kill The Bugs

Now you kill the bugs, once you have found out where they are most likely coming from. Spray the area with poison and, as long as you don’t have other pets around it, everything should be taken care of in about an hour after applying it. There may have to be more invasive efforts done if this doesn’t work, like opening up walls or going under the floor of the house itself to make the source of the problem has been eradicated.

Keep Your Doors Closed

Most bugs enter the house the same way we do, and that is through the front door. They fly in at random, especially if you leave the door open for an extended period of time. So try to make a habit of keeping your outside doors closed, unless of course, you have a screen door as well. It’s easier said than done when it’s nice out of course.

Add Screens to Windows

Just like with the open doors, bugs that bite are very liable to just fly into a house through the open window. Which means you will need to add screens to all your windows so you can enjoy the weather outside without all the bugs outside coming into your house. However, this can be an expensive endeavor to do to every window in the house, so make sure it is the best option before you pull the trigger.

Seal Up Any Holes in the House

Holes in the house, from small cracks in baseboards to legitimate holes in the wall, will let bugs in. So by finding all of these cracks and then sealing them with putty or caulk, no more bugs will be coming into your house. The problem is, even new houses have some holes which can allow bugs in, so this is something you will have to do on an ongoing basis.

Dispose of Any Refuse That Could be a Food Source

Any trash or leftovers that aren’t in the fridge will draw at least one group of insects. So go through your home and find any of those that may be laying around and dispose of them completely. This way ants and other bugs won’t be drawn to it in the first place. And you won’t have to kill them immediately as well.

Call an Exterminator

The last issue to deal with is calling a professional exterminator to sprat or fully treat the house. This costs money and also sprays a lot of poison in your home. That said, exterminators will get rid of the bugs for a very long time.