Mosquito repellent

[giolconda]

Can anyone advise which Avon Skin-So-Soft product keeps the mosquitoes away? I know it's been mentioned on the forum several times before but I can't find the references now.....Also, where to order. I've been on the Avon website but nothing seems anything like I remember reading about. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
Any other anti-mosquito advice will be most welcome, anything at all that works - I've fourteen bites at the moment !

 

[IzzyDeadyet]

The avon stuff didn't work on me /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I think the active ingredient is Deet get the highest %age you can find.

Try Boots and/or Millets they used to sell a 50% or higher jungle formula. I say used to because when I tried to buy some in Boots Wisbech t'other day I was told "we don't sell bug stuff".

Fenfolk must have have tougher skin than me /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Bejasus]

If you've tried the rest, now try the best.
Satisfied user.

 

[Bob]

Anti-Mosquito Armbands

They work well!

 

[IzzyDeadyet]

yes, that's the stuff. Thanks for the link

 

[Anonymous]

The active ingredient in that is DEET (diethyl toluamide) and it seems to be almost universally hailed as the gold-standard in mosquito repellents. Almost, because my wife and I don't agree /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Yes, it does work but we find the Mosiguard works far better. Mosiguard is available in UK and Spain in aerosol and pump spray and is based on a (synthetic?) citronella. Mosiguard is approved by the London School of Tropical Medicine. We have both types in the cupboard but when the going gets tough, we both make a bee-line for the Mosiguard

 

[pollygonforty]

I think this is a difficult subject ,myself I never get bitten, poor old SWMBO GETS BITTEN ALIVE,but since discovering skin so soft[body lotion ]she is a much happier bunny [and smells very nice too] I understand the American version , not available in the UK, contains a repellant ,so maybe this is where the confusion occurs.Not withstanding this several people have reported success with this product so I would say give it atry

 

[HoratioHB]

I've heard that eating Marmite makes you un-tasty to the little chaps. I remember mentioning this to my very cute, very blonde secretary last year just before she went of to the Med on holiday. She said she hadn't eaten any for ages and then asked whether smearing it all over would also work. Was I tempted to agree and offer to help - you bet - but at that point she finally twigged - damn!!

 

[davidbains]

I see you're in Trieste. There certainly are some large mozzies in Monfalcone and they do seem to prefer the tourists to the locals. Eating local food with lots of garlic is rumoured to help!! Even smoking although as a dentist I can't recommend it!
I haven't found mozzie coils terribly effective, but often leave one burning in the cockpit. We spray the cabin b4 going for evening meal and then try to keep lights to a minimum when we return. The girls spray their legs for protection under the restaurant table. Then sleep in a lightweight sheet bag and cover your forehead and hands with whichever cream you prefer. The critturs do seem to prefer the victim with the softest skin, not much help if that's you!!
As a last resort just pull the sheet over your head in the early hours.
If you're really motivated then make insect covers for hatches and companionway!

 

[silas]

seeing as we live in the middle of a jungle, we've tried most of the brands available. Deet based formulas work fine but are not good for long term use (they melt plastic so god knows what they do to your skin). We find the best thing to use is from boots - its their child friendly mozzie repellent that is citronella based. Good for skin, mozzies hate it. Failing that, you can also use citronella oil. Also taking vitamin B6 is supposed to help but its never worked for me. Good luck

 

[Anonymous]

That is probably an own-brand version of Mosiguard. It is very good and not unpleasant - as you say, they make a big thing about it being child-friendly. We find it nicer than natural oil of citronella.

 

[cliff]

Get the real thing here 100% DEET.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Bejasus]

thats really strange, coz if you follow the mosiguard links to their US distributer, it doesn't come up but Repel does, but only as a citronella based product, not deet. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[cliff]

"wooden planks" at it again..........

See here and here
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Bejasus]

and here.

 

[cliff]

Saw that but I'll stick with the DEET for the time being - don't fancy smelling of lemon eucalyptus /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif and I know DEET actually does work.
--------------------

"Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"
sailroom <span style="color:red">The place to auction your previously loved boatie bits</span>

 

[Anonymous]

I just happened to notice that our Dove anti perspirant spray contains two ingredients that are citronella- based. They make no claims about being an insect repellent but if they put citronella in it then presumably it helps? Ours is the Spanish version - UK and others might differ, check the label.

 

[Guest]

The headache after a day of DEET was not worth living with.

Ask what the locals actually use. Not what the shops want to sell you. Different mozzies have different tastes!

 

[macd]

Most of us will have observed the same phenomenon -- one person gets bitten raw whilst another a few feet away is scarcely bitten at all. I'm one of the poor beggars they find tasty. I was once promised that taking vitamin B6 tablets would send me into the other group. I was sceptical (the information seemed even more far-fetched for being offered in an Irish bar), but tried it anyway, and it does seem to have a positive effect.
Vitamin B6 is also found in Guinness -- so even if it doesn't work, you tend not to notice quite so much. Marmite is also rich in B-group vitamins, but lacks the anaesthetic effect.
Whichever source you chose, you need to begin dosing a couple of weeks before exposure.

 

[Beyond]

I was always told by my Gran that Brewers Yeast tablets do the trick so there does seem to be a Vitamin B connection. However i did read a while ago that you would need to take a very large dose for it to be effective. This could exceed the 'safe' limit for Vit B (Don't know what that is).