The best repellents for blood-sucking insects

Annoying insects

Blood-sucking insects are not very good company for the summer season, if you remember that through a bite you can catch a deadly disease, such as encephalitis. And what can we say about the annoying buzzing that deprives us of sleep and peace!

For a long time, people have tried to rid themselves of annoying insects that only cause harm with the help of strong-smelling aromas. Nowadays, a huge variety of all kinds of synthetic repellents have been developed that protect human skin many times more effectively than the foul-smelling herbal remedies that were once used. However, if consumed inappropriately or excessively, they can cause allergic reactions.

Repellents are... Categories of repellents

Like every single product, this one also has its pros and cons. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to carefully study the features of using some of its groups. The first group includes the so-called deterrents. They are characterized by a pungent odor that repels insects and deprives them of their sense of smell. The composition of this group of repellents most often includes substances that repel insects at a distance. But there are also those that act upon contact with the skin. That is, the mosquito lands on the skin, but the bite does not occur, the insect immediately flies away. By the way, smoke from burning juniper wood is considered a natural repeller. The second group is concealers. They are similar to the previous ones. The essence of this group’s action is to mask the human smell and make it unattractive to bloodsuckers. Many essential oils have these properties, such as eucalyptus, cloves, basil, rosemary, and elderberry. Of course, drugs in this group are not very effective, but are relatively safe. The third group, the most effective, are fumigants. Fumigants contain insecticides - substances that attack the nervous system of insects. The most widespread are the so-called pyrotechnics: spirals, candles, sticks. For the poison to take effect, they must be set on fire. Indoors, electric fumigants are used, which release toxins when plates or liquid with insecticide are heated from the mains.

Kinds

We found out that repellents are chemical substances that make it possible to stay comfortably at home and outdoors in the summer. Now it’s time to talk about what forms and types of repellents exist:

1. Creams and ointments. They are applied directly to the skin. This is very convenient: the tube with the product fits even in a small purse. However, creams in hot weather cause discomfort after application and leave greasy stains on clothes. And then, some insects even bite through clothing. 2. Lotion. It is absorbed much faster than the previous form, but its effect wears off just as quickly. 3. Spray and aerosol. Convenient and practical, they rarely leave a greasy mark, and can also be applied to clothes. 4. Spirals and candles. This option is convenient for picnics and outdoor gatherings. You will need to ignite it before use. There is a drawback: the smoke smells unpleasant. 5. Fumigators. This is a special heating device with a plate or liquid inserted into it. When heated, substances toxic to insects evaporate from the fumigator. Effective only indoors, not used outdoors. 6. Ultrasonic repeller. This product is safe even for children. It is a small device that makes a squeaking sound, similar to the squeak of a male or female, which warns of danger.

Repellers

Tornado OK.01

An absolutely safe device for both humans and pets. With its help, you can protect yourself from mosquito bites not only indoors, but also in open areas. In particular, the device is capable of preventing the appearance of mosquitoes in a room whose area is about 50 square meters. m, outdoors this parameter is reduced to 30 sq. m. The product can be powered by batteries or from the mains, which is also quite convenient. In particular, if necessary, you can take it with you to nature where there is no power supply. It takes three standard AA batteries. The device is an ideal alternative to aerosols, fumigating creams and other similar products that use chemical compounds to fight mosquitoes, which can cause irritation or allergic reactions in sensitive people. The device discourages insects by using high-frequency sound waves, which they simply cannot stand.

The model is equipped with two speakers operating in the range above 20 kHz. The ultrasound they emit is similar to what male mosquitoes emit when they are ready to mate. As you know, only female mosquitoes bite people who have already completed the mating process and need nutritious blood.

Advantages:

• If you keep the repeller on all the time, then you can simply forget about such a problem as mosquitoes;
• Works effectively against all types of mosquitoes;
• You can adjust the power of the device, thereby increasing or decreasing its area of ​​action;
• Absolutely safe for human health;
• Capable of operating both from batteries and from the mains.

More: Top 10 best gas and gas-wood stoves for saunas

Flaws:

• They are more expensive than chemical-based products.

Tornado OK.01

Gardex Baby bracelet

Initially, this product was designed for use by children, but it is also quite suitable for adults. The bracelet contains extracts of natural plants; in addition, it has an attractive, original and very bright appearance, which will allow it to become an exciting toy for a child. The device comes with three replaceable cartridges, the useful life of each of them is enough for about a month - in other words, the positive effect of using the bracelet will be observed throughout most of the season. The product is made on the basis of environmentally friendly materials that will not lead to allergic reactions, which allows the product to be used even by small children aged two years and older. Such a repeller does not allow the active substance to act specifically on the child’s body, but fights against blood-sucking insects.

