An old question but: What's the best prevention against bug bites?

Bugs the world over seem to like the taste of my blood.
Any recommendations for the best preventative medicine against mosquitos and other like minded blood suckers?

Peace
Elvino

The best defense is products containing DEET. The best treatment is Tender's After Bite (the itch eraser!).

Skin so Soft - Avon bath oil - rub that on and your just too sweet for them bugs!

Definitely Deet. I didn't get any bites on my last trip!

Do not eat the sweet bananas and don't scratch the bites you do get!

My advice is to wear SOMETHING to repel mosquitoes from afternoon til morning EVERY day. They seem more prevelent to me right now. I got a bite in Kingston under my arm and it made a horrible bruise baseball size. They also carry disease sometimes besides being a bother and pain in the arse.

I do not like to put chemicals on my skin and hate oils. I have used Coppertone BUG and SUN for years and "when I wear it" never get bitten. I love it because it feels like sun tan lotion but has DEET in it (hypoallergenic and water resistent). Feels funny to wear sunscreen at night but the point is the BUG part LOL. Its the BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Elvino

Bugs the world over seem to like the taste of my blood.
Any recommendations for the best preventative medicine against mosquitos and other like minded blood suckers?

Peace
Elvino

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You will need a product containing no less than 40 percent DEET. Try to avoid the 100 percent DEET stuff, as it is fairly toxic.

There are new products that claim success in making rooms bug-free....these are fan units that spread a scent that mosquitos don't like...

I prefer burning citronella candles in the room unless it is hopelessly buggy, then I break out multiple mosquito coils.

You can also try taking mega doses of Vitamin B complex. It will make your urine fluorescent yellow, but it does give off an odor that repels mosquitos. Garlic supplements have been reported to have a similar effect.

Interesting about the Vit. B. Will have to try that one!
I am sure the DEET works really great, but since we don't like to use harsh chemicals on our skin (esp. on our children), we have had great success using Avon's Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus. It comes in handy individually wrapped wipes, ( in addition to tubes and sprays), which are so convenient for travel. It's supposed to work for up to 8 hours too, but we have only applied it in the evenings, and it has worked out great for us so far!

Whatever you choose to use, I was told it is best to rub it into your skin rather than just spray it on.

In 10 trips, i have never seen a mosquito. Maybe its the time of year I go (Feb - April). Maybe because I am Canadian and live in a place (North Western Ontario) where there are clouds of insects in the summer, I just dont notice two or three. Having said that, we find that the only thing that works is DEET. They higher the concentration the longer it lasts. They make a version for kids that is about 12%. You have to put it on every hour. Deep Woods Off or Muskol are about 40% and last a few hours. They used to make it 99% DEET, but it would melt your clothes. Skin-so-soft and any repellant that doesn't contain DEET doesn't work.

Oh, and Afta-Bite is essentially......ammonia....seriously...

Fresh lime juice takes away the itch, and is readily available.

Has anyone tried wearing a pet flea collar around the ankles at sunset? I was going to give it a try this reach.

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Originally Posted by Stoners6

Has anyone tried wearing a pet flea collar around the ankles at sunset? I was going to give it a try this reach.

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There's probably a bunch of reasons why this is not a good idea but I'd be curious to know if that really works. :)

If you are outside or in your room the HiLo and ValueMaster(I think that's the name) sells this bug spray in a green can. O M G...that stuff works!!! Just spray it around the doors and windows or wherever you are sitting.

Boring....

I prefer the Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum option.

As Baloo Jr recommended "get pissed early"!!!

That way you don't give a flying bumba clot about no ras clot bugs!!!

Enjoy,

VVHT

the first 10 years i weny,i used to get a couple hundred sand flea bites on my ankles.then i decided to give the flea collers a try,and they worked awsome.not one sand flea bite at all.so the last 22 years ive used them,and recomend them highly.do not put them on tight though.leave enough room so they slide up and down your leg.leave them on in the water so it washes off.i put them on when i get there and take them off when i leave.i also sleep with them on.if they dont slide up and down your leg,you will get a rash,so leave them loose and have a great time in jamaica.

