Sunday, June 14, 2015

Angular Cheilitis Treatment

Angular cheilitis, angular stomatitis, cracked lip corners, perleche and sores of corner of mouth are different names of the same common condition which is characterized by the inflammation of both corners of the mouth. The sores formed are sensitive in nature and worsen with time, causing chapping, dryness and then red lesions. These sores only affect the lips and don’t spread any further. If angular cheilitis develops on any side of mouth then angular cheilitis treatment demands that it is better not to touch both corners with the same lip balm tube, lipstick or the same finger.

Angular Cheilitis Treatment

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe vera gel is considered a good angular cheilitis treatment option because it can treat the infection and at the same time reduce the pain of angular cheilitis. It soothes skin and is therefore used in the treatment of a number of skin ailments.

Put an aloe vera leaf in the refrigerator before use and then rub it on the corners of the lips that have the sores. Keep on rubbing for about 2-3 minutes and then let it stay for around 15-20 minutes until it dries before washing it off.

Lip Balms and Moisturizers

Virgin coconut oil and petroleum jelly are unscented lip balms which make an excellent treatment option for angular cheilitis as they can help in healing the infection. Apply the moisturizer or lip balm on the affected areas in the day and before sleeping but make sure that there are no chemicals present in them.

Water

The best angular cheilitis treatment is to make sure that you stay hydrated all the time. Keep on drinking water so the lips do not dry and don’t get chapped. Staying hydrated will prevent the cracking of the lips too. If you want to cure your angular cheilitis, then consume around 10 to 12 glasses of water a day.

Cocoa Butter

Cocoa butter is a moisturizer that can help you in eliminating the issue of dry lips and consequently save you from the trouble of developing chapped lips. You can treat angular cheilitis by applying natural cocoa butter in small quantities on the affected areas of your lips at least two to three times in a day.

Cucumber

Cucumber is one of the best angular cheilitis home remedies which can help in moisturizing the cracked lips and alleviating the pain caused by these lips. Hold a slice of cucumber on the affected area for a few minutes twice a day. You can put the cucumber in the refrigerator to cool it down before application too.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil helps in destroying harmful microorganisms responsible for causing different skin conditions. It is also a great moisturizer too which makes it an excellent remedy for treating angular cheilitis. Apply the coconut oil on the affected areas at least three to four times during a day. It can prevent future instances of angular cheilitis, too.

Vaseline

Vaseline is petroleum jelly which is free of any kind of chemical substances. It can offer pain relief and help in moisturizing the affected areas. Vaseline stops bacterial growth by insulating the lips from coming in contact with air. Apply the Vaseline on the lips as soon as you feel that they are drying up or are getting cracked.

Baking Soda

Baking soda can help in killing the microorganisms that cause infection and has thus been used as a natural treatment for angular cheilitis for many years. Baking soda has to be mixed with water to form a paste before it can be applied on the affected areas of the lips. Leave the paste on for five minutes before washing it off and drying the skin using a soft cloth. The paste must be applied at least twice a day. Apply a moisturizer afterwards to soften the skin.

Vitamin B Complex Rich Foods

Most people suffer angular cheilitis because of having vitamin deficiency. If you want to get rid of angular cheilitis, then all you have to do is to start consuming foods that are rich in vitamin B complex like tomatoes, legumes, carrots and spinach. Eating tomato soup and drinking apple juice regularly is another way of eliminating your vitamin deficiency. Consuming such foods is going to provide you iron and is good for your overall health.

Honey

Honey is also among the natural remedies that are recommended for treating angular cheilitis. It can help you in dealing with bacteria or fungi that cause the infection, resulting in the development of angular cheilitis. Apply honey in a generous amount on the affected areas for a period of at least 15 minutes.

Tea Tree Oil

If you have developed slits on the corners of your mouth, then tea tree oil can prove to be a great angular cheilitis treatment for you. These slits can be very painful but can be treated with ease at home by combining two tbsp. of tea tree oil with one tbsp. of vitamin E oil to form a mixture and apply it on the affected areas at least five times on a daily basis. This remedy is particularly useful for quickening the pace of healing of the slits caused by angular cheilitis.