Four essential oils are combined here - mint, geranium, lavender and citronella, and each of them forms its own reliable and completely natural protective atmosphere. The cartridge is treated with a special bitter food additive to prevent the child from swallowing it. The weight of the device is insignificant - only 1.8 grams. The bracelet should be stored at a temperature from -10 to +35 degrees, avoiding contact with medicines or food. Copes well with mosquitoes if there are not too many of them. The bracelet is not suitable for pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Advantages:

• High efficiency indicators;
• Resistant to wear;
• The useful resource is designed for almost the entire season;
• Can be used by children aged two years and older;
• Fights well against small to medium numbers of mosquitoes.

Flaws:

• Quite expensive means;
• Replacement cartridges are not sold separately.

Gardex Baby bracelet

Raptor spiral

An inexpensive, but quite effective remedy that allows you to quickly cope with the dominance of mosquitoes both in the house and in the open air. The product is a fairly densely compressed base of wood flour, which at the production stage was impregnated with a special active substance d-allethrin. If you plan to use the spiral indoors, you need to open at least the windows or otherwise provide ventilation. During its combustion, the active compound enters the air along with the smoke and has a depressing effect on the nervous system of mosquitoes, midges, flies and mosquitoes within a radius of several meters. First, paralysis occurs, which also affects the respiratory system, and after a few minutes the insects die. Moreover, this product does not cause the slightest harm to both humans and pets.

D-allethrin is the latest development in terms of household control of various insects. One spiral can smolder for seven hours. The radius of effective protection against mosquitoes is three meters. If there is a need to exterminate insects in an enclosed space, where it is not possible to establish airing or ventilation, then you can leave the smoldering spiral there for literally half an hour - this is quite enough to completely destroy all winged pests. The products have a long shelf life, which is as much as 5 years.

Advantages:

• Reasonable cost;
• Effectively copes with assigned tasks;
• There are as many as 10 spirals in one package;
• Works within a radius of three meters;
• Composition harmless to humans and animals.

Flaws:

• Not everyone likes the smell of smoldering wood flour, which also has added flavoring.

Raptor spiral

Rules for using repellents

So we answered the question of what a repellent is. This is your reliable protection against blood-sucking insects. But how to use these substances? The basic rule of using any repellent is not to take it lightly. This is especially true for children, because the delicate skin of a baby allows more toxic substances to pass through than the skin of an adult. For children, depending on age, less concentrated products are produced. It is important to select a product in accordance with the required age category. There are repellents specifically for clothing; they are very toxic for the skin. Under no circumstances should they come into contact with the skin or inhalation. The consequence of their improper use can be allergic reactions, poisoning and even burns. Therefore, before using it for the first time, carefully read the instructions supplied with the repellent, and also test it on a small area of ​​skin.

Creams

ARGUS FAMILY cream against mosquitoes, midges, midges and horse flies

An effective substance that is low cost. The cream has virtually no foreign odor - it is very weak, and also dissipates quickly. Available in soft polymer tubes, the volume of the product in them is 50 ml. For a family of three it will last almost two weeks. If it gets on clothes, it leaves no traces. No irritation or allergic reactions are observed. Excellent protection not only from mosquitoes, but also from more unpleasant insects such as horse flies, wasps, midges. The duration of the protective effect is about 4.5-5 hours. The composition is not too rich in components, but each substance makes a significant contribution to the fight against mosquitoes. It contains a natural cream base, aloe extract and the active agent diethyl-m-toluamide. Aloe is characterized by a soothing effect, so the cream can be applied even over a bite without fear of causing even greater irritation.

The manufacturer advises applying a thin layer of the composition to exposed skin, but do not rub it in, but wait until the cream is absorbed. If you do not use it too regularly, then one tube may be enough for several seasons, given that the shelf life of the drug is as much as three years. Even in a shaded forest, mosquitoes will not fly closer to the skin at a distance of 15-20 cm, and at such a distance even their highly annoying squeak will be practically inaudible.

More: How to properly add treats to your domestic cat's diet?

Advantages:

• Long lasting beneficial effect;
• Reasonable cost;
• Economically used;
• Does not leave marks on clothes;
• Suitable even for small children;
• Can be applied even to freshly bitten areas of the skin;
• The shelf life is three years.

Flaws:

• Immediately after the cream wears off, mosquitoes literally attack.

