Help re preventing insect bites in the UK

[katzwhiskerz]

Hiya,

I'm looking for some help in preventing getting bitten to death this summer, after already suffering 10 bites last Thurs that required 4 days of anti-histamines to reduce both swelling and pain.

Most of the plug-in varieties I've come across seem very much geared towards travel use. I really don't need that, just something for use against our home-grown varieties of flying, crawling and other biting beasties.

I'm willing to look at a multi-protection solution such as fly-guards / screens for doors / windows plus some sort of plug-in solution as well as a spray-on repellant for when I'm out and about.

I'll also continue to keep a plentiful supply of anti-histamines to hand to cover for the ones that break trhough my 'firewall' 🙂

I'd also welcome other advice re any topical solutions that may be worth keeping to hand for the ones that get through - I've had bad experiences in the past of bites rapidly becoming infected and have narrowly avoided hospitalisation for suspected septicaemia a few years ago from particularly nasty beastie, so this is serious stuff for me...

I'd really welcome advice from other sufferers or medical professionals re things they've found to be effective - am willing to try just about anything!

Thanks

Katz

[ilove2patch]

I have heard that eating garlic helps stop the little blighters biting.

[katzwhiskerz]

Not terribly effective, I'm afraid, given my experience - I probably get through at least a bulb a week and a good part of that's raw...

Still suffer as detailed above.

[captainbovine]

I use the skin so soft stuff from Avon, I think it's the pink one, the sales lady could advise you. I get attacked in the garden by the midgies...little boogers make a dash for me when I get hot and sweaty gardening. If I put that on my face and hands they leave me be!!!

Isn't Marmite supposed to keep them away as they dont' like the B vitamins?

[merc1_clocks]

I don't know where you are, but as CB says...the A*on works up here in Scotland, where we are infested with midgies.

I also have a midge-net hat. It looks ridiculous, but stops the biting to the face & neck...a worthwhile expense :-x

[petitecalicocat]

Agree about the A*on stuff it even worked for me abroad too 🙂

[twishy123]

*waits for pic of Katz covered in marmite*

[rhubarbcity]

Don't laugh and only use if no body is around, as you can get some funny looks,

A sprig of sage behind each ear when you are gardening, is supposed to keep the little tikes away, you have to bruise the leaves, to help keep them away

[mandymoosie]

Is it the normal Avon skin so soft that some of you are mentioning??

I get bitten and stung terribly every bloomin year 😞

It's usually the Mozzies that get me, but some unidentifiable horrible looking thing, bit me right on the bottom of my leg last year, something that looked very much like a moth with a bit of beetle ???

Then I got stung by a wasp that decided to land of the top of my foot and sting me for no apparent reason, I didn't even know it was there 😐

I'm very interested in the Avon thing though, I'm going to cover myself it in 😐

[katzwhiskerz]

Thanks for all the replies so far... I think 🙂

I love Marmite, but think I'll stick to eating it on toast for now 😉

May well try out the bruised sage leaves - I have a sage plant in the garden, so not exactly hard to try out and I can remember looking dafter in the past!

The A*on stuff may well be worth a try as there's been a No of recommendations now...

Ah well, was sort of hoping for some plug-in solution that would zap the little B's before they got the chance to get their teeth into me!

[****daisy****]

I use the Avon one one my pony 😄

[barefoot.biker]

I use the avon one 🙂

I have an allergy to mozzie and other insects and have ended up in hospital on more occasions than I care to remember but (touches wood) Ive not been bitten much at all since using the Avon so soft

It's the "soft & fresh" dry oil body spray you need. Well thats the one I use and its worked for me

[huggles1253]

Another vote for the Avon. I came back from a holiday in Kenya with cellulitas from bites. Much easier to spray it on than rub in moisturiser too and it's dead cheap.

[*elphaba*]

I bought Mr elph the skin so soft spray on oil as he got bitten to bits when mowing last year.  Not one nibble thereafter.  He complains that he smells like Danny La Rue, but its a small price to pay 😄

I also know fisherman who use Dettol mixed with baby oil.

Emergency measures when out and about include rubbing elder leaves over you, or feverfew (wasps don't like the smell of that either......mind you, neither do humans so be warned!)

[metrorock11]

I have heard that bounce tumble dryer sheets, tucked into your clothing or bracelets work? Haven"t tried them yet but if you do get bitten, a strong roll on deodorant applied to the bites helps with the itches. Garlic, avon & vit b taken for months, didn"t work for me.

[**towery**]

i go the  eating marmite daily route

and i have the skin so soft moisturiser in green,  usually make sure i put it round my ankles and wrists before i go out in the fields

anti histamines - i use half doses daily too, non drowsy ones

that helps but isnt infalliable

[6mark901]

oooooh interesting !  im allergic to horsefly bites ( one bite can cause huge swelling and dozens of blisters ) so im interested in the A-on stuff 🙂

will anything from the skin so soft range work or does it need to be a certain cream / sray / smell ?

ive spent years trying different methods without luck

[captainbovine]

use the dry oil spray, it's really good and it works.

they come after you when you start to get hot and sweaty....little boogersX-(

[kiss*my*pixel]

Both children went to the Scottish Island of Arran at different times for residential trips (their Dad also went both times). They all took with them the usual bug repellants and face nets, as well as the Avon Skin So Soft. The best thing was definitely the Avon product - it was so good, it was stolen each time!  :^O 

[6mark901]

definetely going to try this, thankyou 🙂