Lemon

Lemon can prove to be a good home remedy for angular cheilitis too as it can easily deal with the infection causing the issue. Before applying lemon, the corners of the mouth must be soaked in warm water to soften the damaged tissues and to open up the lesions. After this, squeeze the lemon juice out and massage it in circular movement over the affected areas for about two minutes. Rinse off the corners and then dry it using a soft cloth. Perform this exercise every five hours to get best results.

Glycerine

Glycerine is an effective angular cheilitis cure that can help in keeping the lips moisturized at all times. It can reduce the pain caused by angular cheilitis by treating the chapped lips and can offer sustained relief from this problem. Just dab a small amount of glycerine on the affected areas of the lips at least four times throughout the day to get rid of this issue.

Getting Rid of Anxiety Headaches

A lot of anxiety symptoms are easy to bear for people. Though most people find some stomach discomfort, a little bit of muscle twitching and some sweating relatively easy to deal with, having anxiety is not a pleasurable experience.

However, some anxiety symptoms are not that easily bearable and can disrupt your routine life badly. Anxiety headaches top the list of these anxiety symptoms. These headaches caused by anxiety are fairly common and are usually very distressful.

How Can You Know If You’re Having Anxiety Headaches?

Anxiety headaches are usually characterized by a dull or achy pain in most people. This pain is often described as a crushing sensation instead of being a throbbing one. These headaches usually begin gently and tend to worsen with time. The pain experienced can be felt on either side of the head, forehead, on the back of the neck and head or the temples.

Take a test to see if you’re having anxiety issues: https://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety-test/

What Are the Possible Causes of Anxiety Headaches?

Muscle contractions in the neck and head are responsible for causing anxiety headaches. Such contractions can be caused by a number of activities, stressors or food items. Driving for lengthy periods or staring at a computer screen for a long time can result in a tension headache for some people, while for others it can develop because of cold temperatures.

Other tension headache triggers include:

Alcohol

Fatigue

Emotional stress

Poor posture

Caffeine

A flu or cold

Smoking

A sinus infection

Eye strain

How to Get Rid of Anxiety Headaches

Using standard treatments for headaches is the only way of relieving anxiety headaches quickly. Tylenol, an over-the-counter medication is usually effective in providing pain relief as long as it does not cause you any harmful side-effects. As these headaches tend to worsen when you get dehydrated, drinking water can prove to be very helpful in relieving them as well.

Stress, staring at digital screens for lengthy periods of time and dim lighting can cause eye strain which is a contributing factor for tension headaches. Thus, turning off the lights and resting your eyes for a while is another strategy that can be tried for alleviating tension headaches.

Curing anxiety headaches instantly is not that easy in comparison to other symptoms of anxiety. The headache tends to persist even if you relax yourself and try to reduce your stress. The following options can be tried for pain relief:

Rub the temples of the head while keeping your eyes closed for a few minutes. It might reduce the pressure somewhat.

A warm shower is always nice. It can reduce the pressure in the head as warm showers are known to relax the muscles.

Get a massage from someone. Your head will feel a lot lighter as the massage will relieve the muscle tension in the back and neck.

Other treatments that might be recommended by the doctor include:

Taking part in stress management classes to learn techniques that will help you in relieving tension and coping with stress.

Biofeedback, a relaxation technique that helps you in managing stress and pain.

Talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy which helps you in identifying situations that cause you tension, stress and anxiety.

Acupuncture, an alternative therapy that makes use of application of fine needles at certain areas of the body for alleviating tensions and stress.

Although these treatments do not guarantee complete pain relief, they do reduce some of the pressure in your head. Some people find jogging helpful in reducing the pressure they are feeling inside their head while others find simply laying down more comfortable.

How to Prevent Anxiety Headaches

Recognizing the factors that lead up to the headaches is a good way of preventing future episodes as anxiety and headaches are usually caused by certain triggers in particular.

The cause of tension headaches can be determined by maintaining a headache diary. Make sure to record any situations that causes stress along with the meals and drinks you intake and the activities you perform. Make a note in the diary if you experience a tension headache. You will be able to spot a connection after doing this for a few months. For instance, if the diary tells you that you experienced headaches on days when you ate a certain food then that food might be the trigger of your anxiety headaches.

