How Often Should You Reapply A Repellent
Generally, it’s a good bet to follow the manufacturer’s instructions, experts said. People who will be outside for an hour or two hour should be protected with, say, a product that contains a lower concentration of DEET . Those who will be out in the woods, or jungle or marshland, should use a higher concentration of 20 to 25 percent, and refresh every four hours or so, says Dr. Jorge Rey, interim director of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory in Vero Beach. “The higher the concentration, the longer it lasts,” says Rey.
And again, follow manufacturer’s directions on the amount used. “A lot of people think that if a little is good, a lot is better,” says Reisen. “You don’t have to take a bath in the stuff.”
What Else Can Reduce The Risk Of Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes can bite at any time of day, but the one that transmits Zika prefers midmorning and early evening, says Strickman. If possible, stay indoors in screened-in or air-conditioned buildings during those times.
Since these particular mosquitoes breed in standing water in containers like plant pots, old tires, buckets and trash cans, people should rid their immediate area of things that can collect water. “Swimming pools, unless they’re abandoned, are OK,” says Rey. The chemicals used to keep pools safe for swimming also keep mosquitoes away. It takes some close looking to find every possible breeding ground for mosquitoes. “I’ve seen some developing in a film of water next to a sink, or in the bottom of a glass people use to brush their teeth,” says Strickman. Cleaning up all those areas of standing water can greatly reduce the number of mosquitoes. “It’s up to individuals to make their own backyards safe,” says Rey. And their front yards and as much of their surrounding environment as possible.
The more people do that kind of basic cleanup, the fewer mosquitoes there will be. “It may not be perfect, but you’ll lower the number of mosquitoes tremendously,” says Strickman.
Researchers Say No Way
The authors of a June 2005 review article published in the “Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association” reported that of the scientific studies performed testing B vitamins as repellents, none found them to have significant repellent ability against mosquitoes 237. In addition, the American Mosquito Control Association asserts that systemic vitamin repellents, in general, do not work 237. Vitamin B1 delivered as a skin patch has also been tested and did not repel mosquitoes, according an February 2013 study report published in “Acta Tropica.”
Recommended Reading: Can You Use Fsa For Vitamins
Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil
This is a popular option for people who want to avoid chemicals, and in 2015, researchers confirmed that Avons Skin So Soft does in fact, repel mosquitos. However, the effects last only for about two hours, so you need to reapply very often if you choose this product.
Shop for Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil
Why Do Mosquitoes Bite Ankles
mosquitoesMosquitoesanklesmosquito biting
Recommended Reading: How Much Vitamin C Per Day
Why Do Mosquitoes Bite
Before we launch into a discussion on what keeps mosquitoes away, lets talk about why mosquitoes bite in the first place.
Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes do not bite because they need to feed on human blood. Mosquitoes bite in order to get enough protein to produce eggs.
The more blood they get from you, the more blood-sucking baby bugs they can spawn. Yet another reason to avoid mosquito bites!
Youve probably noticed that mosquitoes seem to prefer some people more than others. I know they love me more than anyone else in my family!
On any given outdoor excursion, you can see a cloud of mosquitoes hoovering above me and only me. I have always wondered why this is.
Some people believe mosquito attraction has to do with how many bananas or onions you eat, but research has found that it has a lot more to do with the carbon dioxide you produce.
People with high metabolisms and heavier people produce more carbon dioxide, and they are likely to get bit more.
This is not the only reason you might be more prone to mosquito bites than the guy next to you. There seem to be a variety of factors than researchers are only beginning to discover, from the amount you sweat to the temperature of your body.
Whatever the case, mosquitoes are easily attracted and hard to keep away. People have been trying for millennia to combat these tiny monsters!
What If You Have Been Bitten
Those natural ingredients above are used for preventing mosquitos biting your skin, but what if you have been become the victim? The itchiness and redness will stay for a while and they are truly uncomfortable. You cant even sleep well at night just because a mosquito drunk your blood. Treating inflammation caused by mosquitos require soothing agents from natural herbs as the best and safest option. There are some great natural ingredients that you can use for healing your bitten skin.
Other Repelling Actions
Also Check: How Much Vitamin C Is Recommended
Risks Of Mosquito Bites
Mosquitoes bite humans to feed on your blood. During this process, they can infect you with diseases such as:
When mosquitoes bite they cause a small itchy red bump on your skin. Some people develop an allergic skin reaction to the bites, and the bumps become large. Scratching the bites can lead to infections developing in the skin.
Different types of mosquito feed at different times of the day both indoors and outdoors. Therefore you should take precautions to avoid being bitten at all times of day and night during travel.
