Mandana

What is the best stuff to stop getting bitten by those pesky little mossies. We use Off and Deep Woods, which seem ok, but doesn't deter all.

And then when you're bitten, what do you use to stop the itching? There are so many products it's hard to know which is best. I bought something (can't remember what it's called now) but even after spraying it on the bite, I still itch.

Blasted little mites. What is their use in the world??!

dbj1000

They're employed by OFF to sell more DEET!

I hate DEET on my skin, and have found a great eucalyptus & lemon oil based repellent that actually seems to work. There are a bunch of them on the market.

Mandana

That must be it! Why else would they be here?!

As an aside .. we've had a few laughs saying to each other 'have you got your OFF on'

<mutters> you had to be there!

gsnichol

Someone recommended Windex to me, which sounds silly but it actually works. The ammonia in Windex is an anti-histimine and it relieves the urge to scratch. The downside is you feel a bit of a fool squirting glass cleaner on your ankles.

Adnams

I heard this too but have never tried it. Mind you anything smells better than disgusting OFF!

snowbunny

Skin So Soft by Avon is a moisturizer but also has a good reputation at repelling mozzies.

If they have already bitten then I like Caladryl.

Adnams

I just go around in head to toe covered up clothing. My OH has taken to wearing socks with flips flops to keep them off and he wonders why I dont like to be seen in public with him anymore....?? Next thing he'll take to wearing a hanky on his head.

penguinsix

You should check around for any standing water near your house. Gutters, a pot, a wetland or anything of the such. Those are nesting areas for mosquitos and it is best to kill them before they hatch. If you have a fountain or a coy pond, you definitely want to keep it circulating to break up the bug formations. You can also look at buying some of those mosquito eating fish...

http://www.co.cal.md.us/residents/mosquito/fish/

As for treatment, we've tried many things. Baking soda and water was often used when I was a kid. Really the best thing is a) don't get stung and b) don't scratch it.

gsnichol

[QUOTE=penguinsix;5240639]You should check around for any standing water near your house. Gutters, a pot, a wetland or anything of the such. Those are nesting areas for mosquitos and it is best to kill them before they hatch. /QUOTE]

When I came back from a 10 day trip away I even had the little swines in my toilet water! Thankfully mosquitoes are not a huge problem here and soon the humidity will drop, the rains will stop and they'll die off. My ankles and feet seem to be like an all you can eat buffet for them.

Sophia_S

Yes,I use the Avon stuff as well,it's pretty good,but I have to put it all over because I even get bitten through my clothes.....maybe I just taste especially nice to mossies!?!...course,after being as ill as I was,thanks to the mossie bite,I'm paranoid about getting bitten!
Oh and my husband always puts a bit of bleach in the bird bath water that stops the mossie lava as well,but it's not enough to harm to birds.

TruBrit

wow even through your clothes

guess i'm not sweet enough or something coz mossies don't bite me and hope they never do

Sophia_S

...I just seem to have all the luck!

Maz

Same here Sophia! Hubby doesn't get bitten at all when I'm around. I'm their favourite food.

Jerseygirl

The only thing that I have ever found to work satisfactorily is Bite Shield:

http://www.lentek.com/Main/Main.asp?...&CategoryID=4&

I've recommended it several times on BE and several people have tried it and thanked me because it worked for them.

I find that creams, sprays and lotions do not work...because if I miss one tiny area I get bitten there. Plus I don't really like putting stuff on my skin that melts plastic!!

britvic

They dont bite me either, OH get's eaten alive