OT: mosquitos and bites

[ewatkins]

My son (11) is a mosquito magnet -- I was outside all afternoon and never saw a bug. He comes out for 15 min. and has 5 bites! I seem to remember there is something you can take (B vitamin?) to make yourself less appealing. Any ideas? His teacher told him to eat garlic but I think she was kidding.

Then, once he's scratching in agony, what is the best remedy? Drugstore, homeopathic, folk remedies?

[foodiedelite]

We use the Avon Skin So Soft Body Oil and recently have discovered the SSS Body Lotion also seems to repel mosquitoes.

Products with DEET also repel, but mixed reviews on the safety issue with DEET.

Remember reading somewhere that garlic is a deterrent, but wonder how much one would have to consume? Meanwhile, we're sticking with Avon SSS.

[ewatkins]

Where do you get the Avon body oil? I have heard of that, but don't know any "Avon ladies".

[sherri]

The skin so soft lotion is good from Avon.
I think you can probably look online and there should be a website (hopefully).
I feel for your son, I get mosquito bites all the time!!

[Mamasue]

The Avon stuff never worked for me. Here is a tip that stops the itch and it works. Take your fingernail and make a cross on the bite pressing down which makes an indentation. My father told us kids to do this years ago and to this day I still do and it works. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[lsdesign]

I know a lot of folks swears by Avon SSS however I think that it falls under the category of urban legend. Mosquitos are attracted by moisture and a person's breath. I don't know about the garlic thing but there are garlic pills that you can take that won't give you bad breath and might create a natural repellant.

[Gail]

Purina Mosquito Chow here...

It's a problem, because if you're REALLY attractive to mosquitoes, no matter what you use, they seem to get you. Given the amount of garlic I consume, I've got to doubt that particular method's efficacy. Over the years, I've used OFF, Cutter's and something I got from MMM (sample from manufacturer) which all work pretty well-- problem is that the little darlings will still nip at me through clothes or any fraction of my body I miss. Apparently, I must be a delicious, definitely not fat-free delicacy!

Insofar as soothing the bites go-- well, Caladryl is good for maybe thirty seconds or so-- but for those of us who swell and get welts, it's Benedryl or nothing. There is a Benedryl topical which is more effective than Caladryl in my opinion, and it's usually prudent to hit from the inside out with some type of antishistamine or anti-inflammatory drug. If you son doesn't get it as badly as I do, some OTC antihistamine might work fine (Benedryl will knock him on his backside most probably.) I have also received a prescription lotion from my dermatologist to help squelch itching and irritation because for me a bug bite isn't a minor irritation.

Good luck!

PS I was going to ask why you posted this on the Great Food board, but given the circumstances, I suppose it DOES qualify... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif

[Tiger]

Mamasue- As a kid we always did the cross thing too! But after we made the cross we would spinkle salt on it. (Even than I was showing signs of liking cooking!)
I'm allergic to mos. bites. Agggggggggh!

[BlueMoose]

Full body armour covered with a layer of mosquito netting.

[SusanMac]

Another remedy to prevent itching/scratching....put clear nail polish on each bite and let it dry. It lasts for a few days, then you'll have to do it again.

[food girl]

I am like than first Mc Donalds on the mosquito highway! I will get bites on my scalp!

I have tried EVERYTHING. The only thing that works for me is Deep Woods OFF - No SSS, skin-tastic, garlic pills or wrist bands.

10% Cortisone works the best for me once the little buggers have me.

I once read where you shouldn't kill the mosquito when it bites you. If it is slow enough to be killed then only the fast ones will survive, a la natural selection!

Lisa

[sneezles]

The little buggers don't seem to like me and DH claims it's all the wine I drink! Not a good concept for a 5 yr old though!

[ewatkins]

Thanks for the ideas -- I did get an extra large tube of the Benadryl cream. The problem is once he itches it and breaks the skin, you can't put on the Benadyl.
I do remember the cross thing from being a kid--I'll suggest it to him.

[ElinorC]

I sympathize since I also attract mosquitos and all little biting things. I have tried all the Deet lotions and also Avon SSS lotion which doesn't do a thing for me. I also get bitten through clothing (Gail, we definitely shouldn't get together or we'd attract all the bugs in the world!) I am careful to use non-scented lotions, soap, etc. and use Benadryl lotion and anti-histamines to help after the bites. I have found that mouthwash (such as Listerine)will help the itching somewhat and I'm sure a calamine lotion would also help.

[Karen M]

Apply rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and wet the area that itches. This works really well for me.

[Don]

A word of caution if you live in the Northeasst. If your son is bitten by a mosquito and shows any flu-like symptoms, please take him to a doctor at once. West Nile virus has already been found in CT, NJ and MD this Summer, which is much earlier than expected and may indicate a bad season for the disease. It's always better to be safe than sorry.