Are your prone to more mosquito bites than your friends and family? It turns out that approximately 20% of the population are getting bitten more than the rest on a consistent basis. Research shows that there is a different factor of attraction in certain blood types, such as Type 0 seems to get bitten more often, while type A is bitten less often and Type B is somewhere in between.

Mosquitoes are also attracted to sweat and lactic acid, ammonia, carboxylic acid, and carbon dioxide. Bacteria and microbes found on your skin create your body odor and the more you emit, the more attractive you are to them. Larger people naturally emit more carbon dioxide than smaller people, which is one of the reasons adults seem to be bitten more often than children.

Most people turn to store bought insect repellents to keep mosquitoes away, but often these insect repellents contain a chemical called DEET, which should only be used with caution. Heavy exposure to DEET has been linked to memory loss, headaches, fatigue and is particularly toxic to children.

Fortunately, there are several natural remedies that can help in preventing mosquito stings and are easily available. A few drops of citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus make a perfect remedy.

Preventing mosquito bites also eliminates the possibility of contracting several mosquito-borne diseases, such as malaria, encephalitis, Yellow fever and West Nile virus. Since there is no cure – prevention is the best defense. One of the best practices is to spend minimum time outdoors between dusk and dawn and to wear loose fitting clothing keeping skin exposure to a minimum and to eliminate any standing water around the house, since mosquitoes need water to breed.