Well, for one, they drive mosquitoes away from you. But this isn’t the only advantage. Mosquito repellents protect you from bites that have been shown to cut the skin, therefore allowing bacteria from outside to get into the body. Mosquitoes spread a variety of sicknesses such as malaria, yellow fever, Zika virus, West Nile virus, chikungunya virus, and dengue. These, along with the uncomfortable feeling of being bitten and the scratching that results, should be reason enough to get a repellent as soon as possible. Even if you’ve never been bitten, don’t take chances. There’s a first time for everything.