Mosquito Repellent: Mosquitoes are drawn to people by solid odors (such as scented soaps, food, or skin odor), dark or bold-colored clothing, and a warm body temperature.
It’s critical to do everything you can to keep them away, not just because the bites are unpleasant and inconvenient, but also because they can bring dangerous diseases like West Nile, Zika, and malaria.
Mosquito repellents aren’t actually mosquito killers. Repellents function by making individuals less appealing to mosquitoes, reducing the likelihood of bites.
Consider the following factors when choosing a mosquito repellent:
• How long will you be outside?
• How many mosquitoes do you have in your neighborhood?
• Where you reside, the risk of mosquito-borne diseases
• The products you use on your skin
Natural Mosquito Repeller: Killer
The chemicals DEET or picaridin are active components in many traditional insect repellents. However, there are a variety of natural insect repellents that may also be helpful.
Plant-based insect repellents may be an excellent alternative to conventional mosquito repellents if you reside in a region where mosquitoes are a minor nuisance.
However, if you live in a mosquito-infested area or are prone to bites, repellents with higher concentrations (23.8 percent) of DEET or picaridin provide the best protection.
Although applying chemical repellents to your skin may be unpleasant, it may be preferable to get attacked by possibly disease-carrying insects.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when used correctly, insect repellents containing DEET or picaridin are safe for adults and children over the age of two months, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Other solutions, however, are considered “natural” since they are made from natural elements such as plants.
What Are the Best Mosquito Repellents Made from Natural Ingredients?
You might wish to think about using the following natural repellents:
Lemon eucalyptus oil (OLE). This is a plant-based, natural oil. It performs just as well as treatments with lesser DEET doses (6.65%) at preventing mosquito bites. PMD is a laboratory-produced form of lemon eucalyptus oil. Repellents containing OLE or PMD can give protection for up to 2 hours.
If you decide to try OLE, make sure to get the insect repellent version rather than the “pure” lemon eucalyptus oil (essential oil). They’re not the same thing. The essential oil’s safety and effectiveness as an insect repellant are unknown. OLE should not be used on children under the age of three.
Geraniol is a kind of geraniol that (found in citronella, lemongrass, and rose oil). According to studies, repellents containing this natural chemical can help keep mosquitoes at away for a short time, but they don’t function as well as other forms of repellents or last as long.
Oil made from catnip. The nepeta cataria plant is used to make this insect repellant. According to the EPA, it may provide 7 hours of mosquito protection.
Cinnamon oil is a fragrant oil made from cinnamon. This has been proved to help repel mosquitoes for up to an hour and a half, which is longer than many other natural oil repellents.
IR3535. Merck 3535 is another name for this drug. Some insect repellents contain it as an active ingredient.
Before the EPA approved IR3535, it was widely used in Europe. It may provide mosquito protection for up to 2 hours. Because it is structurally linked to a naturally occurring molecule, IR3535 is called “natural.”
2-undecanone. The tomato plant is the source of this. It may provide 412 hours of mosquito protection. Some insect repellents contain this ingredient.
Nootkatone. The EPA has authorised this oil, which is manufactured from grapefruit peel and cedar trees, as an insecticide ingredient. Many biting insects, including mosquitoes, have been shown to be repellent and killed by it. According to studies, it can provide protection for several hours.
Many more natural compounds are being researched as insect repellents right now. These are some of them:
• Fennel
• Thyme
• Clove essential oil
• Extract of celery
• Neem oil is a natural antiseptic.
More research is needed to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, garlic and vitamin B1 taken by mouth will not protect against mosquito bites.
Alternatives to Mosquito Repellent
One approach to avoid mosquito bites is to use insect repellent. There are, however, additional precautions you may do to assist keep the bugs at bay.
Keep your head down. When going outside, dress in long-sleeved shirts, long pants, socks, closed-toe shoes, and a cap. To keep mosquitoes out of your clothes, tuck your shirt into your pants and your pants into your socks.
This may be the last thing you want to do when it’s 90 degrees outside. However, it is one method of preventing mosquito bites without the use of pharmaceutical mosquito repellents.
Make use of fans. Mosquitoes will have a difficult time landing on you if the air is moving. Turn on a fan if you’re sitting on the porch.
Remove any standing water. Standing water is ideal for mosquito breeding. Remove any areas in your yard where water can accumulate, such as:
• Empty buckets
• Covers made of plastic
• Lids for trash cans
• Flower pots that haven’t been planted
Change the water in bird baths on a weekly basis. Keep the water in your pool moving and disinfected.
Mosquitoes are most active in the evening when the sun sets and early morning when the sun rises, so stay inside at night and dawn. Even during the day, you can be bitten. However, mosquitoes are normally less active at that time.
Tips for Using Mosquito Repellents Safely
Follow these CDC safety guidelines while using insect repellent:
• Avoid using insect repellents that contain DEET and sunscreen because insect repellents don’t need to be applied as frequently as sunscreen.
• If you’re going to use sunscreen and DEET at the same time, put the sunscreen on first and then the DEET.
• Don’t use insect repellent on children’s hands or let them apply it themselves.
• Do not use insect repellent on skin wounds, cuts, or other irritated areas.
• Follow the instructions on the insect repellent’s label when applying and reapplying it.
Also Read:
, dark or bold-colored clothing,){kind=link}