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Post by WindDancer on Jul 10, 2013 8:15:17 GMT
I get bitten a lot and so I'm a great fan of Avon Skin So Soft which I find very effective.
When they do get me I can react quite badly to the bites and I'm wondering what people find to be effective to calm the itch down? I've not found anything very effective yet as most stuff only lasts a short time.
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Post by Firefox on Jul 10, 2013 10:10:02 GMT
Savlon or sudocream works for me for two or three hours, but you have to keep reapplying it.
My main defence is to keep covered up in the first place and it reduces the risk of skin cancer too.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 10:08:19 GMT
Take a low dosage anti histamine tablet (piriton) for a few days, and dab lavender oil neat onto the bites every few hours. About 15 drops of lavender oil and a couple of chamomile tea bags in the bath helps too, this is also effective for sunburn. Also for prevention, add 15 drops each of tea tree oil and citronella oil in bath water. You can make up a tea tree citronella water spray for hair, clothes, soft furnishings and carpet in van and can also use this for dogs if they are bothered by flies.
Add few drops of oils into all your shampoo, conditioner, body lotion etc. Shake before use to blend.
I've also got one of those mini electric shock devices (got it from a major supermarket I think) which you click on the bite a few times, it gives a small electric shock which works by stimulating the natural endorphins I think. It might just be placebo effect but it seems to help me and I react badly to midgie bites.
Finally, take up smoking! Smoke is best deterrent ~ the incense type mossie coils are good and last several hours.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 10:16:50 GMT
P.S. the effective ingredient in the Avon stuff is citronella ~ you can get a bottle of citronella oil for about £2 in supermarket or health food shop, works out much cheaper, takes up less space and can be kept in pocket, and safe for dogs. Same with tea tree oil and lavender. I got various bottles of these oils stashed everywhere ~ van, hand bag, first aid kit etc. Tea tree oil is very good disinfectant and safe to use on dog injuries. Florence Nightingale discovered how effective lavender oil is for burns and calming and healing in the Crimean war.
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Post by kangooroo on Jul 11, 2013 12:42:14 GMT
Thanks for the tips - worth knowing. I'm nursing lots of nice red and swollen bites following my dip in the pond on Monday. Does Citronella oil need to be diluted and, if so, in what?!
I have some Jungle Formula on order from good old Amazon but spraying myself in DEET doesn't really appeal.
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Post by Firefox on Jul 11, 2013 13:19:00 GMT
Good tips, wvw. I don't usually expose myself to nasty biting things, but with Kangooroo's new outdoor spa and an inviting Indian summer hopefully, I might make the odd exception as it is well shaded from the sun too underneath a nice canopy  |
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Post by kangooroo on Jul 11, 2013 13:39:30 GMT
Good tips, wvw. I don't usually expose myself to nasty biting things, but with Kangooroo's new outdoor spa and an inviting Indian summer hopefully, I might make the odd exception as it is well shaded from the sun too underneath a nice canopy I could have written that myself. Since your visit, the flies including swarms of horseflies, are out in force attracted by the shade and the wonderful stream. I don't normally use anything other than a quick spray of Avon SSS at most and usually don't even bother with this, but some precautions are needed by the stream now. |
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Post by Deleted on Jul 11, 2013 17:43:39 GMT
Am not a qualified herbalist, just got keen interest, but I believe that lavender oil is the only oil you can use neat on the skin and even then with care especially on delicate skin. If in doubt mix 10 drops of lavender oil in 10 ml of a light carrier oil e.g. Olive oil, almond oil. The oils are very concentrated and over use in same spot can cause irritation. Citronella is a particularly strong oil, I only put 5 drops in bath and can smell it through the whole house. You can use it neat on fabric etc without harm except maybe a small grease spot on delicate or light coloured fabrics so a water spray is better.
Tip ~ try neat lavender on a minor burn from cooking or ironing etc, you will be amazed, it's like magic, takes all the heat and pain away and helps to heal it super quick. I think lavender is magic ~ apparently 600 medicinal uses, always have a bottle with me, in fact I now buy a large bottle online and decant so it's even cheaper. Don't pay more than £3 a bottle and make sure it's pure essential oil, not just a fragrance oil. Citronella is around same price.
Have a look at a good herbalist website for more info about dilution etc.
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Post by ambulancechaser on Jul 18, 2013 8:52:38 GMT
I react really bad to mozzy bites and get bitten all the time while away. Last year i was told about vitamin b1 so i tried it. It worked a treat only 3 bites in the month away compared to 10+ a night. You start taking it 2 weeks before you go. Ive just started it for this years euro tour.
Skin so soft didnt work for me and the other lotions didnt work either.
