The Itch Factor: Managing Summer Bites and Rashes

In this episode of Vitals & Voices, we sit down with Ashley Bellamy, Nurse Practitioner at Lexington Regional Health Center, to talk about one of summer’s most common health concerns—bug bites, tick bites, and seasonal skin rashes. Ashley shares what she's seeing in clinic this year, why ticks have been especially active, and how to tell the difference between a minor irritation and something that needs medical attention.
From itchy mosquito bites and poison ivy to tick-borne illnesses and infected skin reactions, Ashley offers practical advice for prevention, at-home treatment, and recognizing the warning signs that shouldn't be ignored. Whether you're spending time at the lake, working outdoors, or keeping up with active kids this summer, this episode is packed with tips to help you stay safe and healthy all season long.

What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• Why bug bites, rashes, and skin irritations are more common during the summer months
• What makes this year a particularly active tick season
• Signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses to watch for
• Red flags that mean it's time to seek medical care for a bite or rash
• Safe and effective at-home treatments for minor skin issues
• Three simple steps to help prevent bug bites and tick exposure this summer

Why This Episode Matters:
Most bug bites and summer rashes are minor, but some can lead to infections, allergic reactions, or serious tick-borne illnesses if they're overlooked. Knowing what symptoms to watch for and when to seek care can make all the difference.
If you enjoy spending time outdoors, have kids who are constantly exploring, or simply want to protect yourself and your family this summer, this episode offers straightforward guidance to help you recognize potential problems early, prevent complications, and enjoy the season with confidence.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:07

Hello everyone and welcome back to Vitals and Voices. If you've spent any time outside lately, you probably noticed bugs, mystery rashes, itchy irritations. They seem to be everywhere this time of year, but is it something minor? When should you actually get it checked out? So today we're gonna break it all down with nurse practitioner Ashley Bellamy. Ashley, thanks for being here.

SPEAKER_01 0:26

Yeah, Brennan, thanks for having me. Um, definitely a good topic to hit on this time of year. So important things to talk about today.

SPEAKER_00 0:33

So, I mean, it's summer, it's July, a lot more bug bites, a lot of rashes. What are we seeing in clinic right now?

SPEAKER_01 0:40

Um, definitely just with the heat and the sun exposure and more people being outside, um, lots more bug bites, uh, ticks, mosquitoes would be kind of the common ones, um, different rashes, sometimes from just um exposure to allergens, more so sun. Um, so lots of skin stuff this time of year, but more so just from exposure to stuff outside, I would say. Um, a lot of times too, like kids and just people that work outside this time of year are gonna be a little bit higher risk of exposure, but really anyone can be affected just with the more outdoor time this time of year. Um, and a lot of times it's usually mild stuff people deal with, but it can uh sometimes require treatment or um be bigger issues that can turn into stuff from this. So just things to kind of keep an eye on, too.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

No, that's good to know. Talk to us about ticks. I feel like that's kind of a hot topic right now about them being maybe a little bit worse this year.

SPEAKER_01 1:32

Yeah, I feel like ticks um definitely like a lot of information out there that there's been um more just across, I think, all areas really. It's a bad tick season. Um, anyone that's outside a lot, especially in like wooded areas. Um, but really, even this year, there's been ticks um just crawling on people just from mowing their yard, even. So it's just kind of a bad tick year. Um, and ticks are just one of those things that they can be harmless, but they can cause some issues. Um, lots of tick-borne illnesses can happen, not always super common, but if there are symptoms, then reasons to definitely get checked out um and come in. But yeah, ticks have been on the rise. So if people have heard about it, I mean, definitely something to just kind of watch for and be checking for them a little bit more frequently.

SPEAKER_00 2:13

Why would you say summer just brings an uptick in skin issues?

