Mosquitoes are the bain of my life. HELP!

[Dreamingofasandybeach]

Due to go on holiday in August to Spain and I need your advice on what products work well for people who are always getting bitten.

I've been on many holidays, and each time I am bitten to death.. (worst was Dominican Republic where my Fiancé counted 72 bites all over my body within the first few days 🤣😭). They seem to love my blood for some reason and the bites last for weeks. Not only are they itchy but they make my skin feel so tight too.

I've tried DEET sprays, Avon skin so soft, mosquito bands but just can't find anything that helps.

Both myself and parents get bit to death and I just know August temps in Spain they'll be out in full force ready for their next meal.

Please if anyone has the same issue and has any products they can recommend I'd really really appreciate it 😊 I'll try absolutely anything!

You need the hardcore stuff. I use Ben's 100% DEET that I buy in the US (it's a US brand) but just found this website that sells it:

https://www.allstarhealth.com/en-gb/de_p_ref/63522/gsgb63522/Bens_100Percent_Deet_Tick___Insect_Repellent_Spray.htm?utm_source=google&utm_medium=GPS&utm_campaign=63522&gclid=CjwKCAjwhdWkBhBZEiwA1ibLmGWcI3B0jKUmkF6vS6LS39wAtR5b8BSfN1p9aUBJ3PYtKYMcF2kuKRoCOOQQAvD_BwE

Have you tried the zapper things after you’ve been bitten?

The other one I use is Bushmans. I always stock up when I'm in Australia (where it's from). I've never had a single bite when wearing Bushmans. This is one of their range on Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bushman-B102-Ultra-Insect-Repellent/dp/B00KT67N14

There was a post about it the other day saying to start taking anti histamine 1-2 weeks before going and to keep it up throughout to help with itching and inflammation.

Incognito products are excellent, & far less toxic than products containing Deet. Sorry, I can't give a link.

There is a French product called Mustella - citrus bases and safe for children. I used to live in a dengue fever area and this stuff kept the mozzies off.

Could you pack a mosquito net (or buy one there) for your bed op? I find I get bitten the most at night.

I also get eaten alive!

I found this product very effective https://calypsosun.com/products/after-sun-lotion-with-insect-repellent

I'd wear it as a moisturizer and during the day and top up with the deet spray at dusk or when in jungle areas.

Also found the little zappy after bite things helpful to an extent, they are worth taking.

Smidge is amazing! Works for everyone in this house.

Like @VeryLargeRadish, Smidge is the best I’ve found.

Deet is amazing 🙌

Jungle formula at the highest level sorts me out. Use the roll on and cover self entirely before dressing of an evening or before any day trip, even for shopping. Get off the beach before the sun really starts setting to avoid sandflies and wait til the sun is properly up... no dawn strolls on the beach! The tiniest patch of skin with no coverage and I get bitten.

I avoid any place with water in the evening, also stay away from shrubbery and walls with nooks where insects like to hide. I would choose a middle table in an outdoor restaurant for example. Always keep your room doors shut, air con on and plug in if any critters get in! Take antihistamine for a good week before you go and then cream for any bites too. Then enjoy yourself and have a fab time!!

You will get bitten mostly in the evening and night, so, buy a huge mozzie spray from Spanish supermarket and a mozzie plug-in.
Before you go out in the evening, or about 8pm, close windows in the bedroom and spray the hell out of it, including in the wardrobe, behind the blinds/curtains, in the shower and bathroom, then Plug in the electric mozzie killer.
Close the door and leave it for a couple of hours, or until toxic fumes have gone and you can breathe.
If the room is too hot, hopefully you’ll have AC, if not, you can open the window but NEVER with any lights on.
Buy a supply of the mozzie sprays recommended and every evening, spray the hell out of every bit of your skin.
If you’re sat out in the evening, burn the citronella candles, if possible.
Enjoy your hols….

I was the same then was advised by a dermatologist to take vitamin a daily before and during holidays. Haven't been bit since

I'm a mozzi magnet too, and the only thing that works is Incognito spray

Agree with @wateraddict the 5 rated roll on is better than the spray (which just goes all over and makes you choke and probably has little coverage). Also, just cover up on the evenings, long lightweight trousers and top. It is a small price to pay for not being bitten. If you have an option, ask for the highest room in the hotel, mosquitos only fly so high. I had to do this more seriously recently in a region that had mosquito borne diseases and in 5 weeks, not one bite. I did smell of deet continually, but worth it.

Get this from mercadona. You spray it on the floor around you and then up in the air.

Also get their repellent in the orange bottle. It works but I dont like putting that on, it dissolves my nail varnish. I spray it around windows and doors, but also on myself sometimes.

The plug ins are good too.

I found taking high dose vitamin B (like Berrocca) helped stop me getting bittten - I think some mosquitos don't like the taste or smell of it.

Picaridin is a new product. It works for me and I’m a complete magnet for the little bastards. I wear light colours, I have white jeans, white socks and white trainers for the evening. It’s always my legs and feet that get bitten. One year I had bites on the soles of my feet, so now I make sure I wear socks early mornings and evenings. Watch out for the morning bastards, they are active then as well. You can buy 2% hydrocortisone cream in Spain, which helps when you get bitten. Pain killers also help, I take co-codamol.

According to my MIL. Eat marmite!

not sure if it works I’m still covered in mosquito bites. Perhaps I need to eat more marmite toast.

The marmite and vitamin B are for anti-malarials that leach the vitamin - gives you mouth ulcers if you don't take it.
Spray yourself and your curtains, use a bednet if you can, impregnated if you can. Citronella is not as effective as DEET.

There may be much more recent repellents I don't know about (last residence where they were dangerous was 20 years ago) but the best solution is to share a bed with someone they like better than you. Sorry!

I went to Gambia, not a single bite. I used Avon skin so soft body oil. It’s not like DEET which I personally find unbearable.

Try Incognito Mosquito Spray, you can get it from Amazon. I am the same as you and once had 60 bites in Greece, since buying this I’ve been to places like Thailand and only end up with a couple of bites where I’ve forgotten to spray etc. It’s brilliant stuff

Incognito.
the roll on is amazing. Buy the spray as back up
We live where there’s mosquitoes a lot, and I now import the incognito roll as it works much better.
You can buy in Holland and Barrett and Amazon

Avon is useless. Don’t know why, used to work great but last few years it’s rubbish.