How do I become less attractive?

[Littleredboat]

... to INSECTS, that is

It’s been summer for all of ten minutes and I’m covered in insect bites that always swell up. I could quite cheerfully hack my right leg and arm off right now they’re so itchy.

Please help meeeee??

I was on holiday in Sicily a few weeks ago and got bitten 12 times on my leg. They itched like hell and I was naive enough to think it wasn't going to be hot enough in April to bring the mosquitoes out (I know, I was seriously ill-prepared). Ended up going to a chemist and getting antihistamines to reduce the itching and cream as well. Cost me 23 euros but the tablets were amazing - far better than stuff like Piriton I've used in the past. I did have some Boots Repel with me which I think worked (but was like shutting the stable door once the horse had bolted). It also stunk to high heaven and we coughed like mad after I'd sprayed it.

When I came back, a friend recommended the Avon Skin So Soft. I've used it this weekend in the hot weather and so far so good.

Sorry but rubbish re the O negative thing. I am A positive, get bitten to buggery, get huge swelling weeping bites and am scarred fromgouging my skin with my fingernails

We often stay somewhere with lots of midges and a swimming pool.

They seem to keep more of a respectful distance when we are chlorinated.

Smidge so far is also looking promising
www.smidgeup.com

Vitamin B works for me. Mozzies etc would always fly past everyone else to bite me and now they might land on my skin, walk around for a bit then fly away without biting. Unfortunately I now have several chronic illnesses thanks to mozzies and these will 'never' improve. Vit B taints your body fluids and in this case you are targeting perspiration, this change is generally not noticed by humans....however, it's non-selective and you will find your urine becomes quite dark and has a slightly, stronger odour. Only mention this because if you aren't aware (as I wasn't) it's natural to go into panic mode thinking you have some terrible illness affecting kidneys etc.

On the upside, Vit B gives you more energy. Btw, I'm O+ so the O- theory doesn't hold. Marmite contains 'some' Vit B but taking a Vit B capsule will result in a higher dose...you'd have to eat a whole jar of Marmite several times a day and I couldn't think of anything worse!!! Hate the stuff!!

Before taking anything read the label and if you plan to take a capsule, do so at breakfast because you don't want an energy hit (even a slight one) at night or you won't get much sleep. I take mine at breakfast each day. HTH

Definitely getting some vitamin B!

i know it sounds a bit mingin...but..the smell wears off supetr quickly(and theres some sorta relief from current stings(antiseptic i think)..anyhow...white\clear distilled vinegar is good.avoid perfume.poundland does wee wrist bands that have a slo-mo citronella thing...wear a scouser muzzie?actually..perhaps drinkingg diluted apple cyder vinegar works(it does for dogs..or..something i think...or watered down jam in a kids water gun and randomly shoot at those youd like to see swarmed..ha!

I was doing some gardening this evening, got a bit carried away, kept at it until about 8:45 I now have 22 gnat bites 😫

On holiday in Italy a few years ago and we were all ravaged by mosquitoes except the one smoker who wasn’t bitten AT ALL. Also, a memorable weekend camping in Oxfordshire and I was bitten in places I had never been bitten before or since. We’re talking serious underwear invasion. Not even deet deterred them. Once in France camping we were bitten badly so the French pharmacist gave us antihistamine but it wasn’t the non-drowsy type. We walked round a French market like absolute zombies, we were properly out of it. So shouldn’t have driven there that day! Would love not to be bitten!

I too get badly bitten and the bites swell badly and are terribly itchy. I haven"t found anything to prevent the buggers biting me but I can recommend something to cope with the itching and swelling.
I use Deep Relief gel, in a purple tube, an ibuprofen gel mixed with levomenthol - the ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory for the swelling and the levomenthol cools it down, taking the heat and itching out. Works for me, anyway. You just need a little dab on each bite.

Sit next to someone bigger than you! Bigger people breathe more (apparently the buggers are attracted to carbon dioxide among other things) and bigger people sweat more. I've also read that avoiding drinking alcohol outside helps- the sugars react on our breath to attract them as well.

I never really get bitten at all and I'm AB positive.

There was a buzzing critter in my bedroom last night. I grabbed my phone and switched it on, I spied the little bugger in the light. I swung my phone like a lightsaber and clobbered it. I didn't hear it any more.

I also read that vitamin b helps.

to INSECTS, that is

Damn. Was about to mansplain my incredible wealth of knowledge and experience of making oneself repulsive to the opposite sex.

Gin and tonic! I used to suffer really badly until I started drinking gin. Admittedly it’s the tonic that does it but where’s the fun in that?

It needs to be the Vitamin B Co. Strong tablets. Ordinary Vit B doesn't work . . . on me anyway. I buy them on t'internet and start taking them when the weather warms up. They certainly deter midges but I'm not convinced they put off mosquitoes unfortunately. Horse flies hunt by sight so nothing works on them but they go for dark clothing so that's worth bearing in mind!

I've tried lots of things. DEET is only solution for me. Am AB+ blood type who swells up at everything but mozzies.

Make garlic spray your new perfume. Although it doesn't work in the garden for lily beetles. Gits.

Oh yes, DD takes Jungle Spray on school trips. She's allergic to insects.

Citronella, lavender & eculyptus essential oils help if sprayed on. I ran out once and used vicks as an alternative and it worked a treat. I very rarely get bitten by insects but my brother gets covered in them might be because he's a hot headed individual

Also, a memorable weekend camping in Oxfordshire and I was bitten in places I had never been bitten before or since. We’re talking serious underwear invasion.

These would be chigger bites, also known as harvest mites or berry bugs. They are very, very small and climb up your limbs until they get stopped by a cuff or knicker edge or similar, and then start eating away at you. They particularly like the soft skin of crotches and groins!

The bites can itch for weeks afterwards. Bloody horrible things. Mozzie bites are nowt by comparison.

It's actually in your DNA as to how attractive you are to insects. They've found some of the genes that affect it.

I don't get bitten by midges at all. I've actually watched them walk around on my hand and not even try to bite at the same time as my husband has been covered in bites. However I do get bitten by mosquitoes and react quite badly.

Citrusy perfume, deet and smidge. Avon sss is bollocks since they changed the formula

I also tend to get eaten alive, particularly by mosquitos. I spent a year in country with a very hot and humid summer = lots of mozzies. One of the things I found is that after being bitten, if you put on a bite cream with active ingredient Mepyramine maleate 2% w/w, that I wouldn't have any reaction to the bite. Unfortunately, you have to put the cream on VERY soon after being bitten. Within a few minutes. I got very good at recognising when I'd just been bitten but I think it's harder with different types of mosquitoes.

The other thing I do is wear trousers, linen or harem type to at least save my legs. DEET obviously does work but not the most pleasant. They definitely don't like cigarette smoke but I don't think I'd go as far as taking that up!

Dont drink alcohol