Mosquito bits

[buzzyb]

Morning,

I am being eaten alive by mosquitos, these bits become inflamed and itch until I make them bleed - several days later then they slowly heal.

Does anyone know why I seem to get bitten more than others?

Is there anything I can use to stop the inflammation and itching?

I burn citronella when I'm in the garden and use citrus oil on my skin then spray the house with fly killer when soon after we close external doors and windows but I still get attached. Is there anything else I can use to keep the little buggers away from me.

Buzzy

[jomifl]

Get rid of (if you can) standing water where they breed, fit fly screens to windows that you leave open. Mozzies do not come out in full sunshine or when it is windy. If you have to expose skin when mozzies are about use insect repellent. Avon do a skin cream that some people find very effective, I will get back to you with its name. There are several medications that reduce itching from insect bites.

[boxtops]

They certainly like some people more than others, I get bitten but OH doesn't. I believe it's to do with richness of blood? OH reckons they don't like his because he drinks and smokes, and I don't.

I've given up trying to stop them biting, but if you slap on After Bite or alcohol on the bite as soon as you know you're bitten, that stops the bite festering. http://www.lloydsphar...6bvu7ECFYQKfAodNE8ALw

I've always got a stick of After Bite with me at this time of year.

[boxtops]

Agree with jomifl too - Avon Skin so Soft dry body oil spray is excellent stuff, I forgot about that, I always take some abroad with me but forget to use it in this country.

[tenrec]

Avon make a product that stops you getting bitten.

[tenrec]

Sorry boxy you beat me to it.

[rojash]

I rarely get bitten. My wife used to despite covering herself in all sorts of foul smelling gunk. A few months ago someone recommended that she forget all about insect repellents and try using Avon Skin So Soft moisturiser. Believe it or not, she hardly ever gets bitten now, and many of her friends are using the same stuff.

[sunny-dave]

Eat loads of marmite (or smear it on your skin ...)

Alternatively take Benerva tablets (vitamin B1) - it works for quite a lot of people (including me).

[sophie_1003]

Look for a mozzie repellent with a high percentage of DEET, I believe Jungle Formula do one and you can get 100% DEET stuff but don't allow it to come into contact with plastic as it will make it melt apparently!

[RATTER15]

I think you will find that everybody is getting bitten equally as much but some are not aware of the bite, the itching is a result of an allergy to the anticoagulant that is injected into you to thin the blood to a level that is thin enough for the gnat to be able to draw it up through its minuscule mouth parts, remember blood is actually quite thick. Some are not allergic so unaware they have been bitten.

[buzzyb]

Hi all, many thanks for your responses. will order the Avon oil and get the after bit stuff. I'll also look for products with high Deet, just in case the Avon doesn't work.

buzzy

[rojash]

"I think you will find that everybody is getting bitten equally "

Well, then, you think wrong! :-)

[237SJ]

I think some people get bitten more than others. I`ve seen mozzies fly past other people to get to me. My friend said it`s people who give off more carbon dioxide through their skin than others. I used to really suffer and I do still get bitten but I don`t react anymore. I`ve probably been bitten to death and have now got some sort of immunity to the irritant. The stuff in Avon Skin so Soft is (I think) the same stuff that`s in Boots Repel Plus (the yellow one). That works for me (I`ve never bothered with DEET)