It is also important to avoid anxiety as well. Nicotine, caffeine and alcohol can all worsen your anxiety. Therefore, avoid drinking too much coffee or alcohol or smoking if you are feeling anxiety and nervousness. Do keep in mind that certain headache drugs contain caffeine too. Exercising regularly can help you in feeling better too.

How to Deal With Vulvitis

Although inflammation of the vulvar region is referred to as vulvitis, there are several conditions that fall under this term. Vulvovaginitis, vulvitis and vaginitis are interchangeable terms used by gynecologists for this condition.

Vulvitis is neither a disease nor a condition but a symptom caused by a number of different reasons like external irritants, allergies, injuries and infections. This symptom is often accompanied by genital herpes or vaginitis, which are both vaginal infections. Women having poor nutrition or hygiene or who undergo a lot of stress are more likely to suffer from vulvitis.

Symptoms of Vulvitis

Benign to extensive burning and/or itching on vulva

Vulvar swelling and redness

Scaly appearance

Soreness

Whitish or thickened patches

Clear blister filled with fluid which break open and form a crust and are often confused with herpes.

Damp and/or raw feeling. Most women believe that the dampness is caused by the vaginal discharge and think that it is the reason for the symptoms. The weeping of the outer vulvar skin surface caused by chronic irritation is the actual reason for this dampness.

In critical cases, intercourse, a speculum exam or insertion of tampon might cause pain.

Causes of Vulvitis

There are a number of factors that might result in the development of vulvitis:

Oral sex

Fungal or bacterial infection

Swimming pools and hot tubs

Wearing a wet swimming suit for an extended period of time

Riding a horse or a bicycle

Colored or perfumed toilet tissue

Allergic vulvitis caused due to reaction to products liketopical medications,vaginal douches, pantyhose, deodorants, powders, sanitary napkins, bubble baths, shampoos, soaps, or non-cotton underwear.

Medical Treatments for Vulvitis

Diagnosis is the first step in vulvitis treatment. The doctor might prescribe antibacterial treatment or antifungal creams after ascertaining the cause for the problem. Severe itching can be relieved by the use of soothing lotions or cortisone creams. For short term uses, low-dose cortisone creams are advised; while in some conditions, fluorinated ones are far more effective although they cause skin atrophy and thinning if used for too long. A type of local estrogen is prescribed usually for postmenopausal women.Vulvitis caused by herpes or vaginal infection can be cured by treating these conditions.

Taking Aveeno sitz baths twice a day can alleviate symptoms of itching but you must dry the pubic region and vulva thoroughly afterwards with a dry towel. A blow dryer on a cool setting can be used for thorough drying of the vulva, too. However, if you do not have one, then you can dry the vulva completely by laying down on the bed with your legs drawn up and your knees bent. Now, get into a frog position by separating your legs, allowing the vulva to dry out.

Oral antihistamines like Benadryl, Vistaril and Atarax can be used for treating the itching associated with vulvitis. You can also use Vaseline over prescription medication like Lidex for treating this issue.

In order to rule out cancer or lichen sclerosis, a chronic vulvar condition that causes pain, itching, scarring and bruising, a vulvar biopsy might be necessary if the vulvitis worsens. This biopsy is usually performed under local anesthesia at the practitioner’s office.

Self-Care for Vulvitis

Maintaining good local vulvar hygiene is the best vulvitis treatment. You can control this issue at home by adopting the following measures:

Wear cotton undergarments.

Use baby detergent or perfume and dye-free detergent for sensitive skin for washing your cotton undergarments.

Patients of advanced vulvitis must wash all their clothes in these detergents for the initial 2-3 months.

Take brief, cool showers to prevent drying of skin.

Prevent drying of vulvar skin by using unscented Ivory or Dove soap.

Wash the vaginal entrance and the hairy areas outside it but refrain from washing the inside part of the vagina or labia.

Don’t use feminine deodorant sprays if you have vulvitis or douche unless suggested by a physician.

