The easiest way to avoid mosquitoes (and in particular the female ones, who are the biters) is to make sure there is no standing water anywhere near you. “I’m talking about clogged gutters, tree holes, kids’ toys, tires, bird baths, drip saucers that are under plants, even a pile of leaves,” says Dr. Stan Cope, a.k.a. Captain Stan the Mosquito Man, a retired medical entomologist in the United States Navy and currently the vice president of technical services at pest management company Catchmaster. But there are some folks, standing water or not, who are just more susceptible to bites than others. While carbon dioxide is the number-one thing that mosquitoes are attracted to, your “own unique chemical signature,” as Cope calls it, might also contribute to your appeal. (And contrary to what you might have heard, diet has nothing to do with it.) But according to Dr. Michael Bentley, entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, why a female mosquito, which has very sophisticated senses, might be attracted to one person over another, is really a mystery. “Scientists are still working out the specifics,” he says, “for what combination of the over 200 different chemicals and compounds produced through human skin that make some people more appealing to mosquitoes than others.”
And since you can’t change your genetic makeup, some of us will always need repellent. Below, expert advice on the most effective treatments and personal repellents for keeping mosquitoes from nipping at you this summer.
Best personal mosquito repellents
When choosing a repellent, Bentley; David Brown, technical adviser at the American Mosquito Control Association; and Dr. Mustapha Debboun, a retired medical and veterinary entomologist in the United States Army, co-editor of three books on insect repellents, and general manager Delta Vector Control District in Visalia, California, all recommend looking for repellents that have ingredients that are registered with the EPA and endorsed by the CDC, which include DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, IR 3535, para-menthane-diol (or PMD, which is plant-based), and 2-undecanone. Brown is a fan of the EPA’s search tool that “helps identify the best repellent for the situation I will be in, which I know have been tested for both safe use and repellency.”
But “not all repellents are the same,” says Cope. “The gold standard for years and years is DEET, and many of the products that are out there are DEET-based.” While Cope, Brown, and Debboun say that the way DEET works is still being studied, it’s generally thought to block particular receptors on mosquitoes that prevent them from identifying a potential host for a meal. There are other theories that say that mosquitoes may not like the way DEET feels on their feet, keeping them from landing on your skin. Cope recommends looking at the percentage of DEET found in a formulation, and doesn’t recommend using anything more than 30 percent for the average person, with 5 to 10 percent being enough for one-to-two hours of exposure at a time. That’s because, says Brown, “The higher the concentration of a product does not necessarily provide stronger protection; it just provides longer protection” — but a higher concentration can be convenient if you don’t want to keep reapplying throughout the day. Emily Mader, who works in Cornell University’s Department of Entomology as an extension associate, uses 25 percent DEET products when she is going on a long hike in the deep woods and says that one application would keep her protected for up to six hours. As far as other popular methods of mosquito control are concerned, Bentley says, “Citronella candles can offer some relief when used in combination with protective clothing and insect repellents, but products like these will not serve as a stand-alone repellent against hungry mosquitoes.”
One might think a spray is the best way to go, but Cope says that he personally prefers impregnated wipes (ones that are soaked in the solution and are ready to use). “They’re particularly good for kids because you can just do a better job of spreading it around and getting it where you want it to go,” as opposed to an aerosol can. These towelettes from Off contain 25 percent DEET and are recommended by Strategist contributor Maureen O’Connor, who has “hospitalization-level allergies to several North American insects.” “For on-the-go mosquito-repelling, nothing beats a wet wipe,” she writes. “It’s quick, easy, and can be deployed in a bathroom stall without anyone noticing.”
For something with a higher concentration of DEET, which again means that it will stay on longer, O’Connor recommends Repel’s towelettes, which contain 30 percent of the active ingredient. Strategist writer Jenna Milliner-Waddell took these on a recent trip to Mexico, where she says there was no shortage of mosquitoes. She was reminded that she packed these after forgetting on the first night, but after that, she didn’t get another bug bite for the rest of the trip.
“If I’m just out in my backyard weeding, working with plants in my yard or something, I might use a product that has picaridin in it,” says Mader. “Some people don’t like the smell of DEET. And products with picaridin usually don’t have an odor, but they’re still very effective in preventing mosquito bites,” she adds. These wipes are EPA-registered and contain 20 percent picaridin. The EPA says they will protect you from mosquitoes for up to eight hours.
This is another EPA-registered repellent. Its active ingredient is IR3535, of which it has a 20 percent concentration. Mader recommends IR3535 for shorter outings like a walk in the park. “It’s really effective for shorter periods of time where you are just in a yard, or maybe in a park, and you’re going to go inside within one to two hours of being outdoors,” she says. This one also has the added benefit of an SPF.
If you’re looking for a natural option, our senior editor Crystal Martin has had luck with this repellent from Kinfield. It’s a spray with a unique strain of Indonesian citronella as the active ingredient. “I wore it the last time I went hiking — no bites,” Martin says, but as our experts have noted, citronella on its own isn’t that effective and should be used in conjunction with other things like protective clothing. Martin herself noticed the difference between this and more potent repellents. “You do have to be realistic,” she says. “It doesn’t work like DEET sprays do. You don’t have that force field around you, but I really like it.” And because there is only a 10 percent concentration of citronella oil, that means you’ll have to reapply it more often than other things on this list. The brand recommends reapplying every two hours, which shouldn’t be a problem. Martin says, “Golden Hour smells really yummy, to the point where I sometimes spray on copious amounts.”
