Itâs barbecue season, which means getting outdoors and enjoying al fresco dining with friends â but youâre not the only one readying yourself for an outdoor feast.
Mosquitoes are rife in hot weather and can turn a pleasant evening into an unbearable night of itching and scratching, thanks to the red welts their bites can produce.
It is true that some people are more susceptible to bites than others, and experts say we have little control over whether weâre a tasty snack for a mosquito.Â
LloydsPharmacy pharmacist Anshu Kaura says: âStudies have shown that mosquitoes are more attracted to certain chemicals â such as lactic acid â and so people that naturally emit more of these chemicals from their skin than others are more likely to attract mosquito bites.
âThere is also evidence that shows that those in the âOâ blood group are twice as likely to attract mosquitoes than those in the âAâ blood group.â
Whatever your genetics, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of getting bitten. Here are a few tips to try on World Mosquito DayâŚ
1. Apply DEET before you go outdoors
âInsect repellents like DEET can go a very long way to avoiding mosquito bites,â says science professor and entomologist Adam Hart.
Repellents containing 50% DEET (known as N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), when applied to skin or clothing, help ward off a number of biting insects. Always follow the instructions on the product.
2. Try essential oils
âInsects such as mosquitoes donât tend to like citrus smells,â says naturopath Ben Brown. âSo if youâre spending time outdoors, lemon, eucalyptus oil, peppermint oil or lemongrass oil on the skin can help to deter them.â
If you donât fancy applying essential oils to your skin, you could burn them around the area where youâre sitting instead.
3. Cover up
âMosquitoes look for CO2 as their food source, which can be bad news for us after we exercise, drink alcohol or eat spicy food, as we tend to release more CO2,â says Dr Luke Powles, lead GP at Bupa.
âTo avoid being natureâs feast, make sure you cover up after a workout or if youâre enjoying some food in a pub garden.â
4. Time your day
Mosquitoes tend to be most active at dawn and dusk, when the breeze is calmer.
If you can, try to avoid sitting outdoors during these times of the day, as this is when youâre most likely to get bitten.
5. Avoid stagnant water
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant, standing water, which makes pools, birdbaths, gutters and empty plant pots the perfect place for them to multiply.
Ahead of your next al fresco event, take a good look around your garden and pour away any pots or buckets collecting rainwater. This will go some way to avoid mosquitoes congregating around your home.
6. Cut down on outdoor exercise
âOur bodies produce more lactic acid when we exercise, so you might find yourself getting bitten more often when youâre working out,â says Kaura.
If you really want to avoid being riddled with red welts during the warmer months, try taking your workouts indoors.
Itâs also better to wear loose clothing rather than tight, breathable gym gear â which mosquitoes can often penetrate.
