Mosquito Repellents

dudara

Can anyone recommend a good way of deterring mosquitos? It turns out that I am really attractive to mosquitos and my reactions to them worsen over time. I've tried weaker DEET solutions, aloe vera, eucalyptus etc - They don't really help.

For an upcoming trip I've gotten a 50% DEET spray and I'll be taking vitamin B1 as I've heard that helps. Is there anything that a doctor can prescribe? Any tips appreciated!

mikedragon32

The Vitamin B suppliments really do work, 19 days in Cuba and only bitten once, on my last day, not bitten at all in Thailand!

This isn't really the place to ask about prescriptions. You should ask your doctor.

roundymac

If your going to some where that has malaria make sure your tablets from your doc and take them as per instruction

dudara

Thanks all - any more tips will be appreciated. I was in the Caribbean just before Christmas and my reactions to the bites worsened every day. This time I'm going to Portugal, but I still want to be prepared.

FYI - I do plan to schedule a visit to my doctor to discuss this, to see if there is anything that she would recommend.

solerina

Avon do a range called skin so soft and believe it or not it works as an insect repellant. I used it in the amazon jungle and it worked really well (apparently the British army buy it by the crate load) It is also much safer than Deet (foul smelling and can damage clothes). The range has showers gels etc, the one I used was a spray on oil moisturiser. My fiend in the states says Victorias secret does a strawberry moisturiser that also works (she says its hilarious because the local red neck farm boys buy it....)

dudara

Thanks solerina - I'm a bit sceptical because I've tried multiple products before and the non-DEET products never seem to work. But the fact that this is used by the British Army etc looks promising!

Might get a call in with my local Avon rep.

borderlinemeath

I always used to get bitten, but somebody told me to take garlic capsules for a month or so before going on holidays and it repels the mosquitos.

Apparantly whatever scent I normally excrete is attractive to mosquitos so I used to end up with bites particularly on my legs and arms and wherever else the little fookers can get me.

Anyhow the garlic is excreted through your pores and masks your natural scent and the mozzies can't stand garlic for some reason so they leave me alone.

I still bring a plug in for night time and a swatter with me in my suitcase but so far so good, I havent been bitten in a few years now.

Leper

If you are sitting out on a terrace place a lighted citrus candle by your feet and the mozzies and other insects will stay away from you.

dudara

Leper wrote: »

If you are sitting out on a terrace place a lighted citrus candle by your feet and the mozzies and other insects will stay away from you.

Afraid that I've never found that technique to work - sorry Citronella isn't particularly useful against those winged pests.

central park

TAKE VITAMIN B- COMPLEX FOR 3 WEEKS BEFORE YOU GO AWAY, IT'S BRILLIANT. ALSO I GOT AVON 'SKIN SO SOFT' ONLINE AND USE IT TOO.