NEWPORT BEACH, CALIF. — The hands-down winner in the mosquito wars is DEET, but for those who don't want to use it, there are other ways of fighting off mosquitoes, according to two presentations at the annual meeting of the Pacific Dermatologic Association.
One approach is simply to avoid the things that attract the insects, said Tissa Hata, M.D., of the University of California, San Diego.
At close range, mosquitoes rely heavily on olfactory cues and are drawn to floral fragrances in soaps, perfumes, and hair products.
Dark clothing acts as a long-range attractant, and mosquitoes can detect carbon dioxide from breath and skin from a distance of 36 m.
The combination of carbon dioxide and lactic acid is also a heady mix—if you're a mosquito.
The answer is to wear light-colored clothing, avoid fragrances, and “don't give off a lot of hot air,” she said.
A product containing 2% soybean oil did well in a study comparing various mosquito repellants.
Although a product with the highest concentration of DEET (N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide) provided 301 minutes of protection, one with soybean oil warded off the bugs for 94 minutes.
However, the oil can irritate children's eyes, so parents should not put it on their children's hands, Dr. Hata said.
None of the other non-DEET products fared well in the comparison (N. Engl. J. Med. 2002; 347:13-18).
According to anecdotal reports, rubbing fabric softener sheets on the skin is effective, said Allan L. Kayne, M.D., a dermatologist with Berlex Pharmaceuticals in Montville, N.J.
But he recommended that they not be used on infants or children.
He listed several other approaches anecdotally reported to be effective:
▸ Vick's VapoRub.
▸ A lotion that contains ethyl butylacetylaminopropionate (Skin So Soft Bug Guard made by Avon).
▸ Pure vanilla extract (not vanilla flavoring), mixed with equal parts water.
▸ Daily supplements of 100 mg thiamine.
▸ Cinnamon oil.
Other recommendations include avoiding bananas, which are thought to attract the insects, and planting marigolds, which contain pyrethrums that repel mosquitoes and other insects.