Mosquito Repellent

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Rae1889

Rae1889

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Just wondering what you all use for a mosquito repellent?

I am allergic to most bug bites (not as bad as my mother but bad enough that I swell and itch for days) and to make matters worse, I am allergic to ANYTHING that has DEET in it. Includign in low concentrations (skin-so-soft or skintastic or whatever its called has a low concentration of DEET and gives me hives) Aerosol Off! or Muskol (DEET) if I inhale it causes anaphyaltic shock, and if I spray it on I swell so bad my throat closes off or my eyes swell shut, or my ears swell shut or I cant use my joints because the area around it is so swollen.

Citronella Spray doesnt do anything to help. I feel Like I have to bathe in it every 10 minutes to get any relief. I used to take an oral medication when I was younger to repel insects during the summer (as Manitobas "bird" is the mosquito and they are often joked about being the Canadian Air Force because thats how many there are) and I googled this and it turns out this was just a large dose of Vitamin B that I took for years (side question, can taking large doses Vitamin B for so long cause seizures when you stop)

So Id like to know if you do anything to keep mosquitos away, and what you use as an afterbite itch help
 
I take a couple drops of Vanilla Extract and spread it over my neck, a bit on my forehead underneath my hair, a little behind each ear, and some around my wrists where my skin is exposed.

It smells lovely, and it keeps all bugs at bay, not just mosquitos and gnats. You'll need to put more on every 45 minutes to an hour though.

Plus, it's natural, so unless you're allergic to it there's no problems. :)
Oh, and it washes right off so it doesn't stick around and cause skin problems. :)
 
HMM... never thought of vanilla. Gonna have to try that I think. I may smell like vanilla vodka all day, but its better than those smelling like Off! or citronella. lol! thanks I will try that out!
 
Honestly I have no idea why it works, but my family has been using it for generations working on their farms, or for my family, out in our garden. If you sweat a lot, you'll have to apply it more often. :)

The thing about it is, because it's dark and it's on your skin, it tends to be easily noticed, especially if you're pale. That's why I put it under my hairline :)
 
I would assume so. I believe it's the actual substance in vanilla that creates the smell that drives them away.... Not 100% sure on that though, because I've not seen any research or anything into it. :)

Cheap "fake" vanilla extract that has no actual vanilla in it works just as well, so I assume vanilla essence would as well. :)
 
You can get clear vanilla extract as well. Wilton makes to use in the white buttercream icing.
 
deep woods off is the best!!!! and i do not care if it can cause seizures cuz i have em anyway----lol its also excellent for tanning
 
Skin So Soft works, and it's not a bug repellant. It's made by Avon so you'd have to find a rep.

Long ago I read about fabric softener sheets. Haven't tried it, but maybe it's worth a try?

Mosquitos are bad here in north Texas. We didn't have a cold enough winter to kill the existing ones. My neighborhood was sprayed last night because someone came down with west Nile virus.

Public service announcement for dog owners- if you have a mosquito problem, PLEASE remember to give them heartworm preventative. :)
 
The old-fashioned company Watkins also makes a clear vanilla extract that is available at some retail outlets and also online.

Thanks for the tip Silat. My husband when fishing a few weeks ago and got covered with bites. It caused such a histamine reaction that he ended up with hives within a few days too.. not a fun fishing trip.
 
as a native Minnesotan living in Texas for 20 years I imagined myself 'tough' (i.e. 'stupid') enough to be able to brave any measly mosquito the south threw at me.
well it turns out they are literally measly, west niley... especially around here.
I've started using an Off repellent over a couple days. Last night my friend was over at the same time I was noticing a wretched smell. I was thinking it was her because she had just gotten off work in a restaurant. This morning I put on the DEET again and the smell hit me again and it occurred to me this was the smell.
I am not wearing this stuff again. The DEET seeps into ones blood with long-term exposure. Aside from that, this smelles horrid - like a mint-anise-curry something. The smell is penetrating, and I think I had a sleep seizure last night. I woke up feeling gross, dazed.

I'm not wearing that stuff again.

here's a link to some natural solutions:
http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/natural-insect-repellents-460608

Whether or not they work is not known to me.
Long pants and shirt also help.


Rae1889 said:
Just wondering what you all use for a mosquito repellent?

I am allergic to most bug bites (not as bad as my mother but bad enough that I swell and itch for days) and to make matters worse, I am allergic to ANYTHING that has DEET in it. Includign in low concentrations (skin-so-soft or skintastic or whatever its called has a low concentration of DEET and gives me hives) Aerosol Off! or Muskol (DEET) if I inhale it causes anaphyaltic shock, and if I spray it on I swell so bad my throat closes off or my eyes swell shut, or my ears swell shut or I cant use my joints because the area around it is so swollen.

Citronella Spray doesnt do anything to help. I feel Like I have to bathe in it every 10 minutes to get any relief. I used to take an oral medication when I was younger to repel insects during the summer (as Manitobas "bird" is the mosquito and they are often joked about being the Canadian Air Force because thats how many there are) and I googled this and it turns out this was just a large dose of Vitamin B that I took for years (side question, can taking large doses Vitamin B for so long cause seizures when you stop)

So Id like to know if you do anything to keep mosquitos away, and what you use as an afterbite itch help
Click to expand...
 
i just been bitten 5mins agoi never knew vanilla was used will try that now
 
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