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Post by kangooroo on Jul 18, 2013 10:38:55 GMT
I went down to our stream yesterday where the mozzies gather, sharpening their teeth knowing I'll be heading there to seek refuge in the shade. As usual, there were swarms of mozzies hovering but this time I was armed with neat Citronella oil daubed all over my clothing and stayed there for about 2 hours followed by a further hour in the field picking grass. Unlike previous visits I didn't get eaten at all this time - not a single nip or bite (but am still scratching at the bites of 2 weeks ago) and I've given it a good review on Amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2OJY4G6MSD7MC/ref=cm_cr_dp_title?ie=UTF8&ASIN=B00BBUF404&channel=detail-glance&nodeID=11052681&store=kitchen It's undoubtedly effective and a very good buy for £4.99/100ml - even if it has increased in price since I ordered mine. (Please feel free to give my review a 'Helpful' vote  ) |
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Post by WindDancer on Jul 18, 2013 21:11:17 GMT
Thanks for that Kangooroo. Now judging by your avatar, you need to go trial a sun lotion  |
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Post by kangooroo on Jul 18, 2013 21:27:31 GMT
No, I'm just hot but showing off the new gnashers!
(I still burn, blister and peel even with Factor 50 - white freckled skin and strong sun are not a good combination!)
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Post by fletch on May 1, 2014 6:45:50 GMT
I'd give anything to find a way of deterring the mossies from biting. For whatever reason I'm often bitten when everybody else around are left being left alone which I wouldn't be so bothered about if I didn't react so badly to the bites, often returning with swelling & wounds for weeks afterwards. I spend a lot of my time in Egypt & return like a red swollen pin cushion every time!
Over the years I have tried everything, from high strength garlic capsules, vitamin B1 (both courses started 1 month before travel), antihistamines, high strength deet, mosquito repellent sun lotion, you name it & I've probably tried it but still haven't found a cure. They even seem to have the ability to penetrate barriers & chemical defences with windows kept closed at night and spraying the environment with mosquito killer whilst using a couple of electric plug in mosquito repellents also left switched on constantly, I'm sure that they eat citronella for breakfast before they go on the hunt ...... bleddy things!
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Post by donkeytoo on May 1, 2014 7:24:27 GMT
I'd give anything to find a way of deterring the mossies from biting. For whatever reason I'm often bitten when everybody else around are left being left alone which wouldn't bother me if I didn't react so badly to the bites. Often being left with swelling & wounds for weeks afterwards. I spend a lot of my time in Egypt & return like a red swollen pin cushion every time! Over the years I have tried everything, from high strength garlic capsules, vitamin B1 (both courses started 1 month before travel), antihistamines, high strength deet, mosquito repellent sun lotion, you name it & I've probably tried it but still haven't found a cure. I even declare chemical warfare on them by closing windows at night and spraying the environment with mosquito killer whilst using a couple ofelectric plug in mosquito repellents which I leave constantly switched on day & night, but they still seem to penetrate my defences ...... bleddy things!  Bear Grease works and can be bought on line from some survival products sellers. There is also an old trapper remedy that involves boiling up wood tar and other things and spreading it all over you. but they say that you should not wash more than twice a year. LOL Seriously though> stop using perfumed soaps etc. use only pure soap, like mum used to do the washing with. And it is true that the biting thingies do not like dirty skin. |
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Post by donkeytoo on May 1, 2014 7:26:55 GMT
Also to calm the skin after nasty bites. Use brewed vinegar in warm water, in the bath is best but if no bath then dab it on with a sponge. This is a sure fire remedy for sunburn as well.Try it, it works.
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Post by campervanannie on May 1, 2014 9:21:55 GMT
I came away from the mudfest meet with 87 bites never suffered before but we were sat right next to a stagnent pool of water near where we had the fire and because I am on emune suppressants for my RA I have had quite a bad reaction I went to the chemists and they recommended Anthisan it does take the itch out of the bites. but I will be trying some or all of your remedies.
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Post by X on May 1, 2014 9:37:11 GMT
I came away from the mudfest meet with 87 bites never suffered before but we were sat right next to a stagnent pool of water near where we had the fire and because I am on emune suppressants for my RA I have had quite a bad reaction I went to the chemists and they recommended Anthisan it does take the itch out of the bites. but I will be trying some or all of your remedies. Well what do you expect at a meet in the swamplands of southern england ? Although I suspect it was something nasty another camper was carrying I would get a Check up urgently well at least a check up from the neck up  |
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Post by penny13 on May 1, 2014 10:29:34 GMT
I came away from the mudfest meet with 87 bites never suffered before but we were sat right next to a stagnent pool of water near where we had the fire and because I am on emune suppressants for my RA I have had quite a bad reaction I went to the chemists and they recommended Anthisan it does take the itch out of the bites. but I will be trying some or all of your remedies. Well what do you expect at a meet in the swamplands of southern england ? Although I suspect it was something nasty another camper was carrying I would get a Check up urgently well at least a check up from the neck up Oh Annie I was bitten twice I am not so sweet  you never said on mon morning  |
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you never said on mon morning 
Hi we nearly always freecamp - old age pension gives loads of leisure time but too little money to pay camp site fees. 
The van has solar panel, large water tank So we are pretty self sufficient. Jon
x