Summer Exposures - May 2021

Ticks, Sun, Poison Ivy and More

Sun Exposure (CDC NIOSH)

  • Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15
  • Follow the application directions on the sunscreen bottle
  • Apply sunscreen liberally (a minimum of 1 oz.) at least 20 minutes before sun exposure
  • Make sure to cover the ears, lips, neck, tops of feet, and backs of hands
  • Reapply sunscreen at least every 2 hours and each time you get out of the water or sweat heavily
  • Throw away old sunscreen, as sunscreens lose their potency after 1-2 years
  • Some sunscreens may not work as well when used with insect repellent, requiring more frequent reapplication when the two are used together
  • Wearing protective clothing can also help prevent sunscreen, particularly high-SPF clothing
  • Wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection and side panels are recommended

Poison Ivy

A rash is caused by an allergic reaction to an oily resin called urushiol (u-ROO-she-ol). This oily resin is in the leaves, stems and roots of poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac. Wash your skin right away if you come into contact with this oil, unless you know you're not sensitive to it. Washing off the oil may reduce your chances of getting a poison ivy rash. If you develop a rash, it can be very itchy and last for weeks.

Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of a poison ivy rash include:

  • Redness
  • Itching
  • Swelling
  • Blisters
  • Difficulty breathing, if you've inhaled the smoke from burning poison ivy

Poison ivy rash often appears in a straight line because of the way the plant brushes against your skin. But if you develop a rash after touching a piece of clothing or pet fur that has urushiol on it, the rash may be more spread out. You can also transfer the oil to other parts of your body with your fingers. The reaction usually develops 12 to 48 hours after exposure and lasts two to three weeks.

Ticks

Tick exposure can occur year-round, but ticks are most active during warmer months (April-September). Of the many different tick species found throughout the world, only a select few bite and transmit disease to people. Of the ticks that bite people, different species of ticks transmit different diseases. In Maine, the following ticks that bite may be found. Note that adult ticks are the easiest to identify and male and female ticks of the same species may look different. Nymphal and larval ticks are very small and may be hard to identify.

  • American Dog Tick
  • Black-legged Tick
  • Brown Dog Tick
  • Lone Star Tick

Know where to expect ticks. Ticks live in grassy, brushy, or wooded areas, or even on animals.

Treat clothing and gear with products containing 0.5% permethrin. Permethrin can be used to treat boots, clothing and camping gear and remain protective through several washings.

After You Come Indoors

Check your clothing for ticks. Ticks may be carried into the house on clothing. Any ticks that are found should be removed.

Examine gear and pets. Ticks can ride into the home on clothing and pets, then attach to a person later, so carefully examine pets, coats, and daypacks.

Shower soon after being outdoors. Showering within two hours of coming indoors has been shown to reduce your risk of getting Lyme disease and may be effective in reducing the risk of other tickborne diseases.

Check your body for ticks after being outdoors. Conduct a full body check upon return from potentially tick-infested areas, including your own backyard. Use a hand-held or full-length mirror to view all parts of your body.

  • Under the arms
  • In and around the ears
  • Inside belly button
  • Back of the knees
  • In and around the hair
  • Between the legs
  • Around the waist

Check out these two sites for helpful videos: