How to stop insect bites!

dewgreen


Joined: 29/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 08:44

Is there anything you can take or do to stop insect bites in the summer,as opposed to creams that can be applied after they have bitten.

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 08:50

anything with vit b in it ie marmite or spray avon skin so soft every day onto your skin. has to be the blue bottle

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 09:01

Get vitimin B complex from your local chemist and continue to take 1 a day throughout the summer that combined with Jungle Formula spray at nights should ensure you a bite free summer.



Chris

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 09:04

I use the Jungle Formula roll-on and it seems to do the trick for me.

andrew4232



Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 1543

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 09:39

i quite fancy the idea of being sprayed with marmite every day hehe, i agree vit B complex works well the little buggers dont like it

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 09:41

Burn citronella oil in normal oil lamps - use mosquito coils - use 'Johnson's Off' (available in TRNC) - spray behind curtains with aerosol cockroach strength fly-spray, also around bedhead area and on insect screens.

Make sure to to buy and use 'Vape' mats or the liquid on the heat pad type plug-in machine.



If you're really susceptible to bites (sandflies the worst culprits!), before coming to Cyprus buy the Australian machine that runs on propane/butane and bring one with your household effects - 'Google' it for details. The yanks make one, too - but not as good as the Aussie one.



This subject has been 'done to death' on this forum - the above is only a precis of what I've formerly written on the subject!

smithy


Joined: 17/07/2008
Posts: 5301

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 10:24

Swear by Avon skin so soft David

I used to get bitten so bad they would get infected last couple of years of using it hardly a bite, so worth a try

Sheila

decanddyl


Joined: 17/01/2009
Posts: 792

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 10:26

You can also get a vaccination from a chemist at 10TL, this needs repeating once a month. The only chemist we have found is at Catalkoy (just past Supreme supermarket on the left if heading out of Girnie). Garlic tablets are also supposed to work. If you are bothered like my wife she has the lot including most mentioned above.

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 11:49

My recommendation is Mosquit-ex. You can only buy it in the airport and it is expensive (my last 4 bottles cost $15.75 each (sorry, can't find the pound symbol on my keyboard!). You'll find it tucked away in a white box beside the Factor P20. Hope the price doesn't increase now!!

Someone recommended it to me years ago and I've used nothing else. Apparently it was developed originally for the army troups stations out in Africa, so you can imagine, it's dynamite.

Rub it on and it lasts 12 hrs and more. After I've used it for a few days I only need to use in the evenings. One bottle used to last me a few holidays so it's economical. Warning: don't bite your nails - it takes ages to wash off properly and tastes rotten, and ladies don't wear nail varnish - it melts it!

I changed in to shorts last Sunday and forgot to wear it, I can confirm the mozzies are now out 'with clogs on'. The 7 bites from 1hr in the sun are now blistered and weeping. If you're like me this is for you.

dewgreen


Joined: 29/06/2009
Posts: 125

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 13:35

To message 9.



Do you have any spare,I will gladly buy some from you,but I do not intend to go on a plane until August,and I assume that it can only be purchased once you have gone through to departures

vincehugo


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 208

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 14:30

Sheila,

This Avon Skin So Soft sounds like a good solution. But, being a bloke, I went on the web site and was faced with loads of products bearing that title. Is there a specific one that you would recommend.

Thanks,

Vince

lovingcyprus


Joined: 02/03/2007
Posts: 1272

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 14:48

Re message 9 look at the following:-







http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=mosquit-ex&tag=googhydr-21&index=aps&hvadid=4128486313&ref=pd_sl_8j4bpx29fm_e



http://www.chemistdirect.co.uk/riemann-mosquit-ex_1_6513.html

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 15:12

Hacı Şakir coconut shampoo (Hindistan Cevizi Sütü) seems to help me, noticed a significant drop in bites. Stopped using it and guess what they were back! Re-started and haven't been bitten since.



It's only 2.6 TL in Erdener for 700 ml!



In addition to other measures, use it as shampoo and body wash to help keep the mozzies off...

griffin9870


Joined: 01/03/2009
Posts: 92

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 16:56

Try yeast tablets and Avon Skin so soft, they work for us.

