There is very little scientific evidence that mosquito repellent stickers or patches prevent bites. Most studies show they don't release enough of the active ingredient to deter mosquitoes to a meaningful degree.
Mosquito stickers are marketed seemingly everywhere. They are the small adhesive patches that you can stick on your clothing or skin that claim to keep mosquitoes away for hours. The idea is appealing, especially where kids are concerned. The alternative is sprays or lotions, both of which are harder to deal with. But the science doesn’t support stickers.
Repellent stickers typically contain a small amount of a plant-based ingredient like citronella or lemon eucalyptus oil. The idea behind the stickers is the ingredient will be slowly released from the sticker, thus creating a protective zone around the wearer. But in practice, the amount of active ingredient being released by a sticker is small and localized, making it insufficient for stopping mosquitoes.
The New England Journal of Medicine published a study testing various mosquito repellent products, and wearable products performed poorly compared to topical repellents. The concentration of active ingredient drops off sharply just inches from the sticker, which means mosquitoes can easily bite areas that aren't in the immediate vicinity of the patch.
Stickers can feel like a safer, easier option for children. But going outside with a false sense of protection may be worse than using no product at all, because the temptation will be to stay outside longer and take fewer precautions. For personal protection, topical repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus are still the most reliable options.
If you're tired of dealing with mosquitoes in your Northern Westchester yard, Mosquito Squad of Northern Westchester can help. Mosquito Squad treats the resting and breeding areas on your property, reducing the mosquito population by up to 90% for 21 days at a time. That means fewer mosquitoes to begin with, so you're not relying on stickers or patches to do a job they can't.
