How to Avoid Mosquito Bites

For the most part, mosquito bites are just a nuisance - they can, however, deliver viruses like malaria and encephalitis. The trick is to avoid mosquito bites altogether, a task made easy by reading the following steps and tips.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Athletic Socks
• Long Pants
• Long-sleeved Shirts
• Sporty Hats
• Mosquito Netting
• Permethrin Products
• Insect Repellents
• Avon Skin-So-Soft®

1. Wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck the pant legs into your socks and tuck all shirts in completely.
2. Cover up with a hat, preferably with ear flaps.
3. Consider treating your clothing with a product containing Permethrin, especially if you will be in a mosquito-infested area for a long period of time. The chemical will last on treated clothes for up to five washings. Do not spray Permethrin on your skin.
4. Generously spray the area around your ankles, and other exposed skin, with a repellent containing 30 percent DEET (diethyltoluamide). Lotions and gels are also available.
5. Repeat applications as indicated on bottle or tube.
6. Wash all skin exposed to repellent with warm soapy water after exiting a mosquito-ridden area.

Tips & Warnings

• Net clothing is available at outfitter stores.
• Mosquito concentration is heaviest at dusk and through the night.
• Avoid repeated use of repellent containing DEET on children and use a concentration of less than 10 percent of the chemical.
• This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment. Contact a physician for more details.