Warm weather and sunny skies could be very inviting, luring you to spend time lounging outdoors. But you are not the only one eager to spend time outside. You might find yourself in the company of mosquitoes, which are most active during the warmest time of the year.
If you’ve ever been bitten by a mosquito, you may have experienced swelling and redness. Your skin reacts this way because of the saliva it leaves in your broken skin. Because your body sees this as a foreign substance, your immune system releases histamine to fight this possible threat, causing the bite to swell.
But a mosquito bite can bring much worse consequences. Certain types of mosquitoes carry diseases that can be passed on to humans. Some of the most common diseases spread by mosquitoes are the Zika virus, malaria, dengue, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and chikungunya.
If you are planning to spend some time outdoors during the warmer months, it is important to take precautions to prevent getting bitten by these pests. Fortunately, there are many easy ways to do this. Here are some tips you should follow to prevent mosquito bites.
1. Apply DEET based insect repellent before going outside.
There may have been controversies surrounding DEET, but in fact, this active ingredient found in insect repellents is perfectly safe to use when applied as instructed. Not only that, but it is also very effective in repelling not just mosquitoes, but other critters as well. The chemical does not actually kill mosquitoes, but it keeps them from landing on your skin.
To apply DEET based insect repellents, you should avoid spraying it like you would do a perfume, but instead, put some on your hands then rub on your skin. You should also note that the percentage of DEET in a repellent determines how long it will protect you, and not how much protection it provides. For example, one with seven to ten percent DEET can keep you protected from mosquito bites for up to two hours, while higher levels can keep you protected longer.
2. Use other non-DEET mosquito repellents.
If you prefer not to use DEET based repellents, you could choose from other products that use different ingredients that are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These ingredients to look out for include picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), para-menthane-diol (PMD), and 2-undecanoate. These are all effective in repelling mosquitoes, particularly picaridin. You could also look at the labels of insect repellents to see if they are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Even if you couldn’t identify what active ingredient is used in the product, you could be assured that it is safe and effective.
3. Avoid going out during peak mosquito hours.
Mosquitoes tend to come out more often at certain times of the day. Because wind makes it difficult for them to fly, they come out to feed most often around the times the sun rises and sets, when the wind usually dies down. If you could, avoid spending time outdoors at these times, particularly when the weather is warm.
4. Ward them off with a little breeze.
Mosquitoes have a difficult time flying in any breeze or wind above 1 MPH. When you are outdoors, staying in a spot that is breezy can help you avoid these pests. If you spend a lot of time outside, it might prove worthwhile to get an outdoor fan. For times when there isn’t much of a breeze, you could use one instead to ward off those pesky mosquitoes. Make sure to direct the flow of the air toward your lower body. Mosquitoes usually fly close to the ground as they try to avoid the natural wind.
5. Opt for light-colored or tightly woven clothes.
Your clothing may play a role in how likely you are to get bitten by a mosquito. Since mosquitoes tend to fly closer to the ground, you would stand out more if you wear dark-colored clothing that contrasts with the horizon. Wearing lighter colors will make you blend in more, rendering you less noticeable to them.
Mosquitoes are also less likely to penetrate your clothing if it uses a fabric with a tight weave. Generally, garments that have more protection against the sun are tightly woven enough to also protect you from mosquito bites.
6. Try to keep your heart rate down.
One of the things that attract mosquitoes to you the most is the carbon dioxide (CO2) you produce. While you couldn’t totally stop yourself from exhaling CO2, there are factors that cause you to produce more of it. An elevated heart rate is one of these factors. Engaging in activities that increase your metabolic rate also increases your CO2 production, making you more attractive to mosquitoes. Some of these activities include exercise, eating spicy foods, and drinking alcohol.
Of course, you do not have to cut out all of these from your life, but you could pick the best time to do them outdoors. Or better yet, make sure you put on some insect repellent or wear protective clothing before you go outside to engage in these activities.
Other factors that increase your production of CO2 include being overweight or pregnant. If you are either of these, make sure to be extra careful.
7. Try to avoid sweating too much.
Stopping yourself from sweating might seem impossible to do in the heat of summer, but mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of your sweat. They have receptors that detect the lactic acid in it, which they are attracted to. While some people seem to attract mosquitoes more than others, it is best to stay on the safe side and try to keep cool while chilling outdoors.
8. Get rid of standing water around your home.
One way to decrease your chances of getting bitten by mosquitoes is to keep your surroundings free of them. You could stop them from breeding in your own yard by getting rid of standing water. Some harmful species of mosquitoes breed easily even in small pools of standing water. They could spread viruses such as dengue or the Zika virus. Keep your surroundings clear of standing water so you could rest easier.
9. Plant some insect-repelling fauna outside your house.
While this doesn’t guarantee getting rid of mosquitoes, having certain plants surrounding your home could limit their numbers. Some of these insect-repelling plants include citronella, lemongrass, basil, lavender, and marigold. However, don’t depend on these plants alone to keep mosquito bites at bay. You will need a whole lot of them to really make a big difference. Even if the plants could reduce the numbers of these pests, you would still need more effective protection against them.
Likewise, natural insect repellents like citronella oils or candles provide limited protection. Since you need their scent to get between you and the mosquitoes, they lose their effectivity if not applied directly on your skin or are located too far from you.
10. Limit the use of scented products when spending time outdoors.
While certain scents repel mosquitoes, there are others that attract them. It is believed that some scented products, such as perfume, lotion, or soap, might possibly attract them. Floral fragrances in particular could be a culprit. If you are going to spend time outdoors, it is better to skip your perfume and other scented products to avoid attracting these insects. This step alone is not enough to really repel them, though, so make sure to take other precautions as well.
11. Hire a professional to treat your yard with insecticide.
Sometimes, no matter how many steps you take to keep mosquitoes at bay, your surroundings simply make them hard to avoid. If such is the case, your best course of action might be to hire a professional to do the job for you. Getting your yard sprayed with insecticide could help control these pests.
These tips to prevent mosquito bites are very helpful if you enjoy spending time outdoors. Make sure to take precautions to lessen your chances of attracting these pesky insects. These could help stop you from getting nasty bumps, or even severe diseases!
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