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!

I didn't use to get bitten at all. Since having kids I get quite a few bites, it has to be said. I'd say there's definitely a hormonal element to it.

I get bitten a lot. Massive bites all over my body that swell up then ooze pus. I've tried everything mentioned above. I went through menopause years ago. I'm blood type O. Nothing works to stop them.

Another A+ magnet. You can buy a target that saps the bits with a low dose of electricity. It destroys the stuff that's making you itch. I also second antihistamines but that only reduces the amount I get bitten.

I'm on HRT and have had a miserable summer of bites. I figured it might be that. I am now spraying repellent on every time I go out.

Curiously I'm also craving marmite!!

Dsis is like this, the little fuckers just seem to find her irresistible! I think some people must appear inherently succulent to our insect brethren.

I use Boots Soltan aftersun with insect repellent in it, have used it for years now and it's the only thing that seems to work for me.

o- here and allergic to the bites too.

I manage it by starting anti histamines before I go away so it’s in my body. Then I overdose and take two or three 24hr ones when I’ve actually been bitten.

I use the Source lemon and tea-tree shower gel and use max strength jungle formula religiously. I’ve also bought the plug ins for my bedroom and wear mosquito bracelets. This tends to do the trick mainly.

The medication you buy abroad is far stronger than you can get in the uk so go to a local pharmacy and ask them for their strongest bite cream and strongest mosquito repellent if you haven’t got max strength jungle formula with you.

I've just ordered my dh some Skin so Soft🤞

I use the superdrug own brand insect repellent, works very well.

Years ago we went on holiday to Gran Canaria. Our fellow guests got bitten like crazy but we hardly suffered at all. The only thing that we could think of that made the difference was we were eating the local diet with lots of garlicky flavours whereas they were going out every day for a full English breakfast and mainly eating the same diet as they did at home.

Bollocks to the oestrogen theory - I am a mozzie magnet and my ex isn't (A- in my case, he's A+). 2 DSs, 1 takes after him and mozzies pretty much ignore, the other is like me and a mozzie buffet.

I cover myself in the strongest insect repellant I can get my hands on, and not just exposed skin but if the fabric is thin then under the fabric as well, and near any openings (under t-shirt hems etc). I also react badly to bites and swell up quite a bit, have to take antihistamines for days after.

It doesn't help with stopping you from being bitten but there was a recommendation on here for how to treat the bites that works better for me than any of the other methods. Heat a spoon in a mug of hot water. Press the convex side of the spoon bowl on the bite (don't burn yourself, you may need to touch-lift-touch-lift until it's the right temperature to hold against your skin). Hold it there for a few seconds to completely heat the bite area. Apparently this breaks up the protein chains that cause the allergic reaction. It instantly reduces the itchiness for me.

I swear by this stuff www.boots.com/incognito-insect-repellent-pump-spray-100ml-10262315?CAWELAID=620000410000542262&cm_mmc=bmm-buk-bing-ppc--PLAs--OTC-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_OTC&msclkid=424a5157a2c311f0d58233adb2c9119f&gclid=424a5157a2c311f0d58233adb2c9119f&gclsrc=3p.ds

I have mosquito proofed my house. We have mosquito nets at one window in each room and on the patio doors. We turned our front balcony (we live in an apartment) into a wintergarden with sliding glass across the front and then put a massive 3m by 3m Electric uppy downy mosquito net across the front so I can still feel like I’m sitting outside. No mosquitos and no bastard wasps. Cost a fortune but at least I can enjoy the summer without being eaten or stung.