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!

Mercadona supermarket in Spain sells a Citronella body sprits which insects don't like and they also do an own brand repellant which works well.
Nunenco Agua de Colonia is a cologne sold in baby product aisles in supermarkets. Large bottle for a couple of euros and decant into a smaller spray bottle and use frequently. The Spanish swear by it and you can spray your bedding with it too.
Close your windows when you go out and keeping a fan on in the room when you are in there also helps. I sleep all night with the fan on. Mossie bats from the Chinese superstores work great.

The Nenuco has lots of uses - https://www.lemonfreshuk.com/nenuco-cologne

A product with DEET should work for everyone, but it only protects the patch of skin its on, so you do need to cover all exposed skin with it, otherwise you can get bites on the patches you miss.

I like Mosquito Milk as it contains DEET but feels quite mild and doesn't smell, so I don't mind covering my skin in it.

Incognito spray works for me too.

100% deet, no messing. It melts paint, nail polish, but it's the only thing that works

This is why I will not put it on my skin and it is not the only thing that works. I have lived in Asia and Spain for over 20 years and have never used this stuff and I am an mossie magnet.

Hard agree, especially for those giant sized, striped mossies in Canada! But I make sure to shower off completely before going to bed. Nothing else, citronella, Avon, natural etc has ever been as effective for me. Deet also melted the printing on a plastic shopping bag, but my reasoning is that I moisturise well before applying and wash it off at night, plus I will only be using it for 3 weeks max. I also wear a wide brim hat and spraid it with Raid!!

I suffer very badly too. You need a mosquito net or a plug in killer. Keep the bedroom shut. Douse yourself in DEET at dusk. I use the lifesystems one. Preemptive antihistamines and antihistamine cream for any bites.

We have one of these and kept the box so that we can pack it with us every time we travel. My daughter suffers really badly with mosquito bites and so we just use it at home as her usual night-light. There’s a setting to have a regular lamp light as well as the blue light that attracts and zaps the mosquitos.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lumi-Mosi-awning-camping-Outdoor-Revolution/dp/B079K59XC1/ref=asc_df_B079K59XC1/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=278971480929&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16348127339801623551&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9044912&hvtargid=pla-487166095190&psc=1

This is very timely. I subscribe to Which?, and yesterday's newsletter was about insect repellant.

First of all ignore all woo suggestions like eat marmite or garlic or drink beer,

There are four active ingredients that are scientifically proven to repel mosquitos and three of these are synthetic, or chemical based: DEET, IR3535 and Icaridin. The natural ingredient is PMD, and is produced when oil of lemon eucalyptus or OLE is distilled. Although it is a byproduct, the leftover product is far more effective at repelling mosquitoes than the oil itself. 'Eucalyptus', 'lemongrass', 'citronella' and even 'lemon eucalyptus oil' are not the same as 'oil of lemon eucalyptus', and they don't offer the same level of protection against bugs.

Natural "insect repellents" to avoid are herbal extracton bracelets, sonic mosquito repellers and citronella. There is no scientific evidence to prove that these work, People who say that they do aren't really that attractive to biting insects. Citronella's volatility means its repelling properties only last for a short time.

And this is what they have to say about Avon's Skin So Soft: There is citronella in Avon's Skin So Soft Original Dry Oil Spray which may account for why some consumers swear by it for keeping bugs away, but it's not an official repellent, and other ingredients have more solid science behind their protective abilities.

This is fascinating, thank you for sharing Rampantivy!

What is the upshot then? Or the " take away" as the younger generation would say?

Is PMD available in shops? (Sorry to be dim!)

Bane*

I find DEET works, and Jungle formula is a good brand.

I was recently misled by a listing for a DEET insect repellent, but after buying it found it only contained plant extracts. Look at the ingredients list. They seem to vary from 30% to 50%

May be cheaper in a pharmacy than a travel shop.

Also take antihistamines daily to reduce swelling.

Body shop peppermint foot spray works amazingly for me on bites. Found out by accident by spraying sweaty feet and it immediately soothed my painful ankles.

I get bitten to pieces if I don't use anything and skin so soft and plugins are all I'm using at the moment, and I haven't been bitten. So they do work.

@WTFAreYouForReal they do work for some people, but DH is a walking buffet for biting insects, and mosquito bites always become infected resulting in a course of antibiotics, and the Avon stuff just isn't strong enough to repel them.

@Pythacalling702 these are the repellants that Which? recommends:

50% DEET (can be used at a concentration of 50% on children iver 8 weeks)
Wilko Extra Strength Insect Repellant
Tesco Extra Strength Insect Repellant
Sainsbury's Extra Strength Insect Repellant

IR3535 (doesn't protect for as lng as DEET, so needs reappying more often)
Jungle Formula Insect Repellant Spray Strong (Savers)
Gurkha Protect Active Spray (Blue) Insect Repellant (Amazon)
Jungle formula Kids Lotion (Ocado)
Toddle Born Wild Insect Repellant (Holland & Barrett)

Icaridin (as effective as DEET)
Lifesystems Expedition Sensitive DEET Free Insect Repellant (Weldricks)
Forclaz Repellant Spray (Decathlon)
Pyramid Protect Sensitive Insect Repellant Spray (Ocado)
Moskito Guard Mossie and Tick Repellant (Amazon)

PMD (can be used on children over three years old)
Xpel Mosquito andInsect Repellant Spray With Citrepel50 (B & M)
Tesco Insect Protect DEET Free Aerosol 10% PMD
Pyramid Protect Natural Spray With 40% Citriodiol (Ocado)

RampantIvy thank you so much for taking the time to post that! Very much appreciated!

My pleasure. We have had so many holidays ruined by the after effects of mosquito biites (and wasp stings). DH always slathers on insect repellant, but if he misses just one square inch of skin her gets bitten there.

Yes it’s surprising how much it does impact negatively on a holiday! Especially when they itch for a few days and you have to have meds etc. It’s so uncomfortable and I look like I have the pox atm and we haven’t left yet! 😫 I hope your dh has less trouble this time!

Wrights coal tar soap and Odomos.

It's the peppermint that relieves the itching. The locals in Mexico recommended Vicks vaporub to us which works as does toothpaste. It's not long lasting relief but certainly helps for a few hours while you're trying to get to sleep and desperately trying not to scratch!

Haven’t RTFT but deodorant (roll on) helps if applied to a bite if you do get bitten.

Try not to get bitten in the first place!

Mosquitos can't fly in moving air so get a small fan that plugs into your computer and have it running on your uncovered bits overnight or when you're sitting on the balcony of an evening.

When you do get bitten Fennistan is excellent, kills the itch for 24 hours; over the counter in both Portugal and Spain.

I am a mosquito magnet too. My pharmacist recommended vitamin B supplements starting a week before travel Didn't get one bite (was in a tropical area). Also used jungle formula - but in the past that's not been enough to prevent all bites, just reduces them. So I would def recommend that.

I'm with you on that. I used to live in Asia and it was the most effective for zero bites.