Do you return from your time off and notice insect bites on your arms or a red face and neck in the mirror?  Is it almost time to go back to work or school, and what are you going to do about all those “scars?" That problem is one of the greatest challenges to the end of a vacation. When we are relaxing in the hammock reading for hours or socializing on the dock, we forget about skin hazards.

Most of us know about sunscreens for swimming and beach bumming, but don’t think about it when the environment is a cooler, kinder climate. It is easy to forget in 60s and 70s temperatures that your face, arms and legs can still get insect bites and sunburn. Clothing in cooler temperature may include lightweight, loose-fit and long-sleeve shirts and tightly woven material. Wet shirts, such as a t-shirt, absorb the sun’s rays. See-through fabric absorbs UV rays. The face needs a 3-inch rim hat, visor or baseball cap to provide limited coverage. A visor does not protect the neck, ears, eyes and scalp. These tips, among others, are listed in The Travelers Health Sourcebook along with numerous insect avoidance steps. A lesser known preventative measure is that while walking on grass, even for a minute, wear shoes and socks. This source states that ultrasonic devices and chemical ingestions (ex. garlic) do not work. For your children, check Your Child Abroad: A Travel Health Guide. There are excellent descriptions of the use of DEET (against mosquitoes) and the use of permethrin repellent on clothes as they apply to children’s needs. The authors, who have experienced extreme environments, provide a helpful analysis of protective items. In The Travel Doctor, read about UVA/UVB/UVC rays and the UPF shielding factors in clothing. An interesting statement is that “if your shadow is shorter than you it is time to get out of the sun." This source provides you a comparison of sunscreen vs. sunblock. Don’t let your skin pay for your time off. Before leaving apply some wisdom with these resources, listed below.