Avoid beer, don’t wear red but do grab a lemon… 8 essential do’s and don’t to avoid insect bites as heatwave continues

BRITAIN is in the grip of mosquito mayhem as this week’s heatwave – the UK’s fifth of the summer – continues ideal conditions for the skin-snacking species. Experts say prolonged hot temperatures create a perfect breeding climate for the bugs and you are especially likely to notice more of them near water sources, where they lay their eggs. Britain is in the grip of mosquito mayhem as the UK’s scorching weather creates the ideal breeding conditions for the skin-snacking pests Credit: Getty The UK’s fifth heatwave of the summer is piling on the misery for those targeted by the bugs Credit: Getty If you think a pint will prevent mozzie woes, you are out of luck. We reported last week that a new study showed beer drinkers were 44 per cent more likely to get chomped. Here, Dr Helen Wall gives tips on what you should, and shouldn’t, do to beat the bites. Sign up for the Health newsletter Thank you! DON’T: Wear Perfume BLOODSUCKING mosquitoes zone in on us partly through smell, such as the carbon dioxide in our breath and all the other scents we emit, including sweat. Once they bite they leave saliva under the skin, our body’s reaction to these proteins is what causes the itchy welts. Some fragrances and colognes, especially floral or fruity ones, make our skin more attractive to mozzies as they mimic the scent of food sources. Sweet wafts are the worst, so steer clear of perfumes with notes such as vanilla, chocolate or rose. If you are prone to being bitten, go fragrance free. DO: Shower: Mosquitoes are attracted to body odours, so showering after sweating in the heat could help stop you becoming a bite buffet Credit: Getty MOSQUITOES are extremely sensitive to body odours so if you don’t hop in the shower after a day under the hot sun, you might find you become a bite buffet. If you have been exercising or doing activities that make you sweat, you are more likely to have lactic acid on your skin which the nibblers love. Wash it off so you don’t become a pest magnet. Most read in Health DON’T: Drink Beer A new study found beer drinkers are more likely to be bitten by mosquitoes, while alcohol can also alter body odour and warm the skin Credit: Getty A NEW study found those who sipped a pint were more likely to find themselves itching than non-drinkers. The study also advised avoiding bananas. However, more research is required here. Alcohol generally can change your body odour and make skin warmer which can lead to being chomped on. While we aren’t wholly sure beer is always to blame, it could well be a contributor. Whatever precautions we take, studies show up to 20 per cent of us are more likely to be bitten due to our genes, so I wouldn’t give up your pint altogether. But if you are being eaten alive, it is worth trying alternative tipples. DO: Use deodorant Studies suggest deodorant could cut your chances of being bitten by mosquitoes by as much as half by reducing sweat and body odours Credit: Getty SOME studies say applying deodorant can reduce your chance of being bitten by as much as half. Wearing antiperspirant reduces sweat levels to prevent the strong body odours that serve as bug magnets. Some chemicals can confuse mozzies so they actively avoid you, but as different brands have varying ingredients I wouldn’t rely on any one as a proven “repellent”. But in combination with other bug battling techniques, deodorant should help. DO: Try a fan HAVING a fan circulating airflow, especially near the bed at night, may prevent the little buzzers flying towards you as they are not powerful flyers. Even if they do get close, the breeze from the blades may still stop them from being able to land and tuck in. The other benefit is that enticing body odours will be diluted or muddled for the mozzies too. So do try it. DON’T: Wear Red Mosquitoes are attracted to bright colours such as red, so wearing white or beige and covering up could help keep the pests at bay Credit: Getty THE flying pests are naturally attracted to bright colours such as red, orange and blue – but they are also drawn to black. So avoid these colours if you are prone to bites or in an area with a high concentration of the bugs, such as near a river. Instead, wear white or beige as a study showed this reduced attraction. Wearing long sleeves and minimising exposed skin will also help to deter them. You can spray clothes with insect repellent too. DO: Grab a lemon A lemon studded with cloves is a cheap TikTok hack said to deter mosquitoes, while catmint, lemongrass and eucalyptus may also help keep the pests away Credit: Getty STUFFING a fresh lemon half with ten dried cloves and placing it on a table or by your bed is a cheap and simple Tik-Tok hack for deterring mosquitoes. Other natural smells critters are said to loathe include catmint, lemongrass and eucalyptus, which are all worth a go. But don’t rely on these alone. The risk of disease is extremely low in the UK but in foreign countries where mosquitoes carry infections like malaria, you need proper insecticide. DO: Buy insect repellant PRODUCTS containing 20 to 50 per cent DEET (try Jungle Formula, £8, Sainsbury’s) are recommended by the NHS because this ingredient is a proven mosquito repellant. You can also try the substance Picaridin (Smidge, £6.45, Boots). Plug-in vaporisers work well, too. If you do get bitten, wash the area and apply a cold compress on swellings. Try not to scratch as bites can become infected. If you feel unwell, speak to a pharmacist or a GP. Comment now