Insect repellant recommendation

[missminimum]

Every summer I get multiple insect bites, they are very itchy for a few days after and can get very red. I have tried Jungle Formula, Boots own insect repellant plus Avon Skin So Soft, but nothing seems to prevent getting bitten. It is getting me down. Can anyone advise a better way to stop being bitten please?

Lavender essential oil?

The only sure way is long sleeves and trousers.

Mossie milk, the best we've found. Look it up on Chemist Direct

Thanks for your suggestions, I will try anything!

I find Smidge pretty good against midge bites, plus long sleeves, trousers tucked into socks, t-shirt tucked in and a head net when they are really bad!

Depends where you are and what's bitting.

For uk midges - smidge is not bad.

If you are in a malaria zone what you want is
Pyramid Trek 50 Insect/Mosquito Repellent Deet
but be warned it is powerful stuff - as in it will take off nail varnish and if you get it on coloured clothing it can create a tie die effect of weird bleached patches.

If you use it carefully though it's wonderful stuff, I never had a single bite in a malarial zone.

Smidge or evil stuff that's >=50% DEET!

Smidge, very good from personal experience. I do use Avon Skin so Soft as a normal body moisturiser all year round though.

I camp a lot and burn incense sticks. If you're sat in one place they're a cheap idea. I use them often at home and when I'm eating/cooking in the garden.

Tiger balm is brilliant to take the itch out of a bite.

I like Pyramid Trek sensitive. It's very effective. The active ingredient is saltidin so it's DEET free. I have used it here and also in Florida/Caribbean.

My mother is prond to getting bitten and says you've got to get something that contains Deet.

On holidays I seem to be the one who always gets bitten. I seem to react quite badly and get big swellings and redness that take a couple of weeks to go away.

What about these bands that people wear? Anyone any success with those? I have sentive skin and find the spray repellants irritating sometimes.

https://victoriahealth.com/mrs-whites-unstung-hero-mosquito-repellent/?mccid=a3ef6eadc7&mcc_eid=f3a9c259cc is meant to be good but I take garlic capsules and vitamin b6 for a few months before a holiday and that helps massively too.

I'm in Maine, our state bird is the mosquito :-)

I've found repellents containing Picardin to be just as effective as Deet, and much less smelly and unpleasant.

Otherwise anything with at least 15% Deet. We use Off Smooth & Dry - don't know if you can get that in the UK.

You need Off! But I don't believe it's sold in UK.

I'm in the Canadian Rockies and the mozzies here are deterred by Deep Woods Off for about an hour after application. It's 25% DEET and I'm loathe to reapply it that often. We don't (yet!) have anything too nasty here that the mosquitoes can transmit (although West Nile is getting closer) so until the mozzie bites have the potential to be harmful, I just make sure to take an antihistamine tablet before spending time outdoors. Obviously that's not an option for areas where the bites can be dangerous, but at least I don't react to them now.

Sorry, that's misleading. I do still use the 25% DEET repellent, but I only apply it once, at the start of the hike or whatever.

Thank you for all your suggestions, I have ordered some. I am taking Vitamin B12 and garlic capsules already, but will carry on

DEET is great at stopping bites, but harsh. It never did anything bad to my skin though.