Don’t shave pubic hair as it can irritate the skin leading to vulvitis.

Use small amounts of unscented corn starch but refrain from using powders on the vulva.

Exercising and changing quickly into dry clothes after a swim can also help in keeping this problem at bay.

Signs of Infection After Miscarriage

Miscarriage is an unfortunate event and refers to the loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. More than 10% of pregnancies end in miscarriage for many different reasons. Sometimes, the miscarriage occurs so early in the pregnancy that a woman doesn't even know about it. It becomes even distressing when a miscarriage results in an infection. Over 3% of women develop an infection when they experience a miscarriage during their first trimester. It is possible to treat miscarriage after effects, but it still puts you in a better position to select a right treatment option if you know signs of infection after miscarriage.

Signs of Infection After Miscarriage

You may notice several after effects of a miscarriage.

You are more likely to develop an infection if tissue from the pregnancy is still inside your womb. This usually causes serious bleeding.

A closer pelvic exam will show pieces of tissue coming out of your cervix, which is another sign of an infection.

An infection may have already developed if you're noticing a bad smell coming from your vagina.

Fever is another sign of infection after miscarriage.

You may also experiencepain in your belly if you're infected.

What to Do

It is important to look for a treatment when you feel you may have developed an infection. You need to bear in mind that post-miscarriage infections can sometimes be life threatening if not treated in a timely manner. You will be better off letting your doctor know about your condition and recommend a treatment option.

Your doctor may ask for an ultrasound to confirm if any of the pregnancy is still there in your uterus or not. After these tests, they will prescribe antibiotics to clear the infection. You may sometimes require an operation in order to remove the remaining pregnancy.

How to Prevent Infection After Miscarriage

Your doctor will recommend some medications to help clear your infection, but until the bleeding stops, you can try a number of ways to manage your condition better. For starters, you should avoid using tampons and stick to sanitary pads instead – you can use tampons again on your next period. Similarly, you should avoid taking baths and go for showers instead. Avoid swimming and sexual intercourse until you have recovered completely. Along with taking these precautions, you should keep using the prescribed antibiotics as directed.

Considerations After Miscarriage

A miscarriage is a dreadful experience for women, and it is obvious to see them have all sorts of questions after the infection has cleared. Many women are often worried about conceiving again because they think they will experience the same situation again. Some even decide not to become pregnant again. It is important to discuss your thoughts with your caregiver to make a right call.

1. Having Another Miscarriage

It is common to ask if you are going to have another miscarriage after the first one. It usually depends on your unique circumstances. If this is the first time you have experienced a miscarriage and have other normal pregnancies before this unfortunate event, the chances are your subsequent pregnancies will be normal and healthy. You may need to worry about your condition if you have a couple of miscarriages in a row, especially without any normal pregnancies before your miscarriages. You need to work with your doctor to determine the underlying cause of your recurrent miscarriage.

2. Continuing with Sexual Intercourse

It is yet another common concern for women after they notice signs of infection after miscarriage. The common sense says you should let your bleeding stop completely before you have sex again. It usually means to wait between one and three weeks – it may take longer depending on the complications involved in miscarriage. Continuing with sexual intercourse won't give your body enough time to heal. You should also consider how you feel about having sex again after losing a baby. Sometimes, you may want to conceive again and want to have sex with your partner as soon as possible – you can become pregnant once again at least after a week of your miscarriage. Whatever the case, be sure to discuss it all with your partner and share your thoughts with your doctor to ensure if it is safe to have sex again.

3. Becoming Pregnant Again

It is worth mentioning that there is no evidence that taking a break before you decide to conceive again will prevent future miscarriage. It means that if you're feeling fine, you can definitely have sex again and hope to become pregnant. Some caregivers may suggest not to conceive until a month after your miscarriage, especially if you have lost a substantial amount of blood. It is also a good idea to delay your attempts to conceive if you have high blood pressure or diabetes. It is usually quite tempting to start attempting to conceive again to recover your loss, but it is always a good idea to discuss it with your caregiver and ensure that you're feeling healthy enough to complete your pregnancy without a hitch.

