If you are spending time outdoors and forgot your bug spray, you might be wondering ‘Does sunscreen work as mosquito repellent?’.
No, there is no scientific evidence that sunscreen repels mosquitoes. In fact, the scent that accompanies some sunscreens may attract mosquitoes. Scented lotions and perfumes are known to attract mosquitoes, and unfortunately the scent of some sunscreens on the market today can have the same effect.
Let’s look at this a bit deeper and explore some possible solutions if you are desperate and disappointed that your sunscreen can attract mosquitoes.
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Does This Apply to All Sunscreens?
If you are wondering if cream sunscreen or spray sunscreen may differ in their ability to repel mosquitoes, at this time there is not scientific evidence that any type of sunscreen helps repel mosquitoes.
Sunscreen and Mosquitoes
Let’s remember that no two sunscreens are the same. There may be a sunscreen-only product that does repel mosquitoes, but at this time, there is no research that suggests that to be the case. But we also need to remember that it is hard to cast a blanket statement over the entire sunscreen industry since every product is unique. Between ingredients, packaging, odor, and production processes, no two sunscreen products are exactly alike.
So, it may be a bit bold to declare all sunscreen products as an attractive scent to mosquitoes. The truth is this is likely not the case. But we do know scented lotions and perfumes can attract mosquitoes. If your sunscreen product has a scented odor, it does stand a chance to be a mosquito attractant.
It may be best for us to first discuss other things that may attract mosquitoes to your skin. If we are going to claim scented sunscreens might attract mosquitoes, we also need to recognize that other factors could be attracting mosquitoes to your skin besides the sunscreen.
What Attracts Mosquitoes?
Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite? Male mosquitoes are reserved strictly for reproduction purposes. What exactly attracts female mosquitoes to your skin? Let’s discuss:
Perfume
Many perfume and scented lotions can attract mosquitoes to your skin. If you are going to spend time outdoors, you might want to leave that scented lotion on the shelf for the night.
Blood
This one is obvious, right? Mosquitoes feed on your blood. But does your blood type matter? Studies have shown that yes, it does matter. Mosquitoes, based on that study, seem to prefer blood type O over blood type A.
Your Breath
Yes, your breath matters. Every time you exhale, you release a combination of chemicals and carbon dioxide into the air around you. This combination is unique to you. It’s made of lactic acid, uric acid, fatty acid, carbon dioxide, and other chemicals. This combination of chemicals and carbon dioxide is a mosquito attractant. It signals to mosquitoes that a human is in the area.
The more of this you release, the greater your chance of being noticed. According to an article published by WebMD, mosquitoes can smell you from up to 50 meters away. Larger people tend to exhale more carbon dioxide than smaller people. Also, if you are exercising or out of breath, you tend to breathe heavier.
Secretors
Not all humans are secretors, but a large percentage of us are (possibly up to 80 percent of the population has the secretor gene). These people carry antigens on the surface of their cells and secrete water-soluble blood group substances in their bodily fluids. Without diving deep into what this means, just know this: mosquitoes love secretors. If you fall into the 80% of us that are secretors, mosquitoes will target you.
Sweat
Sweat will attract mosquitoes. Its odor is a signal to nearby mosquitoes. If you are exercising at night, between your heavy breathes and your sweating, you will be quite attractive to mosquitoes. Plan ahead if you know this will be you.
Genetics
According to the same WebMD article we referenced above, scientists say that 85% of your susceptibility to mosquito bites is determined by your genetics. Your genetic makeup will determine certain things about you that you simply have no control over. Your blood type, the amount of carbon dioxide you emit, the secretor gene – some of these things are out of your control.
Clothing
Dark-colored clothing attracts mosquitoes more than light-colored clothing.
What if You Don’t Have Any Bug Spray? What Else Can You Use to Repel Mosquitoes?
If you are out of bug spray and were hoping sunscreen could do the trick and disappointed to find out that it can’t, here are some other around-the-house options that may help keep mosquitoes away.
Dryer Sheets
Take dryer sheets and tuck them in belt loops or in your pockets. Dryer sheets can help keep those pesky mosquitoes away. Please do not rub the dryer sheet into your skin as it can cause skin irritation.
Soapy Water
Mix water and soap in plastic cups and set them somewhere a few paces off from where you are. Soapy water can attract mosquitoes and may help keep them from bothering you. Just don’t stand right next to it.
Beer
Mosquitoes are attracted to the smell of beer. If you have beer, just like the soapy water idea above, pour some into a plastic cup and set it away from your group and let it attract mosquitoes away from your area.
Fan
Sit next to a fan and let it blow air across your body. This should help displace the nearby mosquitoes and keep you from swatting at your ears all night.
Fire
If you have a campfire or a backyard fireplace, the closer you get to the heat, the less mosquitoes will bother you. Extreme heat will kill mosquitoes. Obviously, there is only so close to the fire you yourself can get while remaining safe. Some people think smoke helps repel mosquitoes, but currently there is no scientific evidence to back that up.
Essential Oils
Some essential oils and bath oils may help repel mosquitoes.
Change Your Clothes
Are you wearing dark-colored clothing? As we discussed above, dark colors can attract mosquitoes. If you can, try changing into a white shirt and see if that helps reduce the amount of mosquitoes bothering you. Putting on clothes that cover more parts of your body might be a helpful idea also.
Sunscreen and Bug Spray Combined
If you were not aware, DEET (the main chemical in insect repellant spray) can be harmful to your body if not used as directed. You do not want to over-apply DEET. Here is the fact sheet on DEET presented by the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
If you are interested in using a single product that has both sunscreen and insect repellent (DEET), I would caution you that experts advise against it. Here is a picture of a bottle that I own that has been sitting in my garage unused. After I purchased it I became aware of the cautions against it.
The problem with these products is you need to re-apply sunscreen approximately once every two hours in the sun (or sooner if swimming/sweating). If you continue to re-apply this product once every two hours to get sunscreen protection, you will be applying an unhealthy amount of DEET to your skin. Likewise, if you avoid using too much DEET, you will then leave your skin exposed to the harmful UV rays of the sun because you will not be re-applying sunscreen every two hours.