The list of things that can cause our skin to itch during the summer months in Virginia is as long as the temperature is high. Insect bites, stings, poison ivy and poison oak are just a few of the more common offenders that cause skin irritation.

As noted in the "Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs," nonvenomous insects, such as mosquitoes, ticks and chiggers, bite their victims when they are hungry. But venomous insects, such as bees, wasps, hornets and yellow jackets, only attack when they feel threatened.

If you are stung, remove the stinger using tweezers or by running a credit card at a 45-degree angle in the opposite direction of the stinger. Remember to speak with a health care provider immediately if you experience any difficulty breathing or have significant swelling.

The most important thing you can do to avoid being bitten or stung is to wear protective clothing, such as long pants and long-sleeved shirts. Insect repellents may also prevent a bite from a mosquito, tick or chigger but are not effective in repelling stinging insects. Speak to your pharmacist to find the most appropriate repellent. When selecting a topical product to treat the discomfort of a bite or sting, remember the following: Do not use for longer than seven days, and don’t use on blistered or broken skin.

A good home remedy is a cold compress. When treating insect bites and stings, several categories of medications can be used to provide relief. Types of over-the-counter (OTC) products your local pharmacy can supply are local anesthetics, topical antihistamines and counterirritants. Corticosteroids are a fourth category that can be OTC or prescription, depending on the strength and dosage form.

One of my favorite recommendations is 0.5 percent or 1 percent hydrocortisone cream, which is used for temporary relief of minor skin irritation. Apply the cream three to four times a day as needed for itching. Note: Children and older adults naturally have thinner skin, and a higher strength or greater frequency might not be appropriate. The strength of the hydrocortisone you need depends on your age and the location of the irritation.

The best way to treat skin irritation due to poison ivy or oak is prevention: Learn what it looks like, and avoid it. Remember the old phrase, "Leaves of three, let them be." Poison ivy is considered to be the most common of these offenders in the eastern United States. Home care and traditional pharmacy methods to soothe irritation caused by poison ivy are a cool shower or washcloth, oatmeal baths, Burow’s solution, calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream and refraining from shaving or scratching the area. If topical products don’t provide relief, an OTC antihistamine such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) might work.

As always, be sure to tell your pharmacist if you are taking any additional medications; do not use topical products if the skin is broken; and if the irritation does not improve within seven days, follow up with your pharmacist or other health care provider. FP

VCU School of Pharmacy faculty members will answer your medication-related questions. This month’s "Dr. Rx" is J. Tyler Stevens. Before joining the school as an assistant professor, he served as clinical services director for Buford Road Pharmacy. For more about the school, visit www.pharmacy.vcu.edu. Have a question for Dr. Rx? E-mail RPMeditor@richmondpublishing.com.