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Originally Posted by gluecipher

In 10 trips, i have never seen a mosquito. Maybe its the time of year I go (Feb - April). Maybe because I am Canadian and live in a place (North Western Ontario) where there are clouds of insects in the summer, I just dont notice two or three. Having said that, we find that the only thing that works is DEET. They higher the concentration the longer it lasts. They make a version for kids that is about 12%. You have to put it on every hour. Deep Woods Off or Muskol are about 40% and last a few hours. They used to make it 99% DEET, but it would melt your clothes. Skin-so-soft and any repellant that doesn't contain DEET doesn't work.

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I get eaten alive here too gluecipher! Must be the beer......

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Originally Posted by VVHT

Boring....

I prefer the Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum option.

As Baloo Jr recommended "get pissed early"!!!

That way you don't give a flying bumba clot about no ras clot bugs!!!

Enjoy,

VVHT

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JB works too. One night we were hanging out with a number of my gentleman's friends in the yard. The rum flowing and so were the tall tales. I swore the more rum I had, the better I could follow the patois. We were laughing and having such a good time. Suddenly I realized that I had had a "wee bit too much" and after contemplating how I was going to make a graceful exit for about 20 minutes (way too many witnesses, I didn't want the guys to see I had hit the wall), I managed to stand up and make my way around the back of the board house without losing too much of my dignity. I was sitting in the back door on the bed room floor, trying to let my head clear. My friend checked on me often to make sure I was OK but I would not be budged. At some point, I decided that since the mosquitoes didn't seem to be biting so I could lie down right where I was for just a little while.....

As the morning sun was heating up my legs, which had been hanging out the back door all night - I realized that the skeeters had been quite active - but JB never let me feel a ting!

I looked up at where my friend was sleeping on the bed - safely wrapped in a sheet, bite free and comfy. "Hey! Why didn't you get me up?" "I tried babes but there was no budging you."

Moral of the story: JB does not make a good husband but it's great as an anesthetic!

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Originally Posted by mud

the first 10 years i weny,i used to get a couple hundred sand flea bites on my ankles.then i decided to give the flea collers a try,and they worked awsome.not one sand flea bite at all.so the last 22 years ive used them,and recomend them highly.do not put them on tight though.leave enough room so they slide up and down your leg.leave them on in the water so it washes off.i put them on when i get there and take them off when i leave.i also sleep with them on.if they dont slide up and down your leg,you will get a rash,so leave them loose and have a great time in jamaica.

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NO! NO! NO! I don't know how often I have to say this but, NO!!!!!

ANIMAL FLEA COLLARS ARE POISONOUS TO HUMANS.

Please read the following:

http://www.nmcphc.med.navy.mil/downl..._Sheet0305.pdf

if you will look at the pictures that you have posted,you will see the marks of the flea collers on his ankles.the reason being that he wore them under his sock TIGHT against his skin.i wear mine loosly on my ankles so they can slide up and down your skin and are NOT tight against the skin.i dont think the solder was getting then washed off in the water either.mine is washed of all the time im in the water and move around on my ankles.they get wet,dry off then get wet and move around.deet, that you rub, in is in contact with your skin for a longer time than the flea collers.i wear them for 3 weeks straight every year ive gone to jamaica.(20 years).without a single incident.and no bites. i write this every year you put those pictures up.a lot of people that i know have done this and have written me to thank me for the relief that they have gotten from the collers.so you can say no,no no,but i speaking from many years of wearing them,say yes ,yes,yes,as long as you wear them loosly.you might want to try them too,so you could speak from experience.i KNOW what im talking about.

SweetSue,

LMAO!! :)

Mud, you're very convincing. Weird things about mosquitos and sand fleas is some people never get bit at all and others do get bit .... The bugs are discerning .....

