Midges/gnats/mosquitoes

Slow_boat

Slow_boat

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Swmbo reacts big time to insect bites, the past two weekends on the boat have been ruined by the pain and swelling from bites that haven't had any effect on me at all. Anti hystomenes don't touch it and she cries with the pain of the swelling. The doctor prescribed anti-biotics last time, which seemed to help, but now she can't walk and that all could have serious repercussions on our plans to sail away.

She's tried all sorts and nothing seems to keep them away. She's even tried burning the fresh bites out with a hot match, which she says hurts but only for the moment and it's better than what she has now.

I seem to recall an Avon body cream was mentioned on here as being a good repelant. Can anyone give any more info or any idea of what she can do?
 
The Avon stuff is called "Skin So Soft" and I think they do a range of products- don't know for sure- I leave that to SWMBO!

Highly recommended on here many times. I have some on the boat, tho haven't had cause to try it out as yet.
 
Bites

Hi, there are a few tings you could try but I swear by Avon Skin So soft dry oil spray (green bottle) it has citronela in it you can get it online. I used it the Med or else I get bitten real bad. We also have Mozzy nets over the main hatch & other hatches & burn an oil burner with citronella oil or a couple of candles whilst onboard.
After Bite stick (like a pen) is also a must onboard.
Hope this helps & good luck.
 
Skin-so-soft is the repellent of choice for the Scottish Mountain Rescue teams, so I reckon they know a thing or two about it. I second/ third/ whatever the dry oil - use it quite a lot in the summer.
 
While 'Skin so soft' is the biggest seller for the Avon lady here, I seriously doubt if it is effective enough to protect your wife. I think she may be one of those unfortunate people who needs to keep her skin covered and wear a midge hat.
A lot of us were hoping the severe winter here might have reduced midge numbers but they are back big time this year, and natural selection seems to have helped the best biters, I have decided to frustrate them by ignoring them but I have a thick skin. The problem goes away with a breeze of 2 knots plus, so much worse in the evening.
 
About 50m offshore with an onshore wind keeps the things away but don't run the heater 'cos it's either CO or CO2 that attracts the blighters. Avon Skin-so-Soft or Jungle Formula + loads of ascorbic acid tablets (vit C) seems to work for some. And then there's trousers into socks, gauntlets and the fetching hats with integral net screen (available in most Scottish camping shops) - if they can't reach the skin they can't bite.
 
Thanks for all the advice. We're both hoping she won't have to go all the way down the trousers tucked into socks and hat nets route, especially since we aim for the med (via the French canals - are they full of mozzys?) after a round-Britain next year or the year after.

I've ordered some Avon Skin-so-soft and some tea tree oil to mix in if it's not working. I'll let you know how it goes.
 
The canals are mostly ok, fairly simple and straightforward measures - window/hatch nets in the evenings and at night for example - suffice. However, at the end of the Rhone the Camargue area has lots and lots of mozzies; that's where you really need to be on your guard. Obviously, anywhere where there's shallow standing water - the marshes and lagoons of the Camargue for example - is likely to provide a problem.
 
OFF! a Johnson & Johnson product containing DEET kept the serious Florida mosquitoes at bay.

In the Rivere Salee in Guadeloupe they were so thick I could hardly see. Discovered that a mosquito can only fly at 3.5 Kts.
 
I too suffer from the little blighters, sometimes I end up with an infection like your wife but mostly its just bad itching and a swelling. I have found one of these http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Bite-Sting-relief-Click-it_8212/ works really well at soothing the irritation and hence temptation to scratch.

Works by electric shock to the imediate area which must cause the nerves to pack for a bit. It dosn't hurt and works a treat.
 
My wife when bitten would react so bad that people would stare at the blisters on her legs etc. These would b the size of an orange an extremely painful!!
This seemed to putour plans of cruising to warmer climes on a back burner until 'skin so soft' was suggested. This works brilliantly for her it's a miracle, before it would b drugs gallore.

Oman has some rather nasty littly mozzies and only had one bite and that was where no 'skin so soft' had been applied.

Good luck
 
michael_w said:
OFF! a Johnson & Johnson product containing DEET kept the serious Florida mosquitoes at bay.

In the Rivere Salee in Guadeloupe they were so thick I could hardly see. Discovered that a mosquito can only fly at 3.5 Kts.
Click to expand...

OFF! - Seconded!
Available in aerosol, pump-spray, roll-on. Also kids and extra-strong formulations.
They also do a tic repellent version.
(no connection, just a very satisfied user every summer)

For the bites, use a hydrocortizone stick.

For "area defense" Johnson also make a repellent which you burn like slow-burning match, but I can't remeber the name of it right now. Comes as a green spiral, pita to separate apart.
Or the classic citronela candles as mentioned by others.

Then of course, nets over the hatches at night.

We know a lot about mossies over here. You can hear then as a low humming in the forests behind the beaches in the summer evenings. They're not known as "Finland's secret air force" for nothing... :)

To the OP, hope you find something from all the suggestions which relieves your wifes suffering at what should be an enjoyable time of year.
 
Babyoil!

Slow_boat said:
Swmbo reacts big time to insect bites, the past two weekends on the boat have been ruined by the pain and swelling from bites that haven't had any effect on me at all. Anti hystomenes don't touch it and she cries with the pain of the swelling. The doctor prescribed anti-biotics last time, which seemed to help, but now she can't walk and that all could have serious repercussions on our plans to sail away.

She's tried all sorts and nothing seems to keep them away. She's even tried burning the fresh bites out with a hot match, which she says hurts but only for the moment and it's better than what she has now.

I seem to recall an Avon body cream was mentioned on here as being a good repelant. Can anyone give any more info or any idea of what she can do?
Click to expand...

Whilst in Oz some years ago, someone recommended Babyoil.

It works & you can have some 'fun' whilst being applied by a partner.
 
Listerene Mouth Wash is the best I have found in all my travels around the world.

Spray some around where you are sitting or onto your skin - brilliant ;)
 
I have suffered badly in the past from mozzie bites especially from the first few each summer. But last year a local pharmacy sold me a cream called 'Eurax' which has been magic for me, kills the bites stone dead if I apply it quickly.
Never found the repellants totally reliable.
 
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