It is important to point out though that your fertility will return usually within 1-6 weeks after your miscarriage, so it is fine to try to conceive again. In case you're not feeling well, you may decide not to conceive again for some time. You should discuss it with your caregiver who may guide you about appropriate contraception.

Top 10 Best Anal Fissure Home Treatments That Really Work

Tears in the lining of the anal canal (lower rectum) which cause pain and discomfort during bowel movements are known as anal fissures. They are usually related to bowel disorders like constipation and don’t develop into more serious issues.

Anal fissure home treatment can help in healing acute or short-term anal fissures within a few days or a week. Anal fissures that do not heal even after giving home treatment for up to 12 weeks are considered chronic or long-term anal fissures which might require medical treatment.

Anal Fissure Home Treatment

Anal fissures can be quite uncomfortable and may cause you to bleed when passing hard stools. The good news is that anal fissures home remedies can help to ease your pain.

Aloe Vera

Another excellent anal fissure home treatment method is to make use of aloe vera. Since it possesses anti-inflammatory properties and soothes the skin, it can prove to be very helpful in treating anal fissures. Apply the aloe vera gel directly on the affected area at least 3-4 times a day. This will help in reducing the pain and healing the infection. You can also make use of an aloe vera compress for your anus which will alleviate pain and accelerate the healing process.

Wheat Germ Oil

Wheat germ oil is an excellent natural remedy for treating anal fissures which can help in healing them quickly. Apply small quantity of wheat germ oil over the entire affected area and leave it there for around half an hour. Use a wet and soft tissue to wipe the oil off the skin until it is dry. Apply the wheat germ oil at least twice a day to obtain the desired results.

Olive Oil

Olive oil can be used for treating anal fissures in two different ways. Firstly, being a healthy fat, olive oil makes it easier for the stool to pass through the rectum by moistening it and lubricating the bowel system. Secondly, olive oil can alleviate the pain caused by the anal fissures by reducing the inflammation in the body.

Coconut Oil

Coconut oil is considered one of the best anal fissure home remedies. The reason for this is the wound healing capabilities of coconut oil and the fact that it can be used for moisturizing all the linings of the body. Apply the coconut oil directly to the anal sphincter throughout the day and if you are having a chronic fissure or experiencing a dry anus, then use it before going to bed too.

Stay Hydrated

Staying hydrated is also among the best anal fissure home treatment options. Drinking plenty of water helps in avoiding constipation, which is a necessary requirement for anal fissure treatment and also aids in digestion and softens the stools. Water is an effective flushing agent and can expel the infection from the body as well. Just make sure that you consume water half an hour after or before your meals and not during the meals.

Perform Regular Exercise

Exercising moderately for about half an hour is important for treating anal fissures at home. This excise can be a simple physical activity like walking but it has to be done on a daily basis. Exercise will help in increasing the flow of blood to all the parts of the body which will accelerate the healing process too.

Cold and Hot Compresses

Anal fissures can be effectively treated by making use of hot and cold compresses. In order to make a compress, take a clean piece of soft cloth and dip it in hot water. Apply the compress on the affected area after wringing it and keep it on for a few minutes. After applying the hot compress three times, dip the cloth in cold water and apply it on the affected area after wringing it. Make sure that you apply one cold compress after every three hot compresses.

Keep Affected Area Clean

One of the best ways of treating anal fissures at home is to ensure that they are kept clean and dry all the time. If moisture is allowed in this area, then there is a chance for bacterial infections to develop which can further delay the healing process. So, take a soft toilet paper for wiping the area regularly but avoid using rough ones or colored or scented toilet papers as they can irritate the sores. Baby powder can be used for keeping the affected area dry after a bowel movement or a bath.

Take Daily Hot or Warm Bath

Taking daily hot or warm bath can help in relaxing the internal anal sphincter which results in unrestricted flow of blood to this area. Try to visualize the increase in blood flow to the anal sphincter while you are immersing your body in hot water. You can do this by placing your hand on the area between the anus and the genitals called the perineum. This will give your mind a target area to focus on and will make the visualization much easier for you.

