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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask how I stop myself being eaten alive?

55 replies

LuluBellaBlue · 08/12/2018 12:37

Visiting a tropical location for NYE (yes a stealth boast Grin )
I am usually eaten alive!
Please help with your tried and tested recommendations!
Does Vit B or garlic capsules work?
Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar?
Any natural, chemical free sprays / sun cream recommendations?
Thank you Xmas Smile

OP posts:
Moominfan · 08/12/2018 12:38

Lots of garlic and avon woodland spray

CrispbuttyNo1 · 08/12/2018 12:39

Eat loads of garlic and use jungle spray

Moominfan · 08/12/2018 12:39

Insects as well as human find it rupungent

MrsTerryPratcett · 08/12/2018 12:42

Marmite

loveka · 08/12/2018 12:43

Incognito works for me. Nothing else natural ever has though! I get it from Holland and Barrett.

Also Boots Light Fragrance range in the blue packaging. It isn't natural though.

Always use a plug in at night. Again, not natural but works.

Believe me, I have tried everything!

drspouse · 08/12/2018 12:44

Share a room/bed with someone they like better.

MatildaTheCat · 08/12/2018 12:46

Take some beautiful younger people with you. Seriously, I normally get eaten alive but when we went on holiday with several young, gorgeous relatives I was left alone and they were shredded.

Or use spray. Apply to pulse points rather than all over.

BaronessBomburst · 08/12/2018 12:49

Tea tree soap.
Works on DH as well.

ApocalypseNowt · 08/12/2018 12:49

Start a marmite and garlic based diet immediately.

drspouse · 08/12/2018 12:49

Oh and don't use "natural sun screen" unless it actually has SPF.

KitschBitch · 08/12/2018 12:49

Yes to the Avon Skin so Soft spray - no bitea at all whilst on holiday this year, apparently this stuff is also used by soldiers so must work.

BarbarianMum · 08/12/2018 12:51

Is there malaria where you are going? If so use neat DEET, long sleeves and a mosquito net (depending on your accomodation). No amount of lavender water or marmite or clove oil or whatever is actually going to help you.

Harrykanesrightsock · 08/12/2018 12:55

Avon skin so soft. I think the army use it.

Rosalise · 08/12/2018 12:55

DD lived in a tropical place for a couple of years and they swore by "mosquito coils." Google them. They claim to be all natural and Amazon sell them. You can get a container to burn them in but iirc they just used a saucer.

Lizzie48 · 08/12/2018 12:55

Find a good insect repellent, and also anthisan for when you do get bitten, it works very rapidly.

Also bear in mind, depending on where you're going, you may need to have vaccinations or anti-malarial prophylactics. This can easily be googled online. If there is malaria there, mosquito nets are needed. (I forgot mine on one trip into a village whilst I was working in Africa and I ended up with malaria, it's really not pleasant.)

IAmcuriousyellow · 08/12/2018 12:57

Marmite/brewers yeast/VitB complex, before you go as well as while youre there.

Socksey · 08/12/2018 12:58

The coils are the best things....
Also wear long sleeves and brimmed hats as both of these deter the biters...

CowesTwo · 08/12/2018 12:58

Skin So Soft by Avon, and Jungle Formula (with the maximum DEET).

DrWhy · 08/12/2018 13:01

Sorry, having lived somewhere tropical for a while, DEET - it’s vile stuff but the only thing that actually worked for me. Plus cover up in the evenings with long sleeves and long skirts or trousers. If you get bitten I find taking an antihistamine immediately can help reduce the reaction.

FrancisCrawford · 08/12/2018 13:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Dontknowwhatimdoing · 08/12/2018 13:18

Deet, keep arms and legs covered around dusk, and take antihistamines daily, from a few days before you go. I found the last one made a massive difference, as the bites don't react nearly as much, so you barely notice them.

Steamedbadger · 08/12/2018 13:40

Alfresco works for me, although I still tend to rely on DEET if there is a chance of malaria, dengue fever or other nasty mosquito-borne diseases. But I've never been bitten when I've been wearing this and it actually smells nice www.alfrescoshop.com/about-alfresco/

showmeshoyu · 08/12/2018 14:34

B12 is amazing for keeping them away in my experience. I'd loaded up before going to Egypt but left my tablets in England. No bites at all for the first week but the others got eaten alive. Then, as I hadn't been taking it, the second week I was bitten so many times my legs looked like they were polka dot print.

AntMoon · 08/12/2018 14:41

I'm very allergic to mosquitos and have travelled extensively around Asia and tried all the above. Any tales of 'try garlic, lavender, vitamin X etc etc' just DO NOT work.

The only way to avoid being bitten is protective clothing - long trousers, long sleeve shirt, and DEET slathered all over any exposed skin. Sleep in a mosquito net at night and avoid being out at dawn or dusk.

Take anti histamines.

Good luck!

BrigitsBigKnickers · 08/12/2018 14:44

Take Brewers yeast tablets. It emits something through the pores that repels insects