National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a mosquito repellent.

National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Last updated:
June 25, 2024
|  5 min read
Individual spraying insect repellent on their arm

National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

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There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a mosquito repellent.

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National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

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The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Forget the citronella. These repellents have ingredients that are known to be effective.

Mosquitos are small but formidable creatures. In addition to causing itching, mosquito bites can transmit diseases like malaria, West Nile, dengue, and chikungunya, according to Richard J. Pollack, Ph.D., senior environmental public health officer at Harvard University.

Pollack explains that choosing the right mosquito repellent depends on the person and the circumstances. However, “a good repellent can dramatically reduce the number of bites a person receives,” he says. That “will not only reduce how often we’ll suffer itching from the bites, but it should also reduce the chance that we’ll become infected by the pathogens the mosquito might pass onto us,” Pollack says.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a mosquito repellent. However, we chose Deep Woods Off as our best mosquito repellent overall because it has long-lasting protection, ingredients proven to repel mosquitos, and a nonsticky formula most people will be able to tolerate.

Continue reading more of this article, written by Jamie Davis Smith here.

National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Forget the citronella. These repellents have ingredients that are known to be effective.

Mosquitos are small but formidable creatures. In addition to causing itching, mosquito bites can transmit diseases like malaria, West Nile, dengue, and chikungunya, according to Richard J. Pollack, Ph.D., senior environmental public health officer at Harvard University.

Pollack explains that choosing the right mosquito repellent depends on the person and the circumstances. However, “a good repellent can dramatically reduce the number of bites a person receives,” he says. That “will not only reduce how often we’ll suffer itching from the bites, but it should also reduce the chance that we’ll become infected by the pathogens the mosquito might pass onto us,” Pollack says.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a mosquito repellent. However, we chose Deep Woods Off as our best mosquito repellent overall because it has long-lasting protection, ingredients proven to repel mosquitos, and a nonsticky formula most people will be able to tolerate.

Continue reading more of this article, written by Jamie Davis Smith here.

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Media Mentions from National Geographic
National Geographic
Taking our understanding and awareness of the world further for more than 130 years.
Media Mentions

National Geographic: The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Forget the citronella. These repellents have ingredients that are known to be effective.

Mosquitos are small but formidable creatures. In addition to causing itching, mosquito bites can transmit diseases like malaria, West Nile, dengue, and chikungunya, according to Richard J. Pollack, Ph.D., senior environmental public health officer at Harvard University.

Pollack explains that choosing the right mosquito repellent depends on the person and the circumstances. However, “a good repellent can dramatically reduce the number of bites a person receives,” he says. That “will not only reduce how often we’ll suffer itching from the bites, but it should also reduce the chance that we’ll become infected by the pathogens the mosquito might pass onto us,” Pollack says.

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to selecting a mosquito repellent. However, we chose Deep Woods Off as our best mosquito repellent overall because it has long-lasting protection, ingredients proven to repel mosquitos, and a nonsticky formula most people will be able to tolerate.

Continue reading more of this article, written by Jamie Davis Smith here.

Photo thumbnail Blog Author
Media Mentions from National Geographic
National Geographic
Taking our understanding and awareness of the world further for more than 130 years.
Media Mentions
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