Mosquitoes!!!! What did you find help

[hellohellooo]

Hello all

Aibu to say I have never found anything decent

What helped?

We are off to a euro.camp trip in Italy in two weeks and I don't know what to try next

Many thanks

Deet.
Woo things like bracelets, eating marmite etc just don't work for people who are very attractive to mosquitoes.

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/insect-repellents/article/best-mosquito-repellents-amqpf6I6gklR

Which report

I always get bitten and they usually go dodgy!
what I now do wherever we go on holiday is visit a pharmacy the first day and get whatever repellent they suggest and their bite cream. Worked a treat when we went to Sorrento a couple of weeks ago and in Thailand last year.

Boots soltan aftersun with insect repellant

worn it religiously for years and rarely get bitten

I take antihistamine for a couple of weeks before I travel. Burn citronella candles outside the accommodation. Plug ins in every room. Cream from local pharmacy.

https://theconversation.com/do-these-seven-things-really-stop-mosquitoes-biting-you-208080

Oral anti-histamine
Deet spray and wipes
Rigorous over bedroom window and light
Citronella candles on outside table

If they do get me the oral ant-histamine stops anything nasty. I react badly.

Once you have the bite - holding a hot teaspoon on it for as long as you can stand it - really works!

Thank you so so much

I am extremely attractive to mosquitos and react badly. Two pronged approach

• minimising bites - religious application of deet, covering up in loose clothing
• Minimising reactions - take antihistamines throughout, have creams etc on standby. The anti histamines make a good difference

My dad swears by arnica, randomly! We bought some of the repellent bracelets for our recent holiday and the only day I got bitten was sthe day I forgot to put one on.

Jungle Formula.
You need to put it on before the sun goes down.

So so helpful !!!!

We wear the citronella bracelets on every extremity. And copiously use Autan (not sure if that’s available in the UK, though)

These are just fab

Anti histamines daily to prevent a massive reaction, then I just let the buggers bite me

I react really badly to mosquito bites. This year someone advised me to take an oral antihistamine throughout the summer. Game changer! Still get bitten but reduced the reaction and very significantly less itchy. Highly recommend.

Deet products are e the only thing

My god they are bloody pests aren't they !!!

Research shows you should use a repellent containing one (or more) of the four active ingredients that are scientifically proven to repel mosquitos: DEET, IR3535, icaridin or PMD. In the Which? report that I lifted this from all the repellants not containing any of these performed badly.

Whether it's repellent patches, B vitamins or even being told to eat yeast extract or garlic to keep bugs away, there are plenty of myths about what can protect you from mosquitos and other biting bugs, as well as unusual product solutions for those who don't like applying repellent on their skin.
But many of these don't actually work. The following don't have strong evidence for their effectiveness: herbal extract bracelets, sonic mosquito repellants, Avon Skin So Soft and citronella.

They may work for some people, but these are people who aren't that attractive to mosquitoes. Hence my earlier comment that if you really are an all you can eat walking buffet to biting insects (like DH) then avoid all the woo suggestions because they just won't work.

Hot, not one you've put in boiling water then waved about a bit to cool it! Mind you, me hopping about and swearing like a docker after I'd done the boiling water thing certainly took my mind off of the bite! Hot water, hot, not boiling water straight out of the kettle, you're welcome.

We have one of these. It's excellent and takes the itch right out. Ive rarely had to use it more than once on a bite. I assume it's similar to the hot spoon method.

amzn.eu/d/cu9VmAE

Deet isn't the healthiest stuff if you get it on your hands/ breathe it in, so the roll on version is great as its "hands free" and you can top it up even if you have nowhere to wash hands. Its also quite precise in terms of application.

I was being bitten to death in the caribbean (40 plus bites on body). Bought Jungle Spray with deet and had 0 bites from the moment I applied it.

I’m not normally a massive believer in natural remedies just for the sake of it, but Alfresco really works for us and smells nice too www.alfrescoshop.com
I’d still consider Deet where there’s a chance of catching nasty mosquito-bourne diseases though. I also recommend carrying oral anti-histamine and a really good after-bite cream from your pharmacist just in case