Bite avoidance

Outsmart the mosquito: your complete bite-protection guide

Q: What strength of DEET do I need?

For travel to malaria, dengue or Zika areas, 40–50% DEET is recommended — it gives long-lasting protection. For everyday use at home, a lower strength is usually fine. We stock 40–50% DEET and will advise what suits your trip.

Q: Does a higher percentage of DEET mean it's stronger?

Not exactly. A higher percentage means it lasts longer, not that it repels more powerfully. Around 20% protects for a few hours and 50% protects for longer, but going above 50% adds very little extra time — which is why 50% is the usual top recommendation.

Q: Do mosquito repellent bands actually work?

Bands like Parakito give useful, wearable, DEET-free protection for everyday and lower-risk situations — gardens, festivals, school trips and short breaks. In malaria, dengue or Zika areas they're a helpful extra layer, but they should be used alongside DEET on exposed skin, not instead of it.

Q: Are Parakito bands enough on their own in a malaria area?

No. In a malaria, dengue or Zika region you still need 40–50% DEET on exposed skin, suitable clothing and a treated net, plus any antimalarial tablets we prescribe. A band is a good additional layer, not a standalone solution.

Q: Is DEET safe for children and in pregnancy?

Used as directed, DEET is considered safe. NHS guidance allows DEET up to 50% for children from two months of age and during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Apply it for young children yourself rather than letting them handle it, and avoid their hands and faces.

Q: Should I apply sunscreen or DEET first?

Sunscreen first. Apply and let your sunscreen absorb, then put DEET on top. Because DEET can slightly reduce sunscreen's effectiveness, reapply your sunscreen a little more often.

Q: How often should I reapply repellent?

Follow the time on the product label, and reapply sooner if you've been sweating heavily, swimming or towelling off. In hot, humid climates you'll typically need to top up more often.

Q: How far away can a mosquito detect me?

Mosquitoes can pick up the carbon dioxide in your breath from up to around 50 metres away, then home in using your body heat, moisture and skin odours as they get closer.

Q: Why do mosquitoes bite me more than other people?

It comes down to chemistry. The amount of CO₂ you exhale, your body heat, how much you sweat, the bacteria on your skin, and even pregnancy or recent exercise all affect how attractive you are. It's not your imagination — some people really are bitten more.

Mosquitoes spread malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya and more — and not getting bitten is your first line of defence. Here's how they hunt you down, how DEET and repellent bands really work, and the kit we stock to keep them off you.

40–50% DEET

Parakito bands

Parakito sprays

Malaria zones

Dengue & Zika

Book a travel consultation Malaria advice

Why it matters

The world's deadliest animal is smaller than your fingertip

Mosquitoes kill more people every year than any other creature on earth, spreading malaria, dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. For several of these — including dengue and Zika — there is no routine traveller's vaccine, which means avoiding bites isn't just sensible, it's your main protection.

Bite avoidance works hand-in-hand with your travel vaccines and antimalarial tablets. Get it right and you dramatically cut your risk; get it wrong and even the best tablets can be undermined. The good news: a few simple habits and the right products make it easy.

Layer up

The best protection comes in layers

No single product is 100% — so combine them. Cover up with loose, long clothing; apply 40–50% DEET to exposed skin; wear a Parakito band for extra cover; and sleep under an insecticide-treated net or in screened, air-conditioned rooms in higher-risk areas.

We'll tailor all of this to your exact destination at your travel consultation — and sort any antimalarial tablets and vaccines you need at the same time.

Book a travel consultation

Know your enemy

How mosquitoes find you from metres away

Mosquitoes barely rely on sight — they smell and sense you. Understanding their cues explains why repellents work, and why some people get eaten alive while others are left alone.

Carbon dioxide from your breath is the first lure — a plume they can pick up from up to around 50 metres away
Body heat and the moisture around your skin guide them in for the final approach
Sweat chemistry — lactic acid, ammonia and the odours made by your skin bacteria — makes some people far more attractive than others
Dark clothing and movement make you easier to lock onto visually up close
Pregnancy, exercise, and even a beer can genuinely make you more of a target

The gold standard

What is DEET and how does it work?

DEET (di-ethyl-toluamide) is the most studied and most effective insect repellent in the world, recommended by the NHS and TravelHealthPro for travel to malaria and dengue areas.

DEET doesn't kill mosquitoes — it makes you 'disappear', jamming the receptors they use to detect the CO₂ and sweat cues that lead them to you
Strength means duration, not power: around 20% DEET protects for a few hours, while 50% lasts longer. Going above 50% adds very little extra time
We stock 40–50% DEET — the strength recommended for malaria and other high-risk regions
It's safe and effective when used as directed — including, in lower strengths, for young children and in pregnancy

Travel health advice illustration with a mosquito

Do it right

How to apply DEET the right way

Getting the application right matters as much as the strength — a missed patch of skin is an open invitation.

Apply an even layer to all exposed skin, not just a quick dab
Put sunscreen on first, let it absorb, then apply DEET on top
Reapply as directed on the label — and sooner if you've been sweating or swimming
Keep it away from eyes, lips and broken skin, and don't spray under clothing
For children, spray onto your own hands first and smooth it on; follow the age guidance on the product
Wash it off once you're indoors and protected for the night

Applying insect repellent to skin outdoors

Wearable protection

Repellent bands & sprays: where they fit

Not a fan of spraying? Parakito uses a slow-release blend of plant essential oils for DEET-free, wearable protection — a brilliant everyday option that complements DEET in higher-risk areas.

Parakito bands hold a refillable pellet that slowly releases a blend of plant essential oils — no DEET, no spraying, just wear it
Water-resistant and refillable, they're popular for children, gardens, festivals, BBQs and shorter, lower-risk trips
Parakito roll-ons and sprays give targeted, DEET-free cover when you want a gentler option or have sensitive skin
Important: in malaria, dengue or Zika areas, bands are a helpful extra layer — not a replacement for 40–50% DEET on exposed skin

Traveller packing repellent and a travel health kit

In the clinic

What we stock at Altrincham Travel Clinic

Pick these up at your appointment or pop in — our team will help you choose the right combination for your trip.

Parakito Mosquito Bands

Refillable, water-resistant wristbands with slow-release plant essential-oil pellets. DEET-free and brilliant for children and everyday wear — no spraying needed.

Parakito Sprays & Roll-ons

DEET-free, plant-based repellent for targeted protection. A gentler option that's handy for sensitive skin and shorter, lower-risk trips.

40–50% DEET Spray

The strength recommended for malaria and high-risk regions, giving long-lasting cover on exposed skin. Our go-to for serious bite avoidance.

FAQ

Mosquito repellent FAQs

What strength of DEET do I need?

Does a higher percentage of DEET mean it's stronger?

Do mosquito repellent bands actually work?

Are Parakito bands enough on their own in a malaria area?

Is DEET safe for children and in pregnancy?

Should I apply sunscreen or DEET first?

How often should I reapply repellent?

How far away can a mosquito detect me?

Why do mosquitoes bite me more than other people?

Travelling somewhere with mosquitoes?

Book a travel health consultation and we'll cover your vaccines, antimalarial tablets and the right bite-protection kit for your trip — DEET, Parakito bands and sprays all available in clinic.

Book an appointment Contact the clinic