PeeCee


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 133

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 18:39

Lilli - been into the Avon web site and the So Soft range has a body lotion with a blue label - can't find a blue bottle as such. Is this the one you mean before I order it by the gallon?! Al the rain you guys have had suggests that the mozzies will have had exactly the right environment to "go forth and multiply" .

Many thanks for the advice and see you soon.

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 18:50

This E Bay link shows the old bottle

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3-AVON-SKIN-SO-SOFT-MOSQUITO-FLY-INSECT-REPELLENT-_W0QQitemZ190257418333QQcmdZViewItem?rvr_id=&rvr_id=&cguid=00c32daa1270a0e204367136fe776d74



Avon have apparently changed their bottle shapes so I assume that this is the new bottle for the original spray

http://avonshop.co.uk/product/bath-and-bodycare/skin-so-soft/skin-so-soft-original-dry-oil-body-spray.html



This body spray contains Citronella

I use it and swear by it.

PeeCee


Joined: 16/03/2009
Posts: 133

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 19:11

Many thanks

vincehugo


Joined: 28/01/2009
Posts: 208

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 21:03

Thanks YeniTom,



Have placed a bulk order . . before the rush starts!



Vince

Pippie


Joined: 02/12/2009
Posts: 1288

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 21:37

Thanks Message 12. Mosquit-ex never used to be available anywhere other than the airport, I'm glad it is now. Of course when you buy it these days, they don't give you the detailed leaflet that used to be included years ago explaining how it was originally developed. You'll just have to take my word for it!

Dewgreen, why don't you try Amazon or Chemist Direct as suggested - much cheaper than me!! Hope you get sorted.

KickingK


Joined: 14/09/2008
Posts: 90

Message Posted:
24/02/2010 21:41

I have suffered terribly with bites in the past, tried every potion and lotion going, eventually relying on MosquitX which is rather pricey at the airports or online. But after being attached so badly a couple of years ago, I ended up at the chemist and had injections to relieve my suffering.



I decided to try Avon's Skin So Soft (blue) as I had seen it mentioned in previous posts on here. Well what can I say, it was amazing for the 3 weeks I was in Cyprus during August last year I was only bitten about 3 times and that was when I left it a little late applying the stuff. It's great it moisturises too!!

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 06:21

Antihistamine taken regularly doesn't stop them biting you but stops them itching

twaddle


Joined: 06/07/2008
Posts: 245

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 10:58

Avon are currently offering skin so soft dry oil at 3 for £5 a real bargain!

http://avonshop.co.uk/product/bath-and-bodycare/skin-so-soft/skin-so-soft-original-dry-oil-body-spray.html

millerman


Joined: 30/06/2008
Posts: 21

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 12:12

For anyone in the UK, Tesco do an anti-mozzie foam spray which I used last year and for the first time I had no bites in Cyprus. I can't remember its actual name but it is in a silver aerosol and is Tesco's own label.



We also use Avon dry oil spray, Jungle spray, plug-ins, fly screens, garlic tablets, Marmite, vitamin b tablets, an electronic device which is meant to ward off mozzies, and several room sprays etc etc, but I have to say this Tesco's foam seemed to work.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 14:15

Growing 'Basil' in pots (many!) around your patio area, and Lavender bushes in the garden, deters Mossıes & Sandflies. (The genus of Sandfly in Cyprus is the 'Sicilian Sandfly').



Before settling down on your patio, gently brush hands & arms, and any exposed skin, if possible, through the foliage of the 'Basil' - you'll be amazed how effective this is as a deterrent!

soyelcin


Joined: 01/06/2009
Posts: 91

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 20:40

when using the Avon dry oil spray do you not find it attracts the sun or would you only use it evenings

Lilli



Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 13081

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 21:06

basil is wonderful, we keep a couple of pots of it in the restaurant during summer. The avon skin so soft can detract the sun. I use it after my evening shower and the effects sem to last all day . It used to be a blue bottle but they have changed the packaging. i swear by it as i do aloe vera juice xxxxxx

YeniTom


Joined: 29/12/2009
Posts: 198

Message Posted:
25/02/2010 22:42

Msg 25...

when using the Avon dry oil spray do you not find it attracts the sun or would you only use it evenings





I've only used it in the evenings. Personally never had any probs during the day