Vectors of many diseases (the malaria, dengue fever, zika, etc.), mosquitoes are attracted by the carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by the mouth and nose when breathing, but also by the heat emitted by the body (they perceive infrared) and by certain molecules present on the skin – lactic acid and ammonia, for example. These are only biting female mosquitoessince they need blood to reproduce.
To protect yourself effectively against mosquitoes, the best thing is still to buy a spray in a pharmacy – be careful, some have contraindications, it is important to ask your pharmacist for advice!
Four molecules are really effective in repelling mosquitoes
The most effective molecules are DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide: a minimum concentration of 25% is required), theicaridin (a substance derived from piperine, the molecule that gives black pepper its pungent flavor),IR3535 (in the long version: ethyl butylacetylaminopropanoate, it can be used from the age of 6 months at a concentration of 20%, at the rate of one application per day maximum) and the citriodiol (also known as “lemon eucalyptus essential oil”).
In addition, certain common-sense measures make it possible to prevent bites :
- wear covering and loose clothing when walking (if possible white because, it’s provenmosquitoes are attracted to dark clothing)
- sleep under a mosquito net
- empty the stagnant water points which could encourage the reproduction of the undesirables – the gutters of the house, the saucers of the flowerpots.
And if despite these precautions, a tiger mosquito still managed to sting you, here is how to relieve the stings:
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