Itchy Bug Bites
 

Does anyone know a fool-proof way to keep bugs from biting when you're outside? I've tried Off, Cutter's, Skin-So-Soft, dryer sheets, fans and nearly everything else anyone has suggested over many years, to absolutely no avail. I am very allergic to all kinds of bug bites and, of course, the little creatures love me. I am already covered in welts and itch all day long from no-see-em bites I got while I was cutting the grass the other day. The doctor can give me pills for the reaction, but then I can't function. I am hoping someone on this wonderful board will know how to stop/prevent these critters from menacing me this summer, or at least how to stop the itching without having to take drugs.

Have you tried those bug repellent things that hang on your belt...can't recall what they are called, but heard they work.
Maybe someone else know what I am talking about.

That's awful, I'm so sorry you're suffering. Bactene seems to help with the itching. As for repeling the bugs, someone once told me to add more fresh garlic in my diet, Supposedly it makes you not smell so good the to the bugs. Not sure how true it is, but we eat lots of garlic and don't usually get many bites during the summer.

I take garlique every day and it keeps them from biting me. I have heard about giving garlic to dogs i think you have to keep it up not just once in a while.

You might try an oatmeal bath with cool to warm water. Hot water will make the bites itch more. Good luck. Hope you can find a solution other than medications.

Burts Bees -- The herbal fragrances you love can ward off the buzzing pests you hate. Our natural blend of Rosemary, Lemongrass, Citronella Oil and other essential oils can form a scented force field between you and those biting and stinging party crashers. Talk about a bug repellent double-whammy!

• Wards off bugs with blend of Rosemary, Lemongrass, Citronella Oil and other essential oils
• Refreshing herbal scent

Haven't tried it but it sounds like it would at least smell good.


Here's another option:

Citronella plants, the official name is Citrosa Geranium. They work well against all sorts of bugs and flies.

Oooh, I hope you meant NOT giving garlic to dogs. My vet told me garlic and onions are toxic to dogs. :(

to stop the itch you may want to put a cup of baking soda in a bath and soak for a little bit....

here's a link to the product http://www.off.com/ClipOn.aspx
i, too, have heard that it really works

rose geranium essential oil or lavender essential oil applied sparingly works fairly well too.

Try drinking some quinine water...(tonic water)....it has quinine in it and should help. I take quinine every day and one of the "good" side effects is that mosquitos don't come within 20 feet of me.

It would also help to wear long pants and long sleeve shirts while cutting the grass. That