SPEAKER_01 2:17

Is it just the heat or I think the heat, but also just people being outside a lot more. So longer days, um, I mean, people getting out right away in the morning, but then also staying out late at night. And definitely like dusk and dawn are gonna be the highest risk times. So for sure, just people if they're if you're just going out for a little bit, don't think you need to do bug spray or anything like that. But um, just bad time of year because more exposure to outside is usually the the general reason why that would be the case. Which makes sense. I mean, here in Nebraska, winters we're inside a lot. We're not, I mean, exposed to that stuff. So and just more um, more out there anyway. So, and then the people just being out more often too. So kind of a combination of everything that way.

SPEAKER_00 3:00

What would you say are some of the red flags? Maybe it's a bite, a rash, something that's like you should probably come in and see us for this.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Um, definitely with like rashes. If it's something that's really red and irritated, um, hot to the touch, a lot of swelling with it, um, any abnormal drainage, especially like yellow or green, like pus and odor, um, something that's just really spreading quickly, or a fever with that, all reasons to probably get checked out. Okay. Um, or if it's getting worse instead of um better, definitely a reason to come in. Um, with ticks, big things to kind of watch for would be high fevers, um body aches, joint pain, a lot of tiredness, um, and then definitely like a rash accompanied by where the tick bite was. Um, so a bullseye rash specifically would be concerning. Um, but any any concerning symptoms that are just really not getting better or something that's getting worse, even if you tried over-the-counter treatment, then any any time to come in and just have it checked out and make sure that it looks okay.

SPEAKER_00 3:58

I was gonna say I think that's one thing we do well here of like we're not gonna make you feel silly for coming in for this. If you have a question about it or aren't don't feel comfortable, see us.

SPEAKER_01 4:06

Exactly. Yep. And we would always recommend too if you're if you're not sure, not sure what to do over-the-counter wise, um, can always call and talk to a nurse, even and get some recommendations. Um, and if what you're doing at home isn't working, then anyone is happy to see you and just make sure that it's not something to be concerned about. Um, a lot of times stuff can be just kind of um treated with over-the-counter or will resolve on its own. But if any doubt, then we would always be happy to see you and just make sure that there's nothing to be worried about, especially this time of year with a higher risk that goes along with it.

SPEAKER_00 4:35

Talk to us about, I mean, the ticks. Are you guys like, do you see patients that come in needing you to remove them? Or most of the time, have they removed them? Are they hard to remove?

SPEAKER_01 4:43

I would say in general, most of the time, people have already removed them. Um, the biggest thing is you just want to make sure that you're getting like the full tick and the head of the tick removed, especially if it's attached. Um, that would be the big concern. So a lot of times using like a tweezer, um, but just making sure you're fully getting the whole head off when you're removing it. So doing it somewhat carefully to make sure that that's all coming off. Um, occasionally we do have people that come in and we're happy to remove them if that's the case. But usually we'd recommend getting them off as soon as you can once you find them. Um, but just being careful to how you're removing them, I would say, would be important. So um, but yeah, if someone is concerned and they're not quite sure if they're doing it right, then um anyone would be happy to to help with that too.

SPEAKER_00 5:24

So are there things, I mean, along these lines that you know you could start doing treatment at home or, you know, some things that you maybe would recommend to patients of a little bit on the minor side of it?

SPEAKER_01 5:35

Yeah, I would say um a lot of times we'd recommend like starting with antihistamines, like if it's just some regular bug bites. Um, so like Claritin, Zertec, Benadryl, anything like that would be helpful just to start for like bug bites or a rash, um, any irritation in that way. Um, over-the-counter creams like hydrocortisone or benadryl can help with itching too. Um, and even like just cool compressors can really help just to help with that irritation and um the bothersome symptoms. A lot of times it might take a couple of days for that stuff to work. So um something that you definitely can try at first, but it like we kind of talked about earlier, if it's getting a lot worse or that stuff is not helping, then it would probably be time to be seen if you're not noticing a big improvement in what you're doing already. But yeah, some of those over-the-counter stuff are good places to start and just see if they're gonna make a difference. Um, and if not, then, or if you have questions or not sure exactly how to use it, then by all means call or come see us at the clinic and we're happy to help.

SPEAKER_00 6:30

But there's certain age groups too. Like I'm thinking, you know, younger, if infants or elderly too, that might be, I mean, more at risk for this, or if they get bites or stuff like that, it's more dangerous.

