Going on holiday is something to look forward to, particularly when travelling to a hot, sunny beach destination is on the agenda. This was how I felt ahead of an open-ended trip I embarked upon several months ago, which began with two tropical destinations: Sri Lanka and Singapore. However, I can’t deny that along with excitement, I also felt stressed at the thought of the inevitable onslaught of insect bites I would soon be experiencing.
You see, I’ve always been one of those people especially prone to being bitten by mosquitos, no matter where I am in the world. In fact, even during the Australian and New Zealand winters I’m currently living through, I still pick up the odd bite, which friends here agree is pretty much unheard of. So it may come as no surprise to hear that while in the aforementioned hot countries in April and May this year, I instantly became a magnet for mosquitos.
Bites can be real problem when travelling
In fact, at one point during my travels I counted a total of nearly 100 bites across my body.
This led me on a journey to discover more about why I was being bitten so much, how I could prevent it, and which of the many beauty solutions in my stash I could rely on to soothe the impact. (I am a beauty and travel writer by trade, so packed accordingly!) Never one to gate-keep, I’m now sharing everything I’ve discovered…
Why do some people get bitten more than others?
I’ve always wondered why my blood is more appealing to mosquitos than anyone I’m travelling with, so I decided to enlist the help of an expert. Jeff Riffell, Ph.D, Endowed Professor for Excellence in Biology at the Department of Biology, University of Washington, explains: “Mosquitoes prefer some individuals more than others because of several factors, including the scent of their skin, a person's body temperature, if they are sweating heavily, and if they are breathing heavily (emitting a lot of CO2, which mosquitoes like).”
Your beauty regime may hold the key for soothing mosquito bites
He elaborates: “Sweat has water vapour and odours that are attractive to mosquitoes. The more you breathe (and hence, emit more CO2) the more attractive you are (not tastier per se), because the CO2 acts as a long-range cue. So if you are exercising, you might be more attractive to mosquitoes, too.”
The colour of the clothes you wear can play a part (“mosquitoes like dark (black) or red clothes, but are not attracted to green and white clothes,” says Riffell). Consuming alcohol is also said to affect how appealing you are to mozzies, as alcohol "increases your skin temperature and sweating”, he notes.
However, Riffell believes that it's scent that plays a leading role. “Regarding the scent of skin, work from the Vosshall and McMeniman labs has shown that some people emit certain compounds from their skin (called carboxylic acids) that are very attractive to mosquitoes, whereas other people are don't emit these compounds, or at least not to the concentrations of these ‘super attractors.’”
“Some people emit higher levels of carboxylic acids in their skin 'smell', and this may be related to their skin microbiome,” he continues. “Studies show it would be difficult to change this.”
He also notes that if you are pregnant, you may want to take extra precautions, as “in studies, pregnant women have been shown to be more attractive to mosquitoes, and this might be due to higher temperatures, differences in scent, and releasing more CO2.”
Unfortunately, therefore, some of us are simply predisposed to be bitten more regularly and in more places across the world.
How to prevent being bitten
There are a number of preventive measures you can take to avoid being bitten so often, and those among us who are more prone to bites just have to approach our travel abroad with a little more diligence. This is particularly relevant currently, with popular destinations such as Bali and Singapore on high alert for dengue fever, which is spread through infected mosquitos.
It goes without saying, but a DEET-heavy mosquito repellent is essential for travel abroad. “The most effective insect repellent is DEET,” concurs Dr Christine Hall, aesthetic doctor and NHS GP. “It’s safe for use in those aged over two months old, and for pregnant and breastfeeding women, too.”
Official government guidelines recommend a product with around 50% DEET, and advise that you should re-apply frequently (every few hours) or after swimming. As certain breeds of mosquito operate during the daytime as well as around sunset and after dark, you should aim to always be wearing your repellent.
Covering up with long sleeves and arms can help prevent mosquito bites
I wore a gel formulation all over my skin during the day with my SPF, and also doubled down with a spray before I left my room every evening, too (doubling up seemed to work a lot better for me). Dr Hall reminds users that the order is crucial, too: “insect repellant is the final stage of your skincare regime and goes on after SPF.”
I’d also personally recommend wearing long clothing during peak mosquito hours (lightweight, wide-leg trousers are safe and stylish), always ringing ahead at your hotel to ask about mosquito net provision, ensuring the air conditioning is on while you’re in your room, and leaving sweet-smelling perfumes at home, as mozzies are drawn to them. You don’t need to give the bugs even more of a reason to come near you!
Best beauty creams for soothing bites
Despite all the advice and preventative measures in the world, those of us who are regular mosquito magnets are probably still going to receive a bite or two. This is where your aftercare comes in, and it can probably come from a product you already have in your beauty collection.
Ahead of my trip, I packed a couple of antihistamine and anti-itch creams with me from the pharmacy section of Boots. However, after being overwhelmed by how much I was actually being bitten, I ended up breaking into the stash of beauty solutions I had in my collection — and I was surprised by how much they helped.
Soothing, hydrating and nourishing, the following beauty creams have proved to be great multitaskers and well worth packing for any trip away from home in general.
Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Barrier Balm Stick
This easy-to-use balm stick is a great multitasker for everything from soothing sunburn to calming bites, as well as for incorporating into your skincare regime. With squalane and ceramides as its key ingredients, it helps to restore the skin’s barrier and hydrate dry, itchy areas. I brought this on my travels for keeping skin nourished after days spent surfing in the ocean, as well as for maintaining lips and other chapped areas. However, it soon became my go-to for all-over bite relief, too.
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment for Very Dry and Chapped Skin
CeraVe Advanced Repair Ointment With Hyaluronic Acid and 3 Essential Ceramides 50ml
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Packed in anticipation of dry, rough skin after hours of surfing, this CeraVe heavyweight balm also came in handy when my skin was red raw from bites. Packed with ceramides and hyaluronic acid, the ingredients list came up trumps; as did the rich, thick texture, which is especially calming on any kind of irritation. It’s a great one to have on standby for any trip away from home, as there’s little it cannot do – from dry lips to minor cuts and grazes, this will have you covered.
The Outset Botanical Barrier Rescue Balm
Hailing from Scarlett Johansson’s beauty brand The Outset, this solid balm – like all of the line – centres around no-frills formulas that do what they say on the tin. I found myself reaching for it more and more for particularly sore, dry areas that had been impacted by mosquito bites. Non-sticky and easily absorbed, it’s lightweight enough to apply to skin on the face, yet also hard working enough to soothe irritation with little effort. Plus, it’s so convenient to throw into your hand luggage, given it’s a solid balm and doesn’t count toward your liquid allowance!
La Roche-Posay Cicaplast Soothing Face and Body Balm
La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast is the stuff of beauty legend – and for good reason. The ultimate multi-tasker, you can use this as a rich moisturiser, body cream or just on particularly dry or irritated areas. It’s excellent for sensitive skin, and I also found it particularly helpful to soothe mosquito-ravaged limbs during my trip. With 5% panthenol, this helps to accelerate the skin’s natural repair process, making it a brilliant buy for chucking in your suitcase.
How can I deal with marks left by bites?
It’s worth noting that post-bite marks is a common problem which can also be treated with topical skincare products you may already have in your collection. “Often, insect bites will leave an area of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation,” notes Dr Hall. “Make sure you apply SPF to prevent it from worsening. The application of products designed to tackle hyperpigmentation, such as those that contain vitamin C, thiamidol and tranexamic acid, will all help.”
