How to repel mosquitoes and avoid itching this summer

Summer is a vibrant season that brings all sorts of gifts to people, including delightful gifts like delicious fruits that beat the heat.

However, it also brings some terrible gifts, which obviously include scorching heat and that notorious scourge to people’s comfort and health – mosquitoes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), mosquitoes can spread diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, West Nile virus, yellow fever, Zika virus, and more.

While the CDC stresses that such cases are rare in the United States, it never hurts to learn how to prevent the spread of such illnesses and avoid those irritating, itchy bites altogether.

So how can you have a scratch-free summer? Here are some tips recommended by the CDC.

Repellents

The CDC recommends using Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents because they have been shown to be safe and effective, even for pregnant and breastfeeding women.

Parents must remember to always follow label instructions when using insect repellent on children and avoid applying the repellent to their children’s hands, eyes, mouth, wounds, or irritated skin.

Adults must apply the repellent to their hands first and then to the child’s face.

Natural insect repellents are another option for people trying to keep mosquitoes away, but the CDC warns that products that are not registered with the EPA have not been evaluated for effectiveness.

Using Clothes to Repel Mosquitoes

The CDC recommends that parents dress their children in clothing that covers their arms and legs, and that infants and toddlers in strollers and carriers should be covered with mosquito netting.

At the same time, adults should try to wear loose long-sleeved clothes and pants.