ARGUS FAMILY cream against mosquitoes, midges, midges and horse flies

Komaroff mosquito repellent cream Family

The volume of the product is 40 ml, it has shown fairly good effectiveness in the fight against a wide variety of insects. The cream effectively repels them for three hours after application to the skin. The composition is perfectly balanced, therefore it does not pose a threat to the human body, regardless of age and condition, which allows it to be used by small children from one year and older, as well as by pregnant women and the elderly. In the composition you can find extracts of tansy and chamomile, there are extracts of lavender and verbena. The cream copes well with mosquitoes, flies, midges, midges, horse flies and many other insects that can cause discomfort to humans. The presence of lavender makes the use of the composition even more pleasant. Verbena has an analgesic effect, so it will soothe the skin, reduce swelling and eliminate itching and irritation.

In addition, the cream contains chamomile extract, perfume and the active substance diethyltoluamide. A positive effect is also achieved through the use of natural products, the smell of which also repels irritating insects. The texture is delicate, the cream is easily distributed over the surface of the skin, additionally moisturizing and protecting it.

Advantages:

• High efficiency of the composition;
• A large number of natural ingredients that can also repel mosquitoes;
• Soothes and moisturizes the skin, relieving it from itching and irritation;
• Economical consumption and delicate texture.

Flaws:

• Not suitable for nursing women and small children under one year of age;
• It is strictly forbidden to apply the composition to burns and other unhealed wounds;
• In case of contact with eyes or mucous membranes, it may cause severe irritation.

Komaroff mosquito repellent cream Family

Cream Mosquitall Universal protection

The best cream today that allows you to get rid of all blood-sucking insects living in our country, including mosquitoes and even wasps and bees (these simply bite, but do not suck blood). According to the manufacturer, such a cream can provide about four hours of reliable protection against bites, but it can be used no more than three times a day. The composition has been carefully selected, but it is still not recommended to use the cream for children under five years of age. Its aroma is quite pleasant; it contains citrus notes, which are an additional irritant for most insects. However, the smell is not strong. The cream itself is very thick, it is recommended to apply it in a thin layer, there is no need to rub it into the skin. There is no feeling of a greasy film or tightness after applying the composition. This cream does not stain clothes at all, so you don’t have to worry about greasy marks suddenly appearing on your favorite T-shirt.

The product is much safer compared to conventional aerosols, since there is no danger of inhaling chemicals. It is quite natural that this cream has some contraindications - it should not be used by pregnant and lactating women, people with hypersensitivity of the skin, as well as those who have individual intolerance to the components. The volume of the tube is 75 ml, the consumption is economical, so it can last for more than one year, and the cream has a long shelf life.

Advantages:

• Perfectly protects against mosquitoes;
• The action time is much longer than that of sprays;
• Nice texture;
• Easy to apply, no feeling of dryness or greasy film;
• Pleasant, subtle scent.

Flaws:

• There are a number of contraindications for use.

Cream Mosquitall Universal protection

Contraindications

Repellent is, of course, a wonderful protection against mosquitoes, but not everyone can use it. In the final part of the article we will talk about contraindications. Repellents are not recommended for use by people with overly sensitive skin, pregnant and nursing mothers, and newborn children. The active substance should not be sprayed onto damaged areas of the body. You should not purchase repellent on the market or in a store of dubious reputation without appropriate certification. This can cause irreparable harm to your health.

Immediately to the liver

It is important to read everything on the label before purchasing a repellent. Sprays are divided into two groups: the most “vigorous” ones can be applied only to clothes, the more delicate ones can be used on the skin. The first ones are permissible only for adults.

The packaging of most products says that you can spray them 2-3 times a day, not more often. But doctors do not advise using repellents systematically. The fact is that their active substances are poisons that are absorbed by the body and absorbed into the blood, after which... they “hit” the liver.

“The higher the concentration of chemicals in the product, the greater the chance that the liver will be damaged,” says Elena Vovk, clinical pharmacologist, associate professor at Moscow State Medical and Dental University . — Prolonged high concentrations of toxins require a supply of essential phospholipids, antioxidants and enzymes to restore cell membranes. Otherwise, steatosis and fibrosis of the liver develop.”

Fumigators—devices that are plugged into a socket and kill insects using pyrethroid poisons—have a similar effect on the body. It is generally accepted that they are harmless to people, but when used for more than 3 hours in a closed room, excess poison enters the blood through the respiratory system. For allergy sufferers, such drugs can cause urticaria, anaphylactic shock and even Quincke's edema.