Summer evenings can be a real buzzkill, thanks to those pesky mosquitoes. We all know someone who gets bitten more than others and it turns out there's a good reason for that. Mosquitoes use their sense of smell to find their next victim and some people just happen to smell better to them. But fear not, there are ways to repel these bloodsuckers and avoid their itchy bites.
While we may think our soap preferences don't make much difference, a recent study found that for some people, washing with Dove or Simple Truth soaps actually makes them more attractive to mosquitoes. So, if you want to repel them, try washing with Native soap instead. As for fruits, it turns out bananas can make us more appealing to mosquitoes. A study in the US found that mosquitoes were more attracted to people who had eaten bananas. However, grapes have no effect on mosquito attraction, so swap out your banana for some grapes this summer. If you're someone who loves a cold beer on a hot day, you might want to rethink that choice if you're trying to avoid mosquito bites. According to a study, drinking beer makes our body scent more attractive to mosquitoes. So, stick to water if you want to repel them.
But if you're looking for a more direct approach, try using deodorant containing isopropyl tetradecanoate. This compound repels mosquitoes by preventing them from landing on the surface coated in the deodorant. In fact, one study found that it decreased the number of mosquito landings by 56%, leading to fewer bites. When exercising, it's even more important to wear deodorant as mosquitoes are more attracted to sweaty individuals. And while many people rely on garlic or vitamin B supplements as home remedies to repel mosquitoes, studies have shown that they have no effect on mosquito attraction. For the most effective protection against mosquito bites, insect repellents containing Deet are the way to go. While they may not smell great, they offer the longest protection compared to other repellents. And if you don't like the idea of putting it directly on your skin, try spraying your clothes with permethrin insecticide. This is an effective way to prevent mosquitoes from biting skin covered by treated clothing.
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But what if you've tried all of these methods and you're still getting bitten? It turns out genetics play a role in how attractive we are to mosquitoes, so don't beat yourself up over it. Just keep trying different approaches until you find what works for you.
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