Keep Tabs on Your Diet

Keeping tabs on your diet is also an important method of anal fissure home treatment. Make it your habit to consume around 30 grams of fiber each day. It will improve the healing of the fissures by softening the stools. You can achieve this daily intake of fiber by consuming foods like whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. You can make use of a fiber supplement for increasing your fiber intake, too.

Besides consuming fiber, it is also important to stay away from food items made from refined flours like biscuits, pastries, cakes and white bread. Since sugary foods and white rice cause constipation, they should be avoided too. As pain in the fissures can increase if you are having diarrhea, therefore it is best to avoid dairy products as well since they are known to cause diarrhea.

Lump on Side of Neck

A lump in the neck, or a neck mass, can be very small or large enough to be noticed by others. Most of the times, you don't have to worry about a lump on side of neck because they are usually noncancerous and are usually caused by conditions such as swollen lymph nodes or cystic acne. You may need to see your doctor to ensure it's nothing seriousif you have a lump on right side of neck.

Possible Causes of Lump on Side of Neck

Lump in neck right sideis usually a cause of concern, but it could happen due to one of the following reasons.

1. Enlarged Lymph Nodes

There are several thousand lymph nodes in your body and their main job is to eliminate germs in the body serum. They also contain cells your body needs to deal with viral or bacterial infections and to eliminate cancerous cells. These nodes may swell when your body is fighting off infections from insect bites, colds, or small cuts. The glands may become firm and enlarged due to more serious infections and look like lump on side of neck.

2. Cysts

The lump you're noticing on the side of your neck may be a sebaceous cyst that's noncancerous and may contain semi-liquid or liquid material. These cysts grow slowly and can become uncomfortable over time.

3. Infections

Your neck lump may be the outcome of a viral infection like herpes, rubella, infectious mononucleosis, viral pharyngitis, or HIV/AIDs. It could also be due to a bacterial infection caused by atypical mycobacterium that usually affects people with depressed immune system. Other bacterial conditions that may cause a mass on the neck include cat scratch disease, strep throat, tuberculosis, tonsillitis, and peritonsillar abscess.

4. Goiter

The condition refers to the enlargement of your thyroid gland – it is usually noncancerous and is caused usually by iodine deficiency in your diet. It may sometimes be caused by hyperthyroidism or overactive thyroid. Anyone can develop this condition, but women over 50 are more at risk. You may not notice any symptom if goiter is not that severe; but if your thyroid grows large, you may also notice other symptoms, such as coughing, swallowing or breathing difficulties, tightness or swelling in the neck, and hoarseness.

5. Cancer

A lump on side of neckcould be due to neck or head cancer caused usually by alcohol overuse or tobacco products. If you don't smoke, you may still develop a cancer of the throat, neck, or mouth due to HPV (human papilloma virus) infection, which is a sexually transmitted virus. There are more chances that your neck mass is cancerous if you're over 40 years of age. Some of the most common cancers that may lead to a neck lump are Hodgkin's disease, cancer of the neck and head, leukemia, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and other types of cancer related to skin, lung, breast, or throat.

6. Skin Tags

Acrochordons or commonly called skin tags are small brown or flesh-colored growths that usually hang off your skin like warts. They are harmless and are quite common as well. They may be large or small and are usually found on your armpits, neck, under the breasts, or around the groin. You may even see them develop under the folds of your buttocks or on your eyelids.

When to Worry About Lump on Side of Neck

A lump on the neck is usually harmless, but you should go see your doctor if it is very hard, you have difficulty swallowing, you notice growths in your mouth, or you notice new lumps as well. It is worth mentioning that painful lumps are less worrisome than painless ones. It is a good idea to consult with your doctor if your neck lump is still there after a few days and you're noticing other symptoms as well.

Diagnosing Lump on Side of Neck

Your doctor will look for certain symptoms and consider your medical history before getting to a conclusion. Your doctor may ask you about any symptoms of dental infections or colds, symptoms of cancer (difficulty swallowing and speaking), and specific risk factors for tuberculosis and HIV infection. They may also conduct a physical exam to look for signs of infection and growths on your tonsils, thyroid, tongue, etc. It is also common for them to feel your neck lump to know more about it.

