Mosquitos

[MyRubyE]

Just curious - has anyone ever heard of skin-soft being a good mosquito repelant? Years ago, it was much talked about, but I don't see or hear people talking about it anymore. On occassion I still use it, but not sure if it's all in my mind. I swear it works... Or, at least I think it does.

[itself]

Oakleaf,

Thanks for the link to BiteBlocker. I feel your pain, as I too have the same problem, one mosquito, two hundred people, they aim for my juicy veins!

I'll check Whole Foods for it...thanks again!

[Cataboo]

I spend too much time kayaking in salt marshes or other places where mosquitos are godawful.

Deet works about 10 mins in such situations and then the mosquitos are back eating you alive.

I've switched to picaridin based bug sprays, which is not as nasty feeling, doesn't melt plastic like deet does, and is an awful lot more effective at keeping the mosquitos at bay.

You do have to spray it on your clothing, because very persistent mosquitos will swarm your clothing and try to bite you through it - and depending on the fabric and how tight it is, they can manage to bite through clothing.

Ex officio buzz off brand clothing is also good, but is basically pemerthrin soaked clothing - and you could just soak your clothing yourself if you can still buy the stuff.

[alexis_the_tiny]

Where I live, little bloodsuckers really come out in full force during monsoon season, doesn't make for pleasent mountain biking. Plus, there'd be like 10 people in my group and they will all come bite ME.

I find that repellents sold in stores aren't all that effective for me, and they smell toxic. There's a citronella repellent I used to buy in Thailand that's dead effective. In the absence of that, I use lavender oil, sometimes neat, sometimes diluted with some carrier oil. It has the added advantage of being able to treat bites from mosquitoes that refuse to be repelled. And it smells much better.

[chickabonita]

Got a tip from a family member, he said don't eat a lot of sweats. He said they like sweet blood, so stick to salty, spicy or sour. I am not 100% sure that is true as he may have been pulling my leg, but I guess it's worth a try.

[Biciclista]

mosquitoes are attracted to your scent and your body heat. Not sure avoiding sweets is going to do me much good

[NbyNW]

Just curious - has anyone ever heard of skin-soft being a good mosquito repelant? Years ago, it was much talked about, but I don't see or hear people talking about it anymore. On occassion I still use it, but not sure if it's all in my mind. I swear it works... Or, at least I think it does.

They actually DO market it as a bug spray now: http://www.avon.com/1/1/3735-skin-so...sol-spray.html

Mosquitos love me. Sometimes I'm the only one in the room who gets bit!

I find eating lots of garlicky food can help ward off the suckers.

[Biciclista]

saturday i was rubbing dirt on my arms since i didn't have repellant!

[shootingstar]

Admittedly it's one of the drawbacks I don't like about long summer hiking in the woods or camping: mosquitoes. My bites seem to swell up bigger than some other people's.

It is real frustrating that I am the one the mosquitoes go after and take some bites. Whereas they hardly touch him (dearie) at all.

I have great respect for painters who do their artistic creations outdoors in certain areas where there are many mosquitoes.

[Crankin]

Skin So Soft doesn't do s**t, in my opinion.
I'd be willing to try the stuff Oak recommends, but for now I use Off. I don't get bitten a lot and tend to stay out of the woods at this time of year, but today I did go for a hike in the local conservation land. I sprayed my clothes and legs/arms, and no bites. I did get swarmed by these little fleas that were buzzing around my head. Don't know what these suckers are, but they have been around for a couple of weeks. I guess I need to spray my head, but I had just come from getting my hair colored and I thought one chemical was enough!