To avoid ruining your travel, it's important to find out before you leave about the risks posed by mosquito bites. Once on location, it is advisable to know the precautions to take and the care to provide.
Mosquito preferences...
- Bite o'clock!
Mosquitoes tend to bite at dawn and dusk. But some bite during the day, like the Tiger mosquito. And, unfortunately for us, some species — rarer, but they exist — are active both day and night! That said, generally speaking, mosquitoes primarily target a subject in the shade rather than in direct sunlight.
- Inequality in the face of mosquitoes
We are far from equal when it comes to mosquitoes! Why are they more interested in you than in your neighbour when you're sleeping (for example) in the same room? It's the heat of the human body (30 to 37°C) that attracts them, as well as the scent of our skin, which mosquitoes can detect from over 10 metres away. Some skin odours appear to be more attractive than others...
Good to know: it's not light that attracts mosquitoes, but your breathing and the CO2 you exhale!
In which regions do mosquitoes pose a problem?
The majority of these insects thrive in humid regions. Infested areas are found mainly in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in boreal regions (Nordic countries, Canada, Siberia, etc.), where the presence of permafrost combined with low water evaporation prevents effective soil drainage, even on slopes.
What is the risk of being bitten by a mosquito?
In warm regions, these insects are vectors of far more frequent and serious diseases: malaria, dengue fever, river blindness, etc. It is therefore absolutely essential to protect yourself effectively while following the recommended preventive treatments.
Tip : Check with your guide or the hosting organisation to find out about and protect against the risks.Preventing bites: mosquito repellent products
In addition to mosquito nets and repellents in cream or spray form, there are also fabric repellents that are impregnated into the fabric fibre.
CimAlp has developed garments incorporating chitin into their fabrics — a natural biopolymer found in the shells of crustaceans. Chitin is a natural mosquito repellent and hypoallergenic. What's more, this fabric dries twice as fast and is odour-free, as it is antibacterial.
In addition to clothing, the tick-protection socks and mosquitoes have been added to complement the range of protective clothing available on our site.Tip: what to do once bitten by a mosquito?
If you do end up getting bitten despite all the precautions taken, whatever you do, avoid scratching!
To relieve the itching, you can:
- Apply an ice pocket to the bite. To do this, place some ice in a glove or flannel, for example. Alternatively, apply baking soda diluted in water, apple cider vinegar or salt water, dabbing it onto a cotton disc and then applying it to the bite. Hold in place for a few minutes. This will help reduce the irritation caused by itching.
- Dab one or two drops (never more) of essential oils of eucalyptus, clove or peppermint onto the bite using a piece of cotton wool. Peppermint has refreshing properties that stimulate blood circulation at the site of the bite, encouraging healing. If you don't have any essential oil to hand, peppermint oil can be found in some toothpastes. Check the ingredients of yours, then apply a little of the paste directly to the bite!
- Your deodorant can work just as well! These products contain substances that soothe skin irritation. Apply a little deodorant (spray or roll-on) directly to the bite.
- If we continue with products from your bathroom, take an aspirin tablet and crush it. Add a little water to make a paste, then apply it to your bite.