After early examination, you may have to go see an ENT specialist for a detailed examination of your throat, nose, ears, and sinuses to ensure everything is fine. They may also run some other tests to identify the cause of your neck mass. These tests may include complete blood count (CBC) to know the number of white and blood cells. They may also ask for sinus X-rays; HIV test; chest X-rays to find problems with your trachea, lungs, and chest; biopsy to get your tissue samples for further evaluation; ultrasound of the neck to evaluate neck lumps; and MRI scans to make detailed images of your lump and other structures in your neck.

Treatment

Depending upon the underlying cause, your doctor will suggest a treatment option. You may have to take antibiotics if your lump is due to a bacterial infection. You may require surgery or chemotherapy if it is a cancerous growth. Whatever the case, it is important to see your doctor when you notice lump on side of neckbecause early detection will increase your chances of getting recovered soon. So, don't take things lightly and consult with your doctor to rule out any possibilities of having an infection or cancer.

Natural Homemade Tick Repellent Spray

Just a few weeks ago they found ticks in Connecticut (where I live) that carry the Powassan virus, which is worse than Lyme disease…..as if I wasn’t already scared enough of ticks because of Lyme disease! Lyme disease was first discovered in the town Lyme, Connecticut. I know many people in my state have been infected by Lyme disease. So, ticks are a big concern here. I try to do everything I can to avoid ticks as much as possible and that includes using this natural homemade tick repellent.

I’ve been researching everything about what can repel ticks and is safe to use, without the concern of using toxic chemicals. So, I found a list of essential oils that are most effective in repelling ticks and I combined the top 4 to make a spray I could easily spray on my clothes to keep ticks away.

Ticks are so scary it’s easy to opt for buying chemical repellents like permethrin. But, this mixture using potent essential oils can also be effective at keeping them away from you!

Most Dangerous Areas for Ticks:

Many ticks are found in wooded areas, tall grass, shrubs, and even in your lawn. Ticks like to hide in places, that have significant moisture and are out of direct sunlight. Trying to avoid these places can help prevent tick bites. Many also recommend putting cedarwood chips down around all areas in your yard that you want to keep tick free. The cedar helps keep ticks away. Another great way to keep ticks out of your yard, is to have chickens, they eat many every day!

Some people seem to be more susceptible to attracting ticks, just like mosquitoes, and I think I happen to be one of these people. I have family members that go out in the woods and never get a tick, but I just go out in my backyard and find one walking on my clothing. Some hypothesize that it’s due to your scent. If you’re sweating more, emit more ammonia, or breathe more heavily with higher amounts of carbon dioxide, you may attract more ticks. Some people also emit more chemicals than others and this makes them more like a tick magnet than others. Other influencing factors are; your age, sex, certain times during a menstrual cycle, and the amount of bacterial flora on the skin.

How this Mixture Repels Ticks

Ticks are attracted to human and animal scents so by masking the scent we naturally give off and using essential oils with strong scents this can deter ticks and is one of the best ways to keep them from coming on to you or your clothing.

The most important ingredients in this homemade tick repellent are the rose geranium oil and cedar wood oil. These two oils are the most effective in repelling ticks.

How to Make a Homemade Tick Repellent Spray for Clothes:

You could also use this repellent to spray on your skin, such as feet and legs, but when I do this, I cut the amounts for the essential oils listed below in half. That way it is less potent and easier on your skin.

What you need:

–Spray bottle
-About a cup of water
-10 drops rose geranium oil
-5 drops cedarwood oil
-2 to 3 drops lavender oil
-2 to 3 drops lemongrass oil

*The most important to repel the ticks are rose geranium and cedarwood, so if you don’t have lavender or lemongrass, you can skip those oils.

Directions:

1. Fill your spray bottle with water. If you have a smaller spray bottle, like a travel size, just cut the amounts in half.
2. Add the essential oils, put the top on the bottle and shake. It’s ready to use.
To Apply It: Just shake the bottle before each use and spray it on your clothes and shoes. The scent will keep ticks away.
**Spray it on your clothes each time you go out in any areas that may have ticks.

Do you have to worry about ticks where you live?