Learn About Insect Behaviour
First, find out if, and exactly where, illnesses transmitted by insects are occurring at your destination. You may discover that there is no outbreak in the area where youre staying.
Second, learn about the insects behaviour. This will help you better understand whether your travel, destination and activities have an element of risk or not.
- What is their habitat? Do they prefer the indoors, outdoors, or both?
- When are they most active, during the day or night? What are their peak biting times?
- Are they present year-round or do they have seasonal cycles?
- Do they live in urban, suburban, or rural areas?
- Are they capable of carrying illnesses transmitted to humans? If so, which ones?
Also Check: How Much Vitamin C Is In A Bell Pepper
Which Repellents Work Best To Stop Mosquitoes From Biting
“DEET” is the immediate one-word answer from Dr. William Reisen, professor emeritus at the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of California, Davis and editor of the Journal of Medical Entomology.
“DEET is the standard,” agrees Dr. Mustapha Debboun, director of the mosquito control division of Harris County Public Health and Environmental Services in Houston. “All the repellents being tested are tested to see if they beat DEET.”
DEET is shorthand for the chemical name N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. It’s the active ingredient in many insect repellents, which don’t kill mosquitoes but keep them away.
Dr. Dan Strickman agrees that DEET is tried and true. Strickman is with the Global Health Program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and author of Prevention of Bug Bites, Stings, and Disease.
DEET appeared on store shelves in 1957. There was some early concern about its safety speculation that it was linked to neurological problems. But recent reviews, for example a study published in June 2014 in the journal Parasites and Vectors, says, “Animal testing, observational studies and intervention trials have found no evidence of severe adverse events associated with recommended DEET use.”
Other repellents work to prevent mosquitoes from biting as well.
Actually, Strickman gives the edge to picardin.
Vitamin B 1 Intake Can Prevent Mosquitoes From Biting Read About Vitamin B Rich Products
There have been several studies that say consumption of Vitamin B1 can prevent the insect from biting or stinging. Mosquitoes are the worlds deadliest insects to humans as they carry many diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya virus, West Nile virus, or Zika virus.
A female mosquito extracts up to 0.01 milliliters of blood at a bite in order to help her eggs mature before they hatch and leaves behind a red bump which is itchy. It is produced as a result of an allergic reaction to her saliva. Also, these mosquitoes are capable of transmitting deadly diseases, such as malaria, dengue.
According to Livestrong.com, Vitamin B is the only vitamin that has been tested to repel mosquitos. A study published in 2005 in the “Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association” tested various regimens of vitamin B administration and found no effect. Similarly, the use of a transdermal vitamin B-1 patch did not provide significant protection against mosquitoes in a study published in ‘Acta Tropica’ in 2012. No ingested compound, including vitamins, has been shown to be effective in repelling mosquitoes, note the authors. The American Mosquito Control Association affirms that B vitamins have no impact on mosquito bites.
Though the theory is asserted by some and denied by others. Some sources of this vitamin are milk, nuts, oats, orange and peas, etc.
These diseases can be prevented from setting in by taking measures to avoid mosquito bites.
Also Check: How Many Vitamin D Pills Per Day
Ways To Prevent Mosquito Bites Naturally
- Post author Scientific review: Dr Heben’s Team
No one likes to be bitten by mosquitos. More than just the redness and itchiness coming from the bites, it is your blood they take that is the most annoying. Not only taking your blood, they can also cause some mosquito-borne illnesses. Say, would you feed them with your blood, let them producing more eggs and bring more families to your house? You surely wouldnt, but you maybe cant even prevent it. Most people dont know how to keep them away since mosquitos are smart in nearing their targets. They can sense your smell even from the distance of 50 miles. Imagine how they can run to you once they sense your smell and you dont even realize their coming until they bite you. People should be smarter than mosquitos and you can do that right now.
What Makes Them Interested
The heat on your body can be a magnet for mosquitos. They like heat caused by sweat after doing physical exercises. When you finish your workout and your body is heated, sweating and even having short breath, you are an excellent target. Also, sweat is very attractive for mosquitoes because there are some chemical compounds contained in human sweat such as octenol.
Breathing and producing carbon dioxide will also attract mosquitos. Adults produce more carbon dioxide than children and that is why they are more appealing.
Why dont use DEET?
List of Natural Ingredients
The Claim: Taking B1 Vitamin Supplements Will Repel Mosquitoes
An old myth about how to repel one of summers most annoying pests is again buzzing around social media.
With camping, backyard barbecues and other outdoor activities in full swing, the claim that vitamin B1 supplements can help repel mosquitoes is getting new life online.
The claim has circulated for years, but it resurfaced on Facebook again in 2021.
