Help - mosquito bites

Won't help once you've been bitten but to prevent bites on our last holiday (in the tropics so a big problem!) we used citronella essential oil, mixed with a carrier oil, it worked wonders and neither I or H got a single bite. We were in rainforests and on mangroves so really should have!

Thanks BB - I'm willing to try (almost) anything to prevent the blighters from eating me. I use citronella but haven't heard of carrier oil.

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I always get bitten by mozzies too so I drink tonic water with quinene(sp) which really helps. I tried this last year and although I did get bitten a few times it wasn't as much as previous years and they didn't swell up either.

Apparently they use quinene in malaria tablets.

hth

Not sure if this will help? I did take vitamin B when i was working in India, perhaps i shouldn't of bothered!?

I really feel for you as the pests eat me alive too. I've heard that eating/taking garlic tablets helps. They don't like the taste/smell so don't bother 'tucking in'. Although there are obviously major social side effects to this...I'm not sure if it's true or not as I'm too chikcen to try it and just stick to spray repellents.

I'll be watching this thread with interest. Hope you find something suitable for your hols.

BP

Wow, thanks for all your replies - I really appreciate it ?

I particularly like the idea of drinking tonic water (especially if it contains gin & a slice of lemon) and I'll be stocking up on vitamin B tablets tomorrow.

I may even treat myself to some garlic tablets too. OH is going to love me even more ?

I sympathise, I have the same reaction and the blisters can be very large and painful. I've tried all sorts of things to avoid being bitten and have found that Jungle Formula insect repellant works well, as does covering up (although in Australia I was bitten hundreds of times through my clothes!). Vitamin B12 tablets seemed to help but they do taste revolting.

Once bitten, anti histamines relieve the itching to some extent but I usually have to take double the dose to notice any reduction in itching. The only way to relieve the pain of the blisters is to lance/aspirate them. I carry some sealed hypodermic needles and alcohol wipes in my first aid kit (in hold luggage when flying) so that I can do this relatively hygenically.

I talked to my previous GP about this and he was less than helpful. His only suggestion was not to travel to mosquito infested places which is hard, I get the same type of reaction even when bitten in the UK. I had to treat my first one this week. In some more 'exotic' places the reaction is worse.

It may sound silly, but I've found that using Original Source lemon-scented shower gel and shampoo either stopped all bites or greatly reduced them. Last Explore holiday I took, I was the only one in the group of 16, including my husband, NOT to have been bitten! So now, my toilet bag always has OS Lemon shampoo and shower gel.

I'll add original source shower gel to my list - thanks!

Looks like vitamin B12 are a definite. I wasn't sure about taking lots of anti histamine tablets, but I think I'm going to give it a go.

I'm making out like I'm off to the tropics - it's only the south of France but I was eaten alive last time I went. I'll pack some needles too. Not a pretty sight when lancing, but too painful not to!

Thanks all ??

It has to be re-applied regularly but Avon do a body oil spray that contains citronella and is supposed to be good.It's in a turqoisy green spray bottle and I think it's called Soft and Fresh.

I have the same reaction as you and what works for me is Avon, skin so soft dry body oil (the one in the green package). I spray loads on any exposed skin if I'm sitting outside, I find dusk is the time the little buggers like to come out and bite, so spray plenty on before then.

I also sleep with a plug in thing right next to me just in case there are any around when I'm sleeping.

Works for me, so far I haven't been bitten this year (touch wood icon).

My mum lives in spain and is allergic to mosquito bites! She uses lots of mozzy spray in the bedroom about an hour before she goes to bed and uses the plug in tablet things over night. I found her some braclets that emit a pulse they dont like but she hasn't tried them yet. Mozzy off works quite well and smells OK which is rare for a mozzy repellant but also comes with a price tag...

http://www.tiso.com/shop/mozzy-off/