Do you notice that there are more mosquitoes at night when you are about to go to sleep? There is one simple reason for this — most mosquito species are nocturnal, meaning they are more active at night. Here are some tips to prevent mosquito bites while you sleep
Why you don’t want mosquito bites
- Mosquitoes spread deadly diseases. We all know that mosquitoes are dangerous because their bites can spread diseases like dengue and malaria. But some of us just don’t understand how serious of a threat mosquitoes are. Mosquitoes are actually some of the most dangerous animals on the planet, killing hundreds of millions of people and counting.
- Mosquito bites can lead to other health conditions. Mosquito bites don’t always lead to deadly diseases. But even the most innocent of mosquito bites can lead to less dangerous conditions, like allergic reactions and infections. When mosquitoes bite you, they leave saliva behind, and your body may react negatively to it, leading to allergic reactions with symptoms like itching. You may end up scratching your mosquito bites and infecting them in the process.
- Mosquitoes use your blood to reproduce. Mosquitoes bite you because they need your blood to develop their eggs. They will have a hard time reproducing without it. Mosquito bites are bad news not just because of the health concerns, but also because they result in more mosquitoes in your vicinity.
How to prevent mosquito bites while you sleep
1. Close all passageways
There are many breeding grounds for mosquitoes outside your home. They like to breed in the stagnant water in your birdbaths, flower vases, old tires, and swimming pools. They can easily get inside your bedroom through doors and windows, so make sure to keep these closed to prevent mosquito bites while you sleep.
And remember that there are small gaps in your doors and windows. Even if you keep them closed, mosquitoes may still be able to get through these gaps. After all, they are very small creatures. Use weather strips on your doors and screens on your windows for extra layers of protection.
2. Turn on the air conditioner or fan
Mosquitoes find potential victims by looking for signs of life, like carbon dioxide and heat. You exhale carbon dioxide, so you can’t really avoid it completely. But you can minimize heat by turning on the air conditioner or fan in your bedroom. They won’t just cool you down to hide you from mosquitoes. They also cool down your entire bedroom, making it less attractive to wandering mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are also weak fliers. They can easily be blown away even by the slightest winds. The artificial winds of your bedroom fan are enough to prevent them from getting to you.
3. Take a bath before going to bed
Another sign mosquitoes look for is sweat. It contains lactic acid that gives humans their distinct odor. To prevent mosquito bites while you sleep, it’s a good idea to take a bath before going to bed. This will wash away the sweat you have on your body.
You can say that you don’t sweat because you don’t do anything physically taxing. But remember that humans sweat naturally throughout the day. And this natural sweat is enough to attract mosquitoes.
4. Cover as much skin as possible
Mosquitoes are not likely to bite through clothes, so you can prevent mosquito bites while you sleep by covering up. Wear long-sleeved shirts that can cover your arms and comfortable pants that can cover your legs. If you can cover your hands with gloves and your feet with socks, that will be great too. Your feet in particular are attractive to mosquitoes. They have odors that seem like perfume to these bloodsuckers.
If you think it will be too hot and uncomfortable if you cover yourself too much, remember the other tips in this list. You will have a bath and will have the air conditioner or fan running. These will keep you comfortable. Mosquitoes thrive during the rainy season as well, a part of the year that is naturally cooler.
5. Use a mosquito net
Mosquito nets are exactly what they sound like. They are nets you set up around your sleeping area to shield it from mosquitoes. They are the rage in Africa and Asia, but they are not as popular in America and Europe. Still, you will be able to find some mosquito nets in the market. There are many different kinds of mosquito nets. Some even have pesticides on them as an extra layer of protection.
When setting up mosquito nets, make sure there are no gaps where mosquitoes can get through. Otherwise, the whole setup will be useless. When sleeping inside mosquito nets, make sure you don’t touch the nets themselves. Mosquitoes may still be able to get their stingers through and suck your blood.
6. Apply a mosquito repellent on your skin
Mosquito repellents you can apply on your skin usually come in the form of lotions. They have ingredients that can mask you from mosquitoes. One of the most common ingredients out there is N, N-Diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as DEET.
But take note that repellents are not the most ideal for those with sensitive skin. You can try ones with milder ingredients. You can also try all-natural alternatives. Whatever you choose to use, make sure to read their instructions, so you can apply them to your skin properly.
7. Use commercial mosquito control products
Prevent mosquito bites while you sleep by killing the mosquitoes themselves. Thankfully, there are a lot of commercial products you can buy to easily get rid of mosquitoes — and they are safe. Some of the most common ones are insecticides. But since there are so many insecticides you can buy out there, make sure the one you buy actually says it can be used against mosquitoes.
Other popular options are mosquito coils and mosquito gels. Other people use bug zappers as well, but they are not as effective as many people claim they are.
Mosquito bites can be dangerous
You want to prevent mosquito bites while you sleep because they can be incredibly dangerous. They don’t just result in deadly diseases. They also lead to more mosquitoes in your vicinity because mosquitoes use the blood they suck from you to reproduce.
Prevent these mosquito bites now by following the tips above.