Best mosquito repellent products for your backyard
There are products that people with outdoor space can buy that are specific only to mosquitoes, like Summit Mosquito Dunks, which kill the larvae before they become mature enough to bite. Cope recommends them because they contain a naturally occurring bacterium called Bti, or Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, that when ingested by mosquito larvae causes their stomach to rupture. “It’s very widely used around the country, both by the municipal mosquito control and private-industry mosquito control folks,” says Cope. To use it, follow the label directions and place the biodegradable donut-shaped disc in any standing water. It floats on the surface and slowly breaks down, releasing Bti. “The reason it works is that mosquito larvae feed on bacteria and small particles in the water. They have a set of brushes on their mouth and they’re constantly sweeping the water into their mouth, and so they’ll pick up this product as it’s suspended in the water.”
Bti, which is registered with the EPA, also comes in the form of corn-kernel-like granules that release the larvicide more quickly than the donuts, which dissolve over time. When used as directed, Bti is nontoxic to other wildlife, pets, fish, and humans.
Best mosquito repellents for clothing
If you don’t want to spray or wipe yourself with DEET, wearing protective clothing like loose-fitting pants and long-sleeved shirts can also help. To add an extra level of prevention, Bentley recommends using permethrin, an EPA-registered insecticide that’s commonly found in delousing products like Nix and is also used as a “tick-killing agent,” that Cope and Brown also vouch for. It comes as a spray that you apply on your shirt and pants, and some companies even sell clothing that’s already treated with it. “Permethrin-impregnated clothing can be very effective in preventing mosquito bites, and if you will be in the woods or heavy brush it is highly recommended,” says Brown. “It’s extremely effective at repelling all flying insects, in addition to ticks and mites.”
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones swears by this cotton shawl from Shoo for Good that’s handwoven in Ethiopia and is “enhanced with odorless, invisible, EPA-registered Insect Shield protection,” according to the product description. (Insect Shield also makes its own permethrin spray and a line of permethrin-treated clothing.) “I am somebody who gets bitten by mosquitoes all the time,” says Zeta-Jones. “It really, really repels. It also doesn’t have any kind of smell — unlike bug spray or even other pashminas, this is odorless.” Like other permethrin-impregnated clothing, this one can be washed up to 70 times before it loses its efficacy.
For something a little more affordable, consider this treated T-shirt from Insect Shield.
Best nonchemical repellent
Three of our experts agree that a floor fan is another great deterrent against mosquitoes, who are fairly weak fliers. “Placing a strong fan on a porch while enjoying a summer evening should keep most mosquitoes at bay,” says Brown. Cope adds that a floor fan “even on low” can keep them from landing on or around you. (A ceiling fan won’t do the trick, he says, “because the mosquitoes are down low”), so one that’s on the ground, like this highly reviewed fan from Vornado, is a better option.
Best treatments for mosquito bites
If after taking all of these precautions you do end up covered in bites, you’ll want to treat it. Our experts agree that the most important thing to remember is to not scratch the bite. “Scratching can open the skin and allow bacteria to enter and cause an infection,” says Brown. Bentley, echoing what your parents likely told you when you were a kid, agrees: “Scratching a mosquito bite only makes it worse.” For those who just can’t stop scratching Cope recommends covering them with Band-Aids. And applying ice or a cold pack to the bite can go a long way toward relieving itching and irritation. Here’s a little hack from Cope that he finds particularly helpful: Fill up a Dixie cup halfway with water and freeze them. As soon as you get a bite, “get one of those and tear the cup off and do an ice massage on it,” he says. “That’s much more effective than just an ice pack for some reason.”
Celebrity aesthetician and dermatological nurse Natalie Aguilar recommends first cleaning the bite with soap and water. “When a mosquito bite breaks the skin, their saliva enters and your body instantly reacts against their saliva, creating what’s known as a histamine response that most of the time creates a welt,” she says. “So we first want to wash the area with warm, soapy water in hopes of washing away residual saliva.” Aguilar then recommends following it up with ice and an over-the-counter cortisone cream. Bentley and Debboun also recommend using a hydrocortisone cream, which can help soothe the itch. Always follow label directions, and, Bentley warns, “If symptoms increase, consult a physician.”
Aguilar says an oatmeal paste is an alternative to cortisone, with some added benefits. “Oatmeal is rich in beta-glucan, which helps boost your skin’s immunity, soothe irritation, and speed up wound-healing,” she says. “To make an oatmeal paste, blend dry oats into a powder and add water. Apply to the area for ten minutes and rinse off. Use the oatmeal paste as needed to control the itch.” She also recommends storing it in the refrigerator and applying it cold for additional soothing.
If you can’t resist the urge to scratch your bug bite, you’re not only risking infection but also scarring. And Aguilar says, “Even if you don’t scratch your mosquito bite, certain factors can cause the bite to scar or create a dark mark.” She says that exposing a mosquito bite to the sun, hot water, acidic creams, alcohol-based products, or even wearing tight clothing can cause discoloration, and the more melanin you have, the greater chance a mosquito bite will leave dark discoloration, even if you never scratch it. If this happens, she again recommends cortisone. “Discoloration occurs after an area has been inflamed, known as post-inflammatory pigmentation,” Aguilar says. “Continuing to decrease inflammation, even after the bite has healed, is crucial to fading the marks.” She also says you can use a product with 2 percent hydroquinone, which this Differin serum has. Just make sure you follow it up with sunscreen.
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