Hi there, it's Ernest for Trip Astute. In this video, I'm gonna be sharing a
topic that seems to "bug" me whenever I travel, and that's mosquito
bites. I'll share why I'm a mosquito magnet and some tips on avoiding bites
while traveling.
(light chiming music)
Since I was a kid, I always seem to be the one getting
attacked by mosquitoes. Even now, I get swarmed whenever they are around me. It
didn't seem to make any sense, but I suspected there might be a biological
explanation. After doing some research, I found the mosquitoes are scientifically
known to be attracted to certain blood types, with type O blood being the most
common. Which is awesome, since my blood type is O+.
Mosquitos are also attracted to a lot of other things:
Carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and the bacteria in our sweat. A person's biology
can greatly influence how strongly these factors are present in our daily life.
I'm convinced that I must have an extremely high combination of all these
biological factors as they always seem to find me. On my recent trip to Mexico, I
found myself getting completely swarmed. especially the few times when I didn't
have any repellent on my body. It was pretty awful, and for some reason, my bites tend
to swell. So it looked like I got into a fight. They definitely made certain parts
of the trip uncomfortable. Not only are mosquito bites annoying,
uncomfortable, and totally gross, they can also transmit diseases like malaria,
dengue fever, and zika. So, in order to protect yourself, here are our top ten
tips for dealing with mosquitoes while traveling. Number one: Use insect
repellent. There are ton of options out there on the market. Most have DEET or
Picaridin, which are both effective insecticides and repellents. In fact, when
looking at repellents, you'll want to focus primarily on the concentration of
either of these insecticides. The higher the concentration, the more effective the
repellent, but also the toxicity of a lotion or spray. There are also some with
essential oils, like citronella and tea tree oil, which seem to have some effect.
However, in my experience, these are just not as effective as the insecticide based repellents.
My personal favorite is Ultrathon. I used it when I served in the military and
it just seems to work the best. It contains 34% DEET, so it's very strong,
and not necessarily the most comfortable stuff to wear. It smells unnatural, and it
makes my skin sticky, but when faced with swarms of mosquitoes, it seems to keep
them away. It's a lotion instead of a spray, so I'm able to cover more areas of
my body. Also, I like that the small tube is travel friendly and can easily be
carried in a day pack. While I prefer lotions over sprays, you can use sprays
on your clothes as well. I know that I tend to get bitten on my back through my
shirt, so I'll spray the shoulders and backside of my shirt with normal insect
repellent. Number two: Wear loose-fitting clothes or synthetic sports fabrics.
Mosquitos can still get through most clothing, so you may want to consider
clothing that isn't so tight. However, most synthetic fibers like the ones
found in athletic apparel tend to be woven tightly enough to keep mosquitoes
out. A good trick to know is if the garment
offers sun protection, then it likely will block out mosquito bites as well.
Number three: Avoid being out at dusk and dawn. If possible, try to avoid these peak
hours for feeding. But I will say that if you're in a tropical setting, mosquitoes
can be active at all hours of the day. Number four:
Wear lighter colors. Mosquitos are known to be attracted to contrasting
colors. Wearing light colors can make it more difficult for mosquitoes to
identify you. Number five: Avoid areas with standing water. This can be tough
since you often can't control the environment when traveling.
However, just be extra cautious in places where there might be lots of moisture
and standing water, especially from rains or flooding. This is the ideal location
for mosquitoes to reproduce and multiply. Number six: Use a mosquito net. If you're
in a location where you're at risk of being attacked while you sleep, then
consider using a mosquito net. I used one when I traveled through the Mekong Delta
region in Vietnam. I basically tucked the ends under my mattress so the
mosquitoes couldn't get in. A lot of places will have them available if it's
a problem, but it never hurts to call ahead and find out whether your hostel
or your hotel has them. If you need one while traveling or going camping, then
you can buy one prior to your trip for not much money.
Number seven: Shower regularly and wear fresh clothes. Since mosquitoes are
attracted to the bacteria in our sweat, it's important to shower and to change
your clothes regularly. If you're traveling light, consider having
your clothes cleaned through the hotel or a local laundry shop. Number eight: Sit
around smoke or look for a breeze. If all else fails and you happen to be around
a fire, use the smoke to repel the mosquitoes. It's the most natural way to
repel them and has been used for centuries to keep them away.
Also, it's harder for the mosquitos to land on your body if you're in an area with a
breeze. Even a slight wind can make it hard for mosquitoes to find you and land
on you. Number nine: Avoid scratching the bites. This is such a tough one. Whenever
I get bitten, I feel like my body not only gets itchy, it becomes completely
sensitive to everything. It's like my body goes into high alert and wants to
protect itself against other bites. However, scratching only increases the
inflammation and irritation. Number 10: Get medications when traveling in
high-risk areas. Diseases like malaria and Japanese
encephalitis are transmitted via mosquitoes, so it's best to check the
travel condition and recommendations prior to your trip. I've included the CDC
website link below which shows the US government's recommendations for
travelers. Lastly, I've seen mosquito repellent bracelets and patches that are
soaked in natural and chemical repellents being used by folks with
mixed results. I'm not going to recommend them since I haven't personally tried it
and I can't vouch for their effectiveness. But if you're looking for
another layer of protection, it might be worth checking out and trying. Though I
would only use it in addition to the tips we suggested. And those are our tips
for keeping the mosquitos away, especially if you're a mosquito magnet like me. Do
you have any tips or experiences dealing with mosquitoes? If so, please share them
in the comment section below. I've listed Amazon links to some of the
products discussed in this video. Trip Astute does get a percentage if you
use our links. It doesn't cost you anything extra, but it helps us a
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safe and travel smart.