This is so simple, one Facebook user wrote on that includes the claim to more than 5 million followers. Another user shared an identical post to more than 3 million followers on June 12.
The post links to an undated guide on the website RemedyDaily touting B1 for its mosquito repellant qualities, even though it acknowledges that it is not scientifically proven to be effective.
In fact, researchers have demonstrated it doesnt affect mosquito attraction. Studies of subjects taking oral B1 vitamin supplements and wearing a B1 vitamin patch found no effect on mosquito attraction.
RemedyDaily did not respond to a request for comment.
You May Like: What Vitamins To Take For Eczema
Extra Precautions When Travelling Abroad
The risk of becoming seriously ill from an insect bite or sting in the UK is small, but in some parts of the world insects can carry serious diseases such as malaria and you need to be extra careful.
It can help to:
- find out what the risks are where you intend to travel and check if you need any vaccinations before travelling vaccines can prevent some illnesses spread by insects, such as yellow fever. You can use the Travel Health Pro website to do this
- speak to your GP about any extra precautions and medication you might need to take for example, if you’re visiting an area where there’s a risk of malaria, you may be advised to bring a mosquito net and take antimalarial tablets to avoid malaria
Read more about travel illnesses and vaccinations.
What Kind Of Clothing Helps Protect Against Bites
When Rey goes on research trips to highly infested areas, like the Florida Everglades, he suits up. “We wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts,” he says. “If it’s particularly bad, we use hats with nets coming down over the face. And we depend on repellent on exposed areas.” That could mean hands, neck and face. But don’t spray the face, experts say. To avoid irritating the eyes, put the repellent on hands and rub it on the face.
And don’t forget the feet. Mosquitoes have quirky olfactory preferences. Many of them, especially the Aedes variety that transmits the Zika virus, love the smell of feet.
“Wearing sandals isn’t a good idea,” says Rodriguez. Shoes and socks are called for, and tucking pants into socks or shoes helps keep mosquitoes from getting inside clothing. She wears long pants when outdoors in mosquito territory and definitely not yoga pants. “Spandex is very mosquito friendly. They bite through it. I wear baggier pants and long sleeved shirts, doused in DEET.”
Reisen adds high-topped boots and often work gloves to the mosquito prevention outfit. “Since I’m bald as a cucumber, I also wear a hat. I wear glasses, so more and more of me is getting covered.”
Strickman lived in Thailand for a while, and he would start his day armed with a spray bottle of repellent. “I’d spray my socks, the lower part of my trousers and the upper part of my shoes,” he says. “The mosquito that transmits Zika has a strong tendency to bite parts of the body that are near the ground.”
Read Also: Where Can You Buy Usana Vitamins
Which Is It: B1 Or B6 To Stop Mosquito Bites
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
Ask U.S. doctors your own question and get educational, text answers â it’s anonymous and free!
HealthTap doctors are based in the U.S., board certified, and available by text or video.
Reducing Mosquitoes Outside Your Accommodation
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water. Even a small amount of water lying in a flower pot, a bucket or in tree hole is enough. If there are no water sources, then mosquitoes cannot breed.
- Try to make sure there is no stagnant water lying around outside your accommodation to reduce the opportunity for mosquitoes to breed.
In tropical areas where mosquitoes are a problem, breeding sites are often sprayed with insecticide.
You May Like: Do One A Day Vitamins Work
Keep Mosquitoes Away By Eating These Foods
Mosquitoes are probably summers most hated pests, and that means well do just about anything to keep them away from us. Sprays, candles, oils, repellent clip-ons you name it, somebody has tried it. But, some people have turned to a more unconventional method of mosquito repellent: food. Yes, some people believe the food you eat can make you invisible to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes cant stand certain smells and are deterred by chemical compounds found in select foods, which makes them ideal dishes to try if you want to avoid mosquito bites. Ready to kick mosquitoes to the curb just by eating lunch? Read ahead to discover which foods help repel mosquitoes.
Beans, Lentils, Tomatoes
Beans, lentils and tomatoes are all rich in thiamine, also known as vitamin B1. This vitamin has been thought of as a natural mosquito repellent because once its excreted by the skin, it helps to mask the natural human odors that are attractive to insects.
Grapefruit
Grapefruit is a refreshing summertime treat packed with vitamin C and antioxidants. But when it comes to repelling mosquitoes, a compound called nootkatone is a hero because it can be used in multiple ways to get rid of mosquitoes. Not only can you snack on grapefruit, but you can use grapefruit oil on your skin, too.
Garlic and Onions
Apple Cider Vinegar
Chili Peppers
Lemongrass
Give Us a Call
Have mosquitoes set up shop in your backyard? Give Arrow a call today were here to help!
- Navigate
