If you have spent time in a mosquito-infested area, then you probably know how annoying the mosquito buzzing sounds can be. If the insect bites you, then you will be waking up the next day with mosquito bite marks all over your face. It gets worse when you run the risk of getting sick after contracting malaria from a mosquito bite.
In case you do not want to have a peaceful night’s sleep, you should consider getting rid of the mosquitos. One of the solutions to deal with mosquitos to avoid the bite is through the use of repellents. You should avoid doing the darndest of things when trying to fight the mosquito such as burning cow dung, slathering with alcohol, or eating bananas.
However, I assume that you will not fall prey to all the shenanigans around the mosquito issue. You can always choose to go with mosquito repellent. If choosing the right repellent is a daunting task, here is a guide to the world of mosquito repellents.
Which Repellent do I need?
Repellents can be used by everyone in your house including pets. There are many options to go with and as a result, you could get confused about which repellent you need. The general categories to choose from are the DEET based repellents, plug-in and the natural ones. The type of repellent that you need will mostly be determined with the location that you will be using it.
If you are going to a place that is prone to malaria such as the tropical regions, then you should consider getting a DEET (Diethyl-meta toluamide) based repellent. In case you go to a locale that has a low risk of malaria, then you can use low concentration DEET based repellents.
However, if you are in an area where the risk of malaria or other mosquito-related illnesses is low, then you can go with natural mosquito repellents. The natural mosquito repellents usually contain ingredients that have been extracted from plants such as lemon eucalyptus. It is worth noting that natural repellents are kinder to your skin as opposed to DEET based repellents. You can check out naturals repellents on https://nativeshield.com/mosquito-control/ as they contain one of the best organic mosquito repellent solutions in the market.
Plug-in mosquito repellents are a bit different as compared to the ones mentioned above. This is because the above repellents are applied on your skin while the plug-in is a device that is plugged into a socket. After plugging into a socket, the device releases a chemical that kills insects that enter a room. It can act as a complement to the above-named solutions
Do they work?
The question you are probably asking yourself, do mosquito repellents really work? It is apparent that at times there are solutions which are marketed to us but they just never work. Before looking at repellents, it is important to know that most of the solutions don’t work such as B1 skin patches, bug -repellent bracelets and wristbands, Citronella candles, and Ultrasonic devices. Unfortunately, the above-named devices do not repel mosquitos and you should just opt for actual natural based and DEET based repellents.
The plug-in repellents are also known to work as they kill all insects which enter the room. Even if the mosquitos don’t die, they will be too weak to move around! However, it is important to complement the repellent with treated mosquito nets if you are in an area that is prone to malaria and other illnesses related to mosquito bites.
How to Apply the Mosquito Repellent
After getting the right repellent, it is vital to understand the guide on its application. The
basic one is the plug-in which should just be plugged into a wall socket and that’s it.
For the case of the other variants which are applied on the skin. The first step is to undertake a patch test. This is done by applying a little amount on your skin to check if it reacts with your skin. If it is safe, then you can proceed to apply it on your skin that is exposed.
In order to use a spray based repellent on your face, you can spray the repellent on your hand then apply it on your face by gently rubbing your hands. There are also gels and lotions which can be applied through rubbing them on your skin. It is important to note that you should avoid contact with the eyes during application.
Conclusion
The mosquitos are nagging insects that have the potential of not only leaving bite marks but also causing diseases such as malaria, Zika, dengue fever, and other diseases. As a result, it is good to protect yourself through the use of mosquito repellents. The guide above will help you use them effectively. Stay safe from the mosquitos!