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!

I highly recommend this little device -https://www.amazon.co.uk/Beurer-Inflammation-Medicines-Chemicals-Certified/dp/B089GRH43R/ref=sr_1_23_sspa?crid=2M4I2NSU6XZ42&keywords=mosquito+bite+relief&qid=1687583094&sprefix=Mosquito+%2Caps%2C204&sr=8-23-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1

This might sound a little dramatic, but this has been a life saver for me - I have such a horrible allergic response to being bitten and it was getting to the point I was avoiding going out in summer as I was so anxious about being bitten (live in the USA and the mosquitoes here are BAD) - but now I use this as soon as possible after being bitten (and then several more times over next couple of days every time the itch activates) and not only does it make the itch go away, it also prevents all the swelling. I’m still covering up in the summer though, prevention is better than cure!!!

I have the Beurer gadget too and it's great for taking the sting/inch out. I use it as soon as I notice and a few times a day.

Incognito is the best and is nontoxic & natural. They have a bodywash (I used as a hair rinse too) as well as the spray. I used both when I was camping in Spain for three weeks and got maybe four bites total? Usually they love me.

The other tip is to eat a lot of garlic based dishes. Some garlic will be in your sweat and that makes you smell horrible to mosquitos and midges.

Holland & Barett carry incognito
https://www.hollandandbarrett.com/search/?isSearch=true&query=incognito

Following this for ideas as I get eaten alive too!! Horseflies/midges/mosquitoes you name it!!

I have just started taking 100mg thiamine daily (at least 2 weeks before hols and then carry on while on holiday) as I have read that it’s a water soluble vitamin that emanates from your skin and they don’t like the smell. Apparently marmite has it in but you’d have to eat something like a kilo a day for it to work but the salt content of that would kill you 😂

Belt and braces for me

Start taking anti histamines before you go
Also vit b tablets

Use original source Lemon shower gel. Rinse quickly then get out of the shower. You want it as fresh on as possible. They don’t like the smell of lemon.

high strength jungle formula, especially early evening as dusk is the worst time.
plug in mosquito repellants
The bracelet repellants.

If I do get a bite or two, mine always end up huge, red and angry. Even with antihistamines I react badly. I normally take the recommended dose of one a day but if I have bites I take 2 (or have been known to take 3) with no ill effects.
Buy the cream you put on bites abroad. They are no much stronger and more effective than anything you can buy in the Uk.

As you can see I used to have a big problem with mosquitoes. They love me.

So much stronger.

Yep, completely useless! Yet it comes up as a suggestion time and time again. Along with marmite and vitamin B, also useless.

Agree.

Deet has been scientifically proven to be the most effective and isn't harmful as long as you follow the instructions. Yes, there are very natural ways that may reduce your chances of getting bitten but if you're one of those people that mozzies love, you're probably still going to get bitten unless you use Deet.

Some of the people saying on this thread "I only got 4 bites" 😏Personally I don't want "only 4", I want none!

I am epi-pen needed allergic to insect bites so I wear Craighoppers Nosilife clothing in mosquito countries, take Vitamin B complex twice a day, two weeks before holiday and antihistamines one week before. I also use jungle formula with deet.

A doctor told me that in an emergency I can take up to six antihistamines tablets safely, so I actually take the 1 a day ones, twice a day if I get bitten. The hot spoon on the bite site is also really effective.

I don't or rarely get bitten as I eat lots of garlic.

I also use limon kolonya in a spray bottle which smells lovely, refreshes and keeps all insects at bay. It's the stuff they use in Turkish and Greek Barbers.

I also eat lots of garlic and if I don’t use an effective repellent, I would be completely devoured. 🤮

Extra things to try- the patches, I think they put b12 in your system and mozzies don't like it. Yes to antihistamines. Best deet on top of that. A sunscreen with repellent too? Be militant about covering up in the evening, a plug in for your room/apartment, make sure windows closed by afternoon

I think it was me you’re referring to regarding four bites in 3 weeks of camping. For me it’s unheard of as before using incognito and eating garlic I’d get over 200 bites if in a mosquito area within a week. I haven’t counted beyond 200 bites at a time on my body because they start over lapping iykwim?

Highly recommend Smidge as well. Took it and a DEET alternative with me to Bali recently, and as a test used them on alternate days. Ended up with 3 bites in total, all on days when I used DEET. Zero bites on the days I used Smidge.

Research shows that Picaridin is as effective as Deet. The Spanish pharmacy recommended it to me. You can buy it on Amazon. It’s more pleasant on your skin than Deet.

I'm reading on here the value of taking Vit B1 and VIT b2 - is that true? Or which is correct?

For me, B vitamins made no difference whatsoever.

Olive oil on your skin (mozzies dont like oil or olives) and a pop up mosquito net for sleeping in (I live in the south of France and we're plagued by the little fuckers.

BEST THING EVER to treat mozzy bites is a product called Fenistil. It's a clear gel that works wonders. Comes in an orange packet either as a roll on or a tube. Not available in the UK but available at every pharmacy in Spain.

Also go to any spanish supermarket and get yourself one of those plug in mozzy machines - they look a bit like a plug in air freshener. Raid is one of the well known brands. Otherwise, in the evenings wear light weight long sleeves and trousers and avoid any still water - ponds or puddles.

I once had a really bad reaction to mozzy bites and it was the local doctor that got me on to Fenistil.

Garlic capsules and vitamin b1 capsules - take them for 4 weeks before you go and continue to take them whilst on holiday.

Then also use the sprays. There's a cologne based one that is meant to be good. Mrs white unstung hero.

I too am a one woman all you can eat mosquito buffet wherever I go ... this is what finally broke the spell for me -

1. Taking a Vit B12 pill every day for a week before and all throughout the holiday. Apparently while (I hope it was anyway) undetectable to the human nose it repels them little fuckers

1. A daily antihistamine on holiday so if I did get bitten it's not as uncomfortable

1. This body lotion (which was quite inoffensive smelling and also moisturising) on my arms and legs before going out on the evening. I'd read its often used abroad by Slebs on film sets, Cate Blanchett is supposed to love it and I'm a sucker for that kind of endorsement

1. Obsessively plugging those plug in things with the little tablets in when we went out of an evening

All works like a dream last time we went to Greece and other people were being eaten alive. I was a right smug bugger

Doh. Forgot pic

The device shown above is good for getting the stinging/itch out.

I use a simpler method, uses the same principle, heat....

Dip a spoon in a mug of very hot nearly boiling water, take spoon out and press on bite for a few seconds. Stinging and itching gone.

I do use jungle formula but the buggers will get you sometimes no matter how careful you are!

That's the back of the spoon I mean!