Do Mosquito Patches Really Work? We Put Them to the Test

Do they do what they claim to do?

No matter how old you are, nobody is immune to those pesky mosquitoes, especially during the summertime. Whether outside by a campfire or in the backyard by the slip-n-slide, you or your kiddo have likely gotten a mosquito bite or three. If that sounds familiar, you might be looking for preventative measures to stop a bite before it happens or soothe an already itchy bite. Enter mosquito patches.

Most mosquito patches use well-known bug repellent ingredients to keep bugs like mosquitoes away—think citronella oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil, and geraniol. However, some mosquito patches also relieve bites once they’ve happened to minimize that annoying itch sensation.

As someone with sweet blood, I probably get 50 mosquito bites each year by simply going outside. I’m also the type of person who will scratch the heck out of them until they bleed (I know, it’s bad), but they are just so dang itchy sometimes. With that said, despite using insect repellent spray and bracelets, I’ve continued to get bit over the years, which is why I’ve decided to try patches this year.

I went on Amazon and purchased four different mosquito patches to see how they worked and whether or not they helped prevent these bothersome bites and soothe my already itchy ones.

BuzzPatch Mosquito Patch Stickers

To start my mosquito patch journey, I got my hands (or, shall I say, skin) on these colorful repellent stickers. The pack came with 60 vibrant stickers (10 sheets) with citronella oil and different funny faces to make them look more inviting. Although branded towards children, I had no problem using them as an adult since mosquitoes don’t discriminate.

As instructed on the packaging, I put these mosquito patches on my clothes before I went outside. I liked how I didn’t have to place it directly on my already sensitive skin, so extra brownie points were earned there. Plus, the instructions said they would last up to eight hours once applied, and sealed patches could be used for up to six months, so I appreciated their longevity.

Now onto the results: I didn’t get bit while wearing these stickers which was a bonus, but I did see countless mosquitoes flying around nearby. Essentially it got the job done, but I still had to swap some flies out of my general area. Personally, the scent of these stickers was a bit much for me as I’m sensitive to smell. If you’re looking at these for your kiddo, make sure they won’t be uncomfortable with the fragrance while in use.

Overall, for $15, I think this is a pretty solid choice for mosquito patches because they are comfortable, effective, and kid-friendly.

Cliganic Mosquito Repellent Stickers

The next time I braced myself to go in the great outdoors, I tried these essential oil-infused mosquito repellent patches. I placed a few on my clothes next to exposed areas of my body and let them do their magic.

I liked the circular shape of these patches and the fun images on each of them. They didn’t necessarily blend in with my clothes, but frankly, if it kept the bugs away, I didn’t care.

I found that peppermint oil and citronella oil did a great job of keeping the mosquitos away. As someone sensitive to smell, I appreciated how they were fragrant enough to be effective but not too much that I’d get nauseous.

With that said, this pack of 90 stickers costs $10, making it a steal. Adults can get 10-15 uses out of each pack and roughly 20-25 for children, so it’s worth the money.

Mosquito Guard 60-Pack Mosquito Repellent Stickers

This pack fell short of the rest with its overly plain and boring design. I mean, it was good when I had to wear them to a work engagement, but otherwise, they were pretty lifeless.

As advised on the packaging, I put these on my clothing near the exposed areas of my body. Unfortunately, I still got bit. Now, I can’t necessarily say the patch is at fault because, at the end of the day, there could be several reasons why I got bit. Although it was just two bites, it was still more than I got using the other two mosquito patches putting these towards the bottom of the list.

Plus, the smell of these stickers was very strong. I couldn’t keep it near my short sleeves because the smell was too pungent. Thinking back, I wish I placed these on my socks by my ankles to prevent bites down below.

Although they weren’t too pricey at $12, I was still disappointed with my purchase since they weren’t as effective as I hoped.

Quitch Bug Bite Itch Relief Patch

Unlike the mosquito patches above, these were designed to be placed directly on the bites after they occurred. For the sake of this story, it was good I got bit while wearing the other patches because I put these to the test.

I placed the patches directly over my bites and noticed a significant relief in the itch and discomfort in minutes. According to the packaging, the stickers apply pressure to reduce the appearance of swelling, while the aloe and witch hazel soothes and relieves discomfort.

Roughly after 10 minutes of putting on the patch, I didn’t have that uncontrollable urge to scratch my skin off. My favorite part was that they didn’t irritate my skin when putting them on and taking them off.

Overall Thoughts on Mosquito Patches

These mosquito patches were pretty effective in preventing bites and soothing pre-existing bites. I think they are easier than bug spray, which doesn’t tend to get the job done as well and can get super sticky.

With that said, it’s important to read each package for guidance on how many stickers to use as they vary based on age, height, and placement.

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All images courtesy of retailers.