Want to avoid mosquito bites outside? Research suggests not to drink beer or use anti-smooth milk

Some people become the headline target of mosquitoes as soon as they leave, as if they are sucking mosquitoes themselves. Others feel no feeling, are you covered in your body and you are so embarrassed to sit and stand up? If you always doubt whether you are a "mosquito magnet", you are not alone, even scientists want to know why some people attract mosquitoes.

In the summer of 2023, at a large music festival held in the Netherlands, hundreds of people wanted to participate in a special experiment: testing their attractiveness to mosquitoes. The study was directed by the Radboud University Medical Center team affiliated to Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. A temporary laboratory was set up at the music festival venue to allow participants to understand whether they are "mosquito magnets" through interactive methods.

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By following the camera to track the movement of mosquitoes, scientists calculated the "mosquito suction index" of each participant. The entire process attracted more than 500 music festival participants to participate in the roster.

The research team analyzed the participants' living habits and the degree to which they were attracted to mosquitoes, and found that several behaviors were related to mosquito preferences:

. Drinking beer: In the experiment, recent participants who drank beer more attractive than those who did not drink, with an average attraction of about 35% to 44%.

. Sleeping with others: People who slept with others or tents the same night before seemed to have a slightly higher chance of attracting mosquitoes.

. Using anti-solution: In contrast, people who use anti-solution will not attract mosquitoes.

Researchers have estimated that these behaviors may change the human body's odor, body temperature, skin microorganism composition, etc., which in turn affects the reaction of mosquitoes.

It is worth noting that this study has not yet been formally reviewed by peers, and the relevant results have been announced on the preprint platform bioRxiv.

Because the experiment is conducted in music festivals, the environment is more open, the control conditions are more relaxed, and the participants are also light and have a group of people who love outdoor activities. Therefore, researchers remind that these results should be carefully interpreted and may not necessarily represent the general population.

How to reduce the chance of being bitten by mosquitoes?

To avoid being bitten by mosquitoes, the following practical methods are worth referring to:

1. Use mosquito anti-soft fluid

to choose mosquito anti-soft liquid containing DEET or picaridin, and apply it to exposed skin according to the instructions, especially the ankles, arms, neck, etc. Apply anti-smoked milk first, then use anti-mosquito liquid, and apply it when necessary to avoid spraying to the eyes, mouth and nose.

2. Wearing protective clothing

Wearing long-sleeved trousers can effectively prevent mosquito bites. If you want to strengthen protection, you can choose clothes that contain permethrin, or spray them with special mosquito sprays on your own, and do not spray them directly on the skin.

3. Avoid mosquitoes to live

Mosquitoes mostly live till dusk to dawn, strengthen protection during this period, or stay indoors as much as possible.

4. Keep it dry and clean. The smell of sweat will attract mosquitoes. After exercise, wipe the sweat dry and shower as quickly as possible to reduce the smell of mosquitoes.

5. Avoid using fragrance products

Perfumes, fragrance lotions and other odors are also easy to attract mosquitoes. People who are prone to bites are advised to avoid them as much as possible.