SPEAKER_01 6:40

Yeah, it definitely can be. Um, age can play a factor in it. And there's certain over-the-counter stuff that you would have to be careful with with age. So that's another thing. If you're not sure if it's safe for you or your child or um older adult, then we'd recommend just calling and we can verify that. Um, or if there's other health concerns too, then sometimes it is important to just have someone come in so we can review all that and make sure that you are taking something safe. Typically, the topicals are pretty safe for most people, um, the cool compressors, stuff like that. Um, definitely the tick bites can be dangerous for a lot of people, populations, but um, the younger, the elderly, anyone that's a little bit immune compromised or something like that. So just being more cautious this time of year. And sometimes that's hard to prevent that, but just kind of being aware too and really checking for those bites or ticks um anytime you've been outside. And then if you would get symptoms too, just kind of paying more attention to if you did get a bite or if there was something that maybe did cause that to start.

SPEAKER_00 7:35

Okay. Ashley, would you have maybe three top tips for preventing bug bites this summer?

SPEAKER_01 7:41

Um, I would say the big one is definitely trying wear the bug spray, especially morning and night. I know people even if it smells. I was saying, yeah, it smells and sometimes it's sticky and it's not everyone's favorite thing to do or they don't think they really need it. But really, you can get bet anytime. Those morning and night times are going to be the higher risk. Um, but any of those, those times, I mean, even one mosquito bite could cause bad things down the road or the tick bite. I mean, it's not always super common, but you definitely your prevention, your biggest thing would be wearing the um the bug spray, the repellents that way. And that's good for ticks too. Um, yep. It would be recommended to start wearing that for that too. Yep. And then um, another thing I know people don't think of wearing long sleeves and stuff during the summer because it's hot out and not always ideal, but those early morning hours or late nights, long sleeves, um, pants, uh, close-toe shoes if you're out in tall grasses, all that stuff just to prevent any bites or ticks getting attached, anything like that. And then just really also checking um once you do go inside from outside with um, especially ticks, just kind of checking everything over, checking your hair, all that stuff to make sure there isn't one attached or curling on you, um, are are big things to kind of watch for too. I'm picturing that even with, I mean, my kids of just okay we're comments. Yes, okay. And that's also sometimes just hard because you they can hide in um, especially like the hair or just behind an ear or something that you don't always think of. So trying to do a thorough check when you get in from outside, especially on the kids and people that may not notice it right away, um, also important to do. So just be a little more vigilant. The most common places for them are do ticks, I mean, like to hide? Is it I mean, they can really be anywhere. So no, you can get it on your back or they just yeah, they attach and then sometimes it's just a while until you find it. And so the sooner you can find it, remove it, the better, usually. Um, but if it has been attached for a long time too, sometimes a little bit more is something you want to watch closer to and make sure there's no other symptoms developing.

SPEAKER_00 9:32

Ashley, I know I've learned a lot and I'm gonna go home and make sure I have enough bugs for the rest of the start. Yes. Ashley, is there anything we didn't hit on or anything else?

SPEAKER_01 9:42

I mean, to let our community know. I think those were kind of the big things. Definitely more of what we've been seeing. Definitely summertime kind of brings this risk every year. But just with the uptick and the amount of ticks this year, I think it's even more important to think about. Um, and then just kind of big takeaway. I mean, if anyone's ever concerned, by all means call the clinic, make an appointment, come see us. Um, anyone's happy to just take a look just to even give some reassurance, even if it's nothing concerning. But definitely those things we talked about, the the big things are are reasons I wouldn't wait to come in. So sooner treatment is better for any of this kind of stuff, too. So, any questions or concerns, then by all means call or come see us. And we're happy to see anyone.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

So I love that. Well, thank you, Ashley. And uh to our listeners, thank you so much for listening to Vitals and Voices. If you are dealing with a bite, a rash, or any concern this summer, as you just heard from Ashley, our team here at Lexington Regional Health Center is here to help. If you would, please like, share, and subscribe to our podcast. And until next time, stay well.