Preventing Mosquito Bites

researcher

Has anyone with an bad reaction to mossy bites tried those pen type vacuum thingies - the ones that are supposed to take away the bit? Did they work? Are they worth the money? (And what are they called?)

marbar2k

i am going to boots at lunch, what is the DEET spray called and roughly how much is it? i was going to go down the vit b1 route but as i am goin on friday i dont think it will work!

jude123_2

researcher wrote:

Has anyone with an bad reaction to mossy bites tried those pen type vacuum thingies - the ones that are supposed to take away the bit? Did they work? Are they worth the money? (And what are they called?)

can't remember offhand what they're called but I bought one from Boots last year and practised using it before I went away and really thought it was going to do the job. I carried it about in my handbag and it was at the ready when I got three bites on my arm the first night of our holiday. I used it straightaway and it hadn't the slightest effect - complete waste of money.(think it was about £18)

needmoney

I'm like cheekymole NOTHING AT ALL works for me and everything bites me not just mosquitosI've bought all the that's available, my legs were bitten so many times and were swollen so badly it was painful to walk, aparently it's a lot to do with the blood.

mariejader

I swear by Tee Tree Oil, I also have problems with the bugs and often end up at the hospital needing a injection to reduce the swelling.

There are so many things you can use it for, cuts etc a few drops in the bath water, it was fantastic when my lad was small a dot around the ears kept the nits away.

Anyhow dab a few drops on a cotton wool pad and just give a wipe around the wrists and ankles and you will be fine.

Enjoy your holiday

researcher

marbar2k wrote:

i am going to boots at lunch, what is the DEET spray called and roughly how much is it? i was going to go down the vit b1 route but as i am goin on friday i dont think it will work!

It's called simply DEET (50% is maximum strength for skin use) for the generic version (not branded like Jungle Formula) - and mine cost me around £5 for the liquid in a spray bottle. If you can't get the spray type - just buy the liquid and get a spray bottle from somewhere like Supersaver for £1. I bought mine from an independent Chemist, so I'm not sure what Boots would charge.

helen21_2

needmoney wrote:

I'm like cheekymole NOTHING AT ALL works for me and everything bites me not just mosquitosI've bought all the that's available, my legs were bitten so many times and were swollen so badly it was painful to walk, aparently it's a lot to do with the blood.

I was like this on every holiday i took, then on one i was that bad had to see a doctor on landing as my legs where so bad i needed a strong cause of antibiotics. Then i was due to go to venice and i dreaded it as it is so damp it is rife witrh mozzies, went to GP's who advised to take vit -B 2 weeks b4 going and whilst there, i got off plane and went to the boats where the platforms where covered in mozzies and i thought oh here we go ...........I never had one bite whilst i was there for two weeks and came home with nothing, it was my first ever holiday with no discomfort, i have taken vit -B b4 any holidays and have never suffered since, apparently it is something to do with the smell that vit -b gives off, i dont care what it is as it works

KatrinaC_2

marbar2k wrote:

I am going to Alcudia in spain on Friday and i am worried about mosquito bites. I always seem quite prone to them.

What is the best/cheapest way to prevent or detear them? Somebody once told me taking odourless garlic?

The best method I found was to use high concentration (~100%) DEET which I found on sale in the US. If you're worried about spraying it on your skin, spray it liberally on your clothing instead and try to cover up as much as possible. We also found that squashing mosquitos seemed to attract more of them to your skkin - whether this is true or not is debateable, and it's really hard not to squish the little s*ds

Kat

MrsNurseyC

Has anyone got any experience of using the Mosi-band things, that are impregnated with a DEET like substance and worn on the ankle/wrist? They do sound promising, I'm another one that tends to get bitten to shreds on holiday!
Just wondered if one can be worn on the body, or whether you need to wear them on the wrist and ankle simultaneously, or all 4 ankles and wrists!....

marbar2k

Well just got some insect repellent cream from poundland. it is 30% deet so i will give it a try