Is there a way to make youself less of a target for flying bitey insects?

[A580Hojas]

My whole life I've attracted these fuckers like bees round a honey pot.

I've had holidays blighted from the age of since when I can remember right up to present day (late 50s) in the UK and Europe, often needing medical assistance.

They find me, bite me, I swell up, blister, itch, go septic. What on earth can I do to prevent it? Family get the odd bite - but they literally seek me out and feast on me!

Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil Body Spray

I was going to say the same as Beth

Menopause. I used to be eaten alive, I am invisible to them now.

Drink lemon juice. I don't understand how or why it works but it does. Someone told us about it when we were in Turkey and DD was being eaten alive. She's allergic so was covered in hives.

Smidge spray.
As a lifelong midge magnet, it's the only stuff that works for me.

Start taking anti histamine tablets before you venture out/go on holiday then the anti histamine is in your body to combat the effects.

As for stopping you being, 'sweet meat' sorry, don't know.

Smidge is amazing stuff. Just be careful when applying it to your face. I once accidentally got some on my lip and it went totally numb.

Start taking antihistamine a few weeks before you go away. Once on holiday use the serious Deet bug repellent

Third the avon skin so soft

Went to scotland at midge time of year (never again!) my DH didn't use anything and got covered in bites, I used skin so soft and got about 3 in total across the 2 weeks

Normally I am an insect smorgasboard so it must be good stuff!

Jungle Formula is the only thing that works for me.

Start taking b vitamins a week before you go; take antihistamines all the time that you're away (i had to use prescription strength antihistamines on hols for years) and ask your doctor for prednisone to take when you're away as well - stops the big reaction/swelling/ itching.

Although what really worked for me was to stop taking hormonal contraception. I don't seem to get bites at all any more. Mad isn't it?

Fourthing the Skin so Soft, I even bought some for my Dad from whom I inherited my insect irresistibility 🦗🪳

Yes. This protected me from Scottish midges last week when others around me were getting bitten.

Sit next to my dh. He is delicious. I never get bitten when he's with me. If anyone tells him about insect repellent then I shall be most put out.

The SAS and the Scottish police use Skin So Soft.

I know there is a theory that A+ blood type attracts them most and a few years ago I counted 64 different bites at once. I never know they've done it for hours. Do think body chemistry can change though, I've only had a few in recent years (and I don't think I've changed blood type )

Not much comfort, but try the B vitamins/antihistamines and stock up on Germolene cream . It has an anaesthetic and at least prevents infection.

Im o+ and they love biting me and my o- partner rarely gets bitten. Dunno theyve always bitten me even if i use skin so soft or jungle formula or citronella candles. Just part of my life i think. And i eat copious amounts of garlic too!

Eat marmite

I'd never heard that about the blood type being attractive to them. I'm A+ and get loads of bites and DH is A- and gets very few. I had always assumed it was to do with skin temperature, I'm always very hot to the touch and DH is always cool.

We have mosquito nets above the beds at home. It makes a massive difference

I am am insect magnet and also allergic to mossie bites. I’ve been totally covered up and bitten on my face at night. Also had full sleeves and trousers and bitten on loo trips or on my wrist, literally any exposed skin.

I’ve travelled for long and short periods all over south east Asia, India and the Caribbean where they are nasty mossies and biters. Only 2 things work for me - strong deet and eating chillis🌶 Read about it.

Coconut oil is an insect repellent, so toiletries containing coconut might help to put them off. Shower gel, shampoo and the like. Maybe that's why sunscreen often smells of coconut.

I’ve tried absolutely everything as I am similarly inflicted and the Avon stuff doesn’t work, nothing works except for the hardcore DEET spray. Smells awful and melts my toenail varnish when I spray it on my feet 😳but it stops me getting bitten.

Shamelessly place marking as this also happens to me!

I read this years ago and just had another look. Apparently they (scientists) now think type O is most likely to get bitten. I don't think anyone told the bitey flyey things this, sadly.

Think there's definitely a body chemistry thing going on, somehow, interested to hear someone say it was better after menopause because thinking about it, I have been bitten much less.

A mosquito apparently prefers females to males and pregnant women to non- pregnant. It’s the oestrogen they like.
Are you on HRT? It’s like a magnet for them.