Vitamin B Helps Prevent Insect Bites | Southern Independent Medical Practice (2024)

FAQs

Vitamin B Helps Prevent Insect Bites | Southern Independent Medical Practice? ›

Studies suggest that vitamin B is not an effective mosquito repellent.

B vitamins are essential to brain function, cell metabolism, and energy level. To maximize your intake of B vitamins, add a variety of non-processed foods to your diet, such as whole grains, beans, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins.

To help prevent bug bites, dermatologists recommend the following tips: Use insect repellent. To protect against mosquitoes, ticks and other bugs, use insect repellent that contains 20 to 30 percent DEET on exposed skin and clothing. Always follow the instructions on the repellent and reapply as directed.

Cover skin with clothing . Use insect repellent on exposed skin. Sleep under insecticide (permethrin) treated mosquito nets or in air-conditioned rooms.

B vitamins play a vital role in maintaining good health and well-being. As the building blocks of a healthy body, B vitamins have a direct impact on your energy levels, brain function, and cell metabolism. Vitamin B complex may help prevent infections and help support or promote: cell health.

When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.

Citronella and citrus oils like limonene are popular and well-known insect repellents. Studies suggest citronella helps repel mosquitoes, and it may also be effective against kissing bugs, fleas, aphids, mites, and flies.

More recently, a 2005 study showed there was no evidence it influenced the attraction of mosquitoes to human skin-derived chemicals from volunteers taking vitamin B supplements. There is simply no evidence taking vitamin B will offer any significant protection from mosquito bites.

What supplements prevent bug bites? ›

Many dermatologists now recommend that the skin can be made much less attractive to biting insects by taking Vitamin B supplements whilst at risk. So, we recommend that Vitamin B complex, 2 tablets twice a day, or Vitamin B-1, 100 mg daily, is a good way of helping to reduce the risk of being bitten.

Dr. Allen says some of the tried-and-true home remedies for treating mosquito bites work well. Calamine lotion, over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream and even a cold compress can ease the itch. "It's going to sooth and kind of calm down that intense burning and inflammation that they're feeling in their skin," says Dr.

Mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, citronella, clove, peppermint, basil, cedarwood, eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass and rosemary. They also hate smells such as smoke, for further insight, see our exploration on, does smoke keep mosquitoes away?

Apply to the affected skin calamine lotion, baking soda paste, or 0.5% or 1% hydrocortisone cream. Do this several times a day until your symptoms go away. Take an anti-itch medicine by mouth to reduce itching.

Differences Between B12 and B Complex

B12 is a single vitamin, while B Complex is a blend of several B Vitamins—including B12. Though you can take B12 separately (and many plant-based people do), it's best to take them together, as the vitamins work synergistically to support energy, metabolism, and DNA/RNA synthesis.

Caution is advised if you have diabetes, alcohol dependence, or liver disease. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about using this product safely. Before having surgery, tell your doctor or dentist about all the products you use (including prescription drugs, nonprescription drugs, and herbal products).

Taking too much vitamin B can affect your blood pressure. Too much vitamin B1 (thiamine) might raise it (hypertension), while too much vitamin B2 (riboflavin) might lower it (hypotension). Both can have a lasting effect on your heart and blood vessels.