If you are a magnet for mosquitoes, you will already understand the dilemma of choosing clothes in summer: long sleeves protect you, but on the hottest days it suffocates you. In short sleeves you are cooler, but you don't feel like going home with a collection of welts on your arms and legs either.
So is it possible to find the balance between being protected and being cool? These are the recommendations of the experts.
Jim Fredericks, chief entomologist for the National Pest Management Association, explains that it's best to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when you're going to be in a place with mosquitoes (riversides, parks, rural settings, etc.). Fredericks admits that's easier said than done, especially when it's hot.
Therefore, if you can't cover yourself completely, at least avoid wearing dark colors —fun fact: mosquitoes have a harder time perceiving light colors than dark colors— or very bright patterns, and don't over-perfume yourself with colognes or creams, since those smells attract mosquitoes.
David Brown, technical adviser to the American Mosquito Control Association, agrees that wearing light clothing is a good option if you don't want to wear long sleeves. He also adds that it is preferable to avoid mesh fabric, since mosquitoes can bite at will between the gaps left by such clothing.
Ok, wearing long sleeves in summer is not ideal, and not only because of the heat, but also because you are excited to wear those short clothes you just bought for the first time. To avoid being slaughtered by mosquitoes, at least try to stay under cover during the times when these insects move the most, which are the first hours after sunrise and the hours before sunset.
If you can't cover all your skin with clothing or stay indoors during times of peak mosquito activity (or if mosquitoes are particularly attracted to you), both experts recommend using repellents, ideally being environmentally friendly and containing at least 20% DEET (N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide), picaridin, or lemon-eucalyptus essential oil.
Whichever product you choose, read the product label for safe and effective use. In general, with spray repellents, shake before use and spray 15 to 20 centimeters from the skin. For the face, it is best to spray it on your hands first and avoid the area around the eyes, mouth and nostrils.
In the event that you also give yourself sun protection, the order of the factors is important: first the sun protection and, once absorbed, the repellent. As with sunscreen, repellent should be applied every few hours, depending on the label.
“Most repellents are applied to the skin, but there are also clothing impregnated with permethrin (an insecticide) that are very effective in preventing mosquito and tick bites. Both spray and clothing insecticides are completely safe if used according to directions.
This article was originally published in the 'HuffPost' United States and has been translated from English by Daniel Templeman Sauco.
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