Mosquito repellent that works?

[rollonthesummer]

I have tried so many things and still get eaten alive! The bites swell up to gigantic proportions and are hot, pink and uncomfortable-usually controllable by Piriton, but I have been given antibiotics when they've got really bad and they've also turned into cellulitis which was horrible.

The best thing is this link but even that isn't brilliant.

Can anyone recommend anything that they've found works? The Avon So Soft stuff doesn't do anything, nor does Jungle Formula or wrist bands.

Raid night and day plug in is excellent for rooms, and I spray dd with superdrug tropical extra strong stuff. She gets bitten terribly and we are in Southern Europe.

Thank you for the reply-I will get hold of both of those!!

We were recommended the Avon stuff by local gamekeepers, it works quite well here.
You can get mosquito coils that work quite well.

Ok, just checked (was on phone last night not being bitten despite it being dusk, 35 degrees and by the sea) The superdrug stuff is called Buzz Off Extra Strength, it's 50% DEET and suitable for tropics. It is rancid and I spray a tiny bit on dd out on the balcony but my god it works. you can't breathe after spraying it but hey, what's a bit of oxygen depletion when there are mozzies around

Black tin, orange cap. Magic.

Make sure you get the Night and Day Raid plug in because at the moment I have a different one where you fanny about with little blue brick things and it's not as effective.

The higher the DEET level the more effective, and stinkier, the repellent is.

We live in a mosquito infested swamp so use a mosquito trap which clears the whole area.

I've used one called ultrathon recently in Tanzania and Sri lanka. Didn't get any bites, it didn't have a particularly strong smell so nice to use and it is a cream, so no leaky spray bottles in my back pack!

It has a lower DEET content (think about 30%) but it is slow release so protects you up to 12 hours.

If I get bitten I a really bad reaction, swelling, pain etc. The only thing that works for me (even in Kenya) is this Avon dry body oil avonshop.co.uk/product/skin-so-soft-original-dry-oil-body-spray.html I would never ever use anything else. And it smells really nice too.

Sorry - just re read your post and saw you that the Avon stuff doesn't work for you. Ignore me! .

We use skin so soft for my dd11.
It works a treat in England but I'm watching with interest at what we can use for holidays abroad. She also reacts quite severely when bitten.

Thank you for all replies! Interesting to hear the Avon stuff works for some people-it really does nothing for me!

I'm going to try the Superdrug stuff next.

Skin so soft is brilliant, I use it a lot in the uk when camping to stop midge bites. But I wouldn't risk using it where there is a risk of diseases such as dengue or malaria, I think you do need a DEET based repellent then, as well as mossie nets and long sleeves and trousers.

Skin so soft is brilliant

Sadly, not for everyone!

Not all mosquitos are sensitive to DEET, but if you use a DEET based repellent then it should work regardless of brand.
What you want is to check the DEET content. The higher the better.

I'm surprised Jungle Formula doesn't work, unless you have been using the lowest DEET content.

You should also be careful about how you apply it. Any bits without and they will probably bite.

Make sure you cover as much as possible, though, and have as little body odour as possible (mosquitos apparently love sweaty socks).

I use insect repellent almost every day in summer, so am reluctant to use the "nasty" ones. The Superdrug own brand kids formula works well for me.

You do need to spray all over (whatever brand you use). Lots of people spray on a bit like perfume and expect it to protect their whole body. It won't.

DEET works by making you invisible to mosquitos. It stops working when sweated or rubbed off, it also dissolves plastic so keep it away from specs, watches etc.

wash regularly with minimal soap fragrance, no perfume, no cosmetics.

Cover up as much as possible and use DEET (50%) on the rest.

The best one I've found is a cream called Odomos. It's nowhere near as foul as DEET, but it works, and because it's a cream you can put it on without it going in your eyes, throat etc. You can get it on Amazon and EBay- a small tube easily lasts an adult a week.

Also, a gin and tonic a day keeps the mozzies away

odomos still has DEET in it, just less of it. That's why it works, although with less DEET it won't work as long.

G and T is a myth.

I've lost my thread! Whilst I'm here may as well mention that there's a new natural insect repellent called Incognito that we all use as it works brilliantly & smells ok!? I buy it from Holland & Barrett, Sainsburys or Waitrose...depending on whos got the best offer!

This insect repllant SAVED me last summer in Florida. I'm ALWAYS bitten whenever there are biting insects around but the only time I was bitten on this holiday was when I forgot to use it. And since when I've used it elsewhere. It's called Incognito and you get it from Holland and Barrett.

Mine too the first time I used it and many many times since. No bites. I've used it on both my DDs since they were babies too. We all wash in incognito hair & body repellent wash as well because it says on their website, "ordinary shower gels, shampoos & fabric softeners contain scent that attract mosquitoes!" They also make a natural pine-smelling room refresher that keeps bugs out of the house which we're now using. I topped up from Robert Dyas yesterday for our summer hols next month

I used citronella oils or sprays, and I have a face net, which you can get from outdoor shops. Get one with a peak.

Those face nets sound interesting...does it get stuffy & hot when you wear it?
Apparently there are only 2 species of citronella, the strongest being Java which I sometimes use as well

Mosiguard (citronella) & DEET both work ok for me for midges (reapply citronella often), but dunno about mozzies. Mozzies are the only bug that don't seem to bother me much.

'I don't get hot, but I do forget I am wearing it and the try to drink something!

Yes they do but if you don't analyze the situation then its nothing. Perfect way is to read the Mosquito Magnet Reviews and get to know the various methods to avoid mosquitos.