Can You Prevent Bug Bites?

There have been many scientific studies to determine effectiveness of alternative insect repellents, and they all failed. Including Avon's Skin so Soft - it does not work. DEET is the only effective insect repellent, and yes it smells bad.

Vanilla extract (NOT vanilla flavoring... actual vanilla extract) mixed with water makes a decent repellant. Eating garlic or taking garlic capsules repels mosquitos. (We tried this out camping in the mountains near a pond for a week, didn't use any bug spray. Didn't get a single bite. My brothers refused, used regular bug spray, and got ate up. Ha ha, girls rule. ;) lol.) Eating bananas will ATTRACT mosquitos, I'm not sure why, but they do. So avoid those. lol. you can also use fabric softener sheets, and tuck one in a belt loop. if you wear a hat tuck one in the hat band (on the outside). We used to do this for our horses (tuck one under the bridle strap, and one under the rear cinch, and they didn't get bit.) You might also try getting those tiki torches, and use the citronella oil or get some citronella candles to burn while you are in the garden, or when the bugs are really bad. Good luck!

I've always liked Avon's "Skin So Soft" lotion for keeping bugs away. It comes in a spray (at least it used to...haven't bought it in ages...) and it always worked for me as far as keeping mosquitos away...and, of course, it's nice on your skin and smells great! :)

They sell little things that you clip on to your pocket or whatever, like you would a cell phone carrier and it is supposed to repel bugs :)

I found out it's Off! Mosquito repellent, probably repels gnats too if you have those... I do not miss those from East Coast lol (that and water bugs).

You could also buy those bug repellent torches and place them strategically in your yard where you usually are in the spring, summer, fall.

You can also use Bite Blocker, an all natural repellent, or California baby.

I have heard, that mosquitoes bite per the blood type a person is.
????
Maybe look it up online.

But yes, Avon's Skin So Soft.
They also have insect repellents for the skin.
Try their website.

Or go to natural food stores.
They have some too.
Without DEET.

I am like you. If there are ten of us sitting around the campfire, I'm the one who gets attacked by bugs while everyone else sits comfortably, watching me scratch! It does have to do with blood type, but also how much carbon dioxide you emit and the chemicals your body emits. (Pregnant women are a great target because they emit tons of scents and carbon dioxide).

I've tried Skin So Soft. Yes, it smells great, but it only works for about 10 minutes for me. I have to constantly reapply it in order for it to be even slightly effective.

I'm trying something new this year. It's called Bite Free Natural Cream. It's made from all-natural ingredients and is supposedly odorless. They only place I've found it on Lehmans.com (which is a very cool website if you've never been. They specialize in non-electric products for the Amish.)

Here's hoping for a less-scratchy summer.

http://keystosimpleliving.com/index.php

I am not a fan of chemicals on the skin. If you take a multivitamin your body will naturally excrete a scent bugs don't like. I believe it is the Vitamin B.

PS. How sad anyone would assume you do not have good hygiene. I would like to believe that no one would jump to that conclusion.

One of my girls is extemely allergic to mosquitoes (funny, never heard of it, but the dr confirmed it), and she gets huge welts from one tiny bite that doesn't go down for days. And, of course our sitter lives in a wooded area and they play outside most of the day. Last year we bought these "bug bracelets" and they seemed to work well - she wasn't coming home with tons of bites. We got them at a drug store, I cannot remember which one, but we will definately be on the look out for them this year.

Bounce dryer sheets
Skin so soft
Flys don't like Basil

You can try herbal bug repellent. I have one from Burt's Bee Balm that has Tea Tree, Rosemary, Lemon Grass, Citronella and other essential oils. It smells really good compared the the chemical ones.

I was born in Biloxi, MS, which is on the Gulf Coast, and lived there for 28 years. Mosquitoes and horseflies abound all year- even in the "winter." If you don"t have terribly sensitive skin, rub a sheet of Bounce dryer sheets on your arms, legs, and any exposed skin, save your face. It works!!! Unless you enter water, whether it be a pool, creek, or salty body of water.

I use mouth wash in a spray bottle that I spray around the area that I will be sitting in or around. Also I use Avon Skin so soft spray or when I can find it they sometimes have towlets. That is about the only thing that works for me not to get bitten by the misquitos when they are out.

eat alot of garlic i put garlic in everything and on my cat and dogs food too and never have flea issues.

I have had great luck with avon's brand of bug repelent. Avon's doesn't have any deet in it and it's safe for the kids too. We just moved to Virginia from California and I never really had to use it in CA unless we were visiting family out here in the summer. I will be stocking up on it soon because when I do get a bite, they turn into HUGE welts and get all red and hot to the touch. So, I will be buying a lot of the avon brand bug spray!