Mosquitoes are attracted to a variety of factors, including carbon dioxide, body heat, and certain chemicals in sweat. One of these chemicals is carboxylic acid, which is produced in higher levels by people with smelly armpits.
A study published in the journal Current Biology found that mosquitoes were more likely to bite people who had higher levels of carboxylic acid in their sweat. The researchers believe that this is because carboxylic acid acts as a signal to mosquitoes that a person is a good source of blood.
If you have smelly armpits, there are a few things you can do to reduce your attractiveness to mosquitoes. First, try to keep your armpits clean and dry. You can also use an antiperspirant or deodorant that contains aluminum chloride, which can help to block the production of sweat. Finally, wear long sleeves and pants when you are outdoors, and use insect repellent.
Here are some additional tips to help you avoid mosquito bites:
- Avoid being outdoors during peak mosquito hours, which are typically dawn and dusk.
- Stay in air-conditioned or screened-in areas whenever possible.
- Drain standing water around your home, as this is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- Use mosquito netting when you sleep.
- Consider getting vaccinated against mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika and malaria.
By following these tips, you can help to protect yourself from mosquito bites and the diseases they can transmit.
Additional Information
- Carboxylic acid is a type of organic acid that is produced by the body as a byproduct of metabolism. It is found in sweat, urine, and other bodily fluids.
- Mosquitoes are attracted to carboxylic acid because it is a signal that a person is a good source of blood. Carboxylic acid can also help to attract mosquitoes by masking the smell of other chemicals that mosquitoes use to find hosts.
- There are a number of things you can do to reduce your attractiveness to mosquitoes, including keeping your armpits clean and dry, using an antiperspirant or deodorant that contains aluminum chloride, wearing long sleeves and pants when you are outdoors, and using insect repellent.