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Originally Posted by gerryg123

Mud, you're very convincing. Weird things about mosquitos and sand fleas is some people never get bit at all and others do get bit .... The bugs are discerning .....

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After three trips, niether my wife nor myself have ever been bitten. Coming from the boreal forrest, where mosquitos like anything warm blooded including us, I don't get it.

Is there an "off season" for mosquitos in Negril? Maybe we just miss them due to our February reaches.

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Originally Posted by mud

if you will look at the pictures that you have posted,you will see the marks of the flea collers on his ankles.the reason being that he wore them under his sock TIGHT against his skin.i wear mine loosly on my ankles so they can slide up and down your skin and are NOT tight against the skin.i dont think the solder was getting then washed off in the water either.mine is washed of all the time im in the water and move around on my ankles.they get wet,dry off then get wet and move around.deet, that you rub, in is in contact with your skin for a longer time than the flea collers.i wear them for 3 weeks straight every year ive gone to jamaica.(20 years).without a single incident.and no bites. i write this every year you put those pictures up.a lot of people that i know have done this and have written me to thank me for the relief that they have gotten from the collers.so you can say no,no no,but i speaking from many years of wearing them,say yes ,yes,yes,as long as you wear them loosly.you might want to try them too,so you could speak from experience.i KNOW what im talking about.

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The chemical DEET is FAR less toxic to humans than the pesticides in animal flea collars. That, sir, you cannot debate. There is a reason that the flea collars will brand your skin like fire....THEY ARE TOXIC TO HUMANS. I don't know what it would take to convince you of this...I suppose you are more informed and intelligent on this topic than the US Department of Defense....

You are spreading some very dangerous misinformation. There is no safe way to wear an animal flea collar. If this thing is close enough to your skin to keep any bugs away (and, if you bothered to do any research, you would find that it doesn't) then you are subjecting yourself to the same toxins as the bugs are encountering when they approach your skin.

http://content.usatoday.com/communit...1#.UIRe8obleSo

http://www.afpmb.org/sites/default/f..._collar_af.pdf

Look, if you want to wear an organophosphate neurotoxin, that is your business. Promoting its use by others is irresponsible, dangerous and inexcusable. Stop it.

The danger is primarily the opportunity tor your body to absorb these toxins through the open pores of your skin and finding a home in your fat and organs. You would not know the contamination levels without a tissue analysis. The fact that you may have no external effects is misleading. Err on the side of caution please. Deet is not harmless but in controlled proportions is preferrable to the potential diseases contracted from mosquitoes.

The US Navy came out with their report in 2005 and states quite clearly that "Wearing flea and tick collars may cause illness andshould not be used by people."

http://www.nmcphc.med.navy.mil/downl..._Sheet0305.pdf

The US Military Force Health Protection and Readiness state that animal flea and tic collars should never be worn by humans:

"Flea and tick collars contain the pesticides organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids and organochloride. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these chemicals may produce adverse effects and have not been tested for human use. Flea and tick collars are not approved for humans and, in fact, are quite detrimental to the skin. Human skin is different from that of dogs, and the pesticides tend to burn the skin.

Current Facts


How do animal flea and tick collars cause illness in humans?
Sweat can draw chemicals from flea and tick collars in large quantities, even right through fabrics and boot materials. This can result in direct skin damage (like the burns seen in the photograph below) or possible damage to internal organs if the chemicals are absorbed through the skin's pores.


Why are animal flea and tick collars safer for dogs and cats?
Flea and tick collars are not as hazardous for dogs and cats because these animals do not sweat. Even so, flea and tick collars can be harmful to animals if not used in strict accordance with label directions and precautions. For example, chemical burns may result on dogs and cats if the collars are tightened too tightly."

http://fhpr.osd.mil/factsheetDetail.jsp?fact=20

As RockRobster has mentioned, promoting its use by others is irresponsible, dangerous and inexcusable. So Mud, we are asking you kindly to please stop passing on this terribly dangerous misinformation. Any further suggestions of the human use of animal flea and tic collars will be removed.

enough said