Unfortunately, DEET is the best but it ain't pretty stuff. We stay away from it because it destroys the plastic on our flyfishing lines.

CDC

Periodically I get the hives and find that soaking in Aveeno which has colloidal oatmeal works wonders. They also make an anti-itch cream which Bubba uses for poison oak. Oatmeal seems to very soothing to the skin.