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Jonathan Day, a mosquito researcher at the University of Florida, says to concentrate the repellant on your ankles, feet, lower legs and wrists — thin-skinned spots mosquitoes love to bite. Apparently, deep colors — like black, deep blue and red — stand out so they attract bugs.

Thicker fabrics and looser fits offer more protection that thin clothing that fits tightly. Scientists are still studying why some people get more mosquito bites than others. Drinking a ounce beer makes some people more appealing, so does emitting more C02 or having more bacteria on your skin — which leads to more body odor. Oil of lemon eucalyptus comes from a particular eucalyptus tree corymbia citriodora or eucalyptus citriodora from Australia. The synthetic version, which is endorsed by the CDC as a repellent, is available under brand names including Repel, Bug Shield and Cutter.

Use this handy visual guide on mosquito bites to keep your friends and family comfortable and safe. One Medical is on a mission to transform health care for all through a human-centered, technology-powered approach to caring for people at every stage of life.

Any general advice posted on our blog, website, or app is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace or substitute for any medical or other advice.

Any garment that offers sun protection will also have a tight enough weave to prevent mosquito bites, especially when you opt for long sleeves and pants.

Mosquitoes also use their vision to search for food sources during the daylight hours. Since they fly very close to the ground, they tend to find targets by looking for things that contrast with the horizon, Day says. Day says carbon dioxide CO2 is the primary thing mosquitoes search for to identify food sources.

And when your heart rate is elevated, your body produces more CO2. From exercise to drinking alcohol to eating spicy foods, anything that cranks up your metabolic rate will increase your CO2 production—and make you irresistible to mosquitoes, Day says.

Unfortunately, being overweight or pregnant can also up your CO2 output, he adds. Aedes mosquitoes, which transmit Zika virus and chikungunya, can easily breed in small containers of water like a birdbath or even water sitting around your plants. Those include things like citronella , lavender, lemongrass, marigolds, and basil.

The same goes for citronella candles and oils. If you live in an area where the mosquitoes are unbearable, it might be worth hiring a professional to come and treat your yard with insecticide, Russell says. As for mosquito traps? A trap in the middle of your backyard will kill mosquitoes that fly close enough to sense its lures, sure, he says, but countless more will come flying into your yard to fill the space they leave behind.

Mosquitoes are also adept at telling the difference between a trap and a living, breathing host—a. Support from readers like you helps us do our best work. Go here to subscribe to Prevention and get 12 FREE gifts.

And sign up for our FREE newsletter here for daily health, nutrition, and fitness advice. Weight Loss. Health Beauty Fitness Nutrition Life. Sign In My Account Sign Out. Just don't do it right before you go outside, as the honey itself can attract more bugs. A tea bag soaked in cold water has similar properties to ice: It helps reduce inflammation and numb the skin area, says Dr. But the tea bag itself also contains substances called tannins, which have anti-inflammatory properties, she notes.

Use black tea, which is highest in tannins. It's known as a sunburn soother, but aloe can also help with inflammation, redness and cooling the area, says Dr. Jaliman, which will make the itch much more bearable. Pro tip: Store your aloe vera gel in the fridge instead of your medicine cabinet, as the cold itself will also help with itchiness, Dr.

Jaliman notes. These devices — like the Bug Bite Thing , which claims to suck out all the venom from bug bites — are all the rage on Amazon, but there's no good scientific evidence that they work. While some users swear by them, the reason they may seem to temporarily relieve itching is because the suction increases blood flow to the area, which helps tamp down inflammation, points out Dr. You may have heard that slapping a mosquito bite can stop it from itching, and there's some truth to it: "Slapping the itchy area will disrupt the nerves that are sending the signals to the brain that allow you to feel the itch," explains Dr.

The problem, she notes, is that it only lasts for a few seconds, so it will only work if you're willing to whack yourself repeatedly. It's probably easier to just slap on some calamine lotion and call it a day. The 8 Best Mosquito Repellants in Most mosquito bites can be safely treated at home, but there are some times when you need to get medical attention, says Dr. The two main ones are:.

If you notice swelling beyond the bug bite, such as your face, eyes, lips, tongue or throat, or notice that you're having trouble breathing or swallowing, call , says Dr. McGrath, as this could signal a very serious allergic response. The bite becomes infected.

Signs include fever, sudden redness or warmth and a red streak that spreads out from the bite. Is this an emergency?