How to avoid mosquitoes?

Summer means sun, sea, relaxation, and mosquitoes. Many mosquitoes for some, few for others. But why do some people attract mosquitoes while others pass by unnoticed? The answer is a combination of science and mistakes we unknowingly make.

“Mosquitoes are not a single species, but a huge family of nearly 3,500 different ones, divided into more than 100 genera, only three of which (Culex pipiens, the common mosquito, and the Aedes genus) are mainly widespread in Greece,” says Dermatologist-Venereologist Dr. Markos Michelakis, from EDOEAP. “Regardless of the species, only female mosquitoes bite us because they need blood to produce their eggs. Unfortunately, the consequence of their bite often includes the transmission of dangerous diseases such as West Nile virus, malaria, and many others. In fact, mosquitoes are mankind’s greatest enemy, as they kill more people each year than any other member of the animal kingdom.”

Research has shown that mosquitoes follow olfactory, visual, and thermal cues to locate us. The first is the carbon dioxide we exhale when breathing. The amount of this gas is higher in certain population groups, such as pregnant women and larger individuals. However, it is not carbon dioxide itself that makes us attractive to mosquitoes.

Instead, mosquitoes follow it until they get close enough to detect the smell from our skin. As they approach the source of this scent, the insects also sense the heat and sweat produced by the body.

The biggest difference in a person’s “attractiveness” comes from the smell of their skin. This is primarily determined by substances produced by the body that we cannot change. Such substances include ammonia, lactic acid, acetone, etc. Each acts differently in attracting mosquitoes. High concentrations of lactic acid, for example, increase the attraction of mosquitoes along with ammonia and carbon dioxide.

Sweat also makes a person attractive to mosquitoes. “Sweat has been found to increase the volatile compounds produced by the skin that attract mosquitoes. That’s why mosquitoes often bite people who sweat a lot, while those with little or no sweating are less attractive,” explains Mr. Michelakis.

The smell of the skin can also be made more appealing to mosquitoes by certain soaps, lotions, and cosmetics we use. Floral and fruity scents attract them especially, as they also feed on flower nectar. However, we should also avoid products with pleasant scents that do not resemble a blooming garden, because anything that smells nice (from shampoo and conditioner to perfume and laundry detergent) acts as a magnet for insects.

The solution to reduce olfactory cues that attract mosquitoes is to use fragrance-free personal care and laundry products.

Besides scent, you should also consider your cosmetics. For example, you should avoid applying moisturizer to your skin before an afternoon or evening walk. Many moisturizing products contain lactic acid, which, as mentioned, attracts mosquitoes. Equally attractive are products used for skin renewal, such as those containing alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs).

Your clothing is also important, notes Mr. Michelakis. “Your goal should be light-colored clothes that cover large areas of the skin,” he explains. “Mosquitoes use vision to locate their target. The darker the target, the easier they see it. Therefore, wear white, long clothing made from lightweight fabrics to stay comfortable and avoid sweating.”

You can further reduce sweat by avoiding physical activity in the late afternoon and using a fan. Physical activity produces lactic acid, while a fan helps prevent overheating and disperses the carbon dioxide you exhale.

It is also advisable to avoid alcohol and carbonated drinks in the afternoon. Alcohol has been found to increase mosquito bites, possibly because tiny amounts of ethanol are released through the skin in sweat. Carbonation releases carbon dioxide.

Daily showers with lukewarm water and fragrance-free cleansers are important to remove sweat and substances emitted with it.

For even greater protection, use an insect repellent on exposed areas of skin (do not apply it under clothing). You can also treat your clothing with suitable repellents. The Greek National Public Health Organization (EODY) recommends repellents containing DEET, picaridin (icaridin), IR3535, citriodiol, or Eucalyptus citriodora oil as active ingredients.

“Although mosquito attraction largely depends on genetically determined characteristics, this does not mean we are defenseless against their attacks,” emphasizes Mr. Michelakis. “Mosquito bites are not harmless, and appropriate measures must be taken to avoid them.”