To Avoid Being Bitten:

Products to Apply:

Avon Skin So Soft

Skin So Soft  mixed with basil olive oil

Deep Woods Off

Bounce Fabric Softener - just wipe the sheet over your skin; the odour repels mozzies.

DEET (20 to 50 %) - not recommended for young children.  Be careful with the sprays ... the DEET will dissolve paint and some finishes ... watch your shoes etc. Some companies have wipe on sheets. Watkins sells bug lotion 28.5 % DEET.

Vicks Vaporub (but you smell like you're sick).

Clear liquid Vanilla* (not the extract from the store)

Citronella oil mixed with olive oil* (smells better than Vicks).

Homeopathic pellet remedies on the market ex. "moche noir' 30 x potency

Other Things to Try:

Don't eat bananas or wear dark clothing

Eat lots of marmite, they hate it 

Wash with Citronella soaps (with aloe).

Take 1000mg of B-1 with B-100 complex every day - start taking it at least 30 days before travelling. Supplement with Garlic pills and use repellent on exposed areas.

Clothing/Weather Factors: 

Limit exposed areas (long pants) and being in prone areas (beach at sunrise/sunset).

Stay inside in AC areas when the mozzies are really bad.

Cuba has mozzies all year round but cool nights in winter make for less to no bites.

The rainy season will cause the troops to be young and hungry.

Mozzies are attracted to CO2 so large groops of people will attract and stay away from the folige.

Sand fleas are similar to mozzies - they do not like the hot times of day. They like calm, no wind or breeze and they like the shade. They also like perspiration so when suntanning do not sit with your feet down on the sand (hard thing to do). They like the lower legs and ankles so spray repellent on your legs.

If You've Been Bitten:

The rash can produce huge welts and can get infected if you scratch (hard to avoid).

After Bite is good to relieve itching. Proceed with caution, especially with children, it contains ammonia and does sting for a moment.

Calamine Lotion,  Vitamin E,  benadryl (antihistamine) etc.

White vinegar -  dab on the bite site will bring relief. Dilute vinegar with water (1 part vinegar, 7 parts water). Also works to cool sunburned skin. Really great if applied via a washcloth that has been kept in a refrigerator.


 

*You have to be careful with using these alternatives, best to see if you are allergic or have a reaction first.