Ticks have a life cycle of two years and experts predict our changing climate provides increasingly favorable conditions for ticks. “As the environment becomes warmer and winters become shorter, more ticks are likely to survive their whole, two-year life-cycle and more ticks means more Lyme disease” says Richard Ostfeld, Ph.D., senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y

Tick truths and Key facts about these troublesome little buggers.

Ticks like warm, moist, places, so inspect groins, armpits and scalps (yours and the kid’s) especially carefully.

They hang out in forest shrubby areas and high grass, but can’t jump or fly. Try not to walk through brushy terrain, and wear long pants tucked into your socks. Light colors are also a good idea.

It’s the babies you need to watch out for. “Although adult ticks can carry Lyme and other pathogens, they’re bigger, so people tend to find them before they can transmit the bacteria,” but “Nymphs are so tiny, you often don’t see or feel them unless you look very carefully.” (Nymph season is May through July on the East Coast and February through April on the West Coast in the U.S., so be extra wary at those times)

Pets can carry ticks into the house. Check them carefully after they have been outside, and use an anti-tick collar or topical medication. (A vaccine can also prevent your dog from contracting Lyme.)

Removing a tick isn’t hard; just grasp the bug with fine-tipped tweezers as close to the skin as possible. (Don’t use nail polish or petroleum jelly to try to get the tick to detach; pulling it off is quicker and much more effective than trying to suffocate it.) Pull away from the skin with steady, even pressure. If the mouth remains attached, don’t panic – it can’t transmit the bacteria without the body. After removing the tick, wash your hands and clean the area with rubbing alcohol or iodine. Wrap the tick in tape and flush it down the toilet (there is no need to have it tested).

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention now estimates that more than 3000,000 people in the U.S. are diagnose with and treated for Lyme every year.
It can take two to six weeks for your body to produce antibodies to the bacteria. Feel ill after a tick bite even if you think you removed the tick right away see your doctor.

-Cary institute of Ecosystem Studies-

Fresh cut onion works to take the sting out of bee stings and wasp bites

Skin is the outer most cover of the body something like a shield which saves inner muscles from coming in direct contact of different harmful bacteria, radiation from the sun and many other harmful agents. Imagine what would be without skin. Skin also provides gorgeous looks to humans. It is the skin, which decides the looks of people irrespective of color. For the sake of good health and good looks, maintenance of skin is essential.

Three most valuable tips for skin care:
1. Drink enough water daily. Water is the main constituent of the cells of our body. It flushes out waste material generated in metabolic activities through the pores and through urine. Open pores help to keep the skin healthy.

2. Eat as much as possible green vegetables and fruits as they are the prime sources of vitamins and minerals. Particularly, vitamin A and E present in these foods keep skin healthy. Supplementing vitamins with the help of vitamin pills can be a waist of time and energy, apparently the body treats this substances as waste, our body has been using nutrients from food for billions of years, and when you put the concentrated elements in it, simply doesn't know what to do and rejects them, using a lot of energy in doing so.

3. Exercise according to your physical capability, don't over do it, take your time to build strong muscles slowly. Exercise accelerates the blood flow and pushes it to the smaller capillary and feeds the skin tissue sweating out all the toxins.

Sunlight generally dries up the skin. Different types of moisturizing creams and lotions are available in the market, which can compensate this loss. Choose the moisturizer that suits you better, a trained beautician or dermatologist can advice you better in this regard.

Our skin comes in direct contact of many microbes; these microbes can cause some skin-diseases like Acne, Eczema, and Fungus etc. These diseases can produce permanent harm and also leave ugly patches over affected area. Therefore, proper care should be taken about not to come in direct contact with dirty places and dirty things, as these things are heaven for microbes. When skin diseases hit, contact your dermatologist immediately, he can suggest you proper medication to deal with such situations effectively.

Growing age affects skin severely; though it cannot be avoided completely but process can be delayed with the help of a balanced diet, exercise, enough use of water and proper application of skin care products. Living a happy life also helps in maintaining glow on your face. Proper sleep, keeping yourself away from smoking and alcohol can not only make your skin healthy but also make your whole body fit and strong.

Dressing rooms and hotel carpets can harbor nasty bacteria.
Always wear slippers or flip-flops to prevent infection.

Don’t go barefoot in public places. Common conditions like athlete’s foot and plantar warts are contagious and can be passed trough contact with shower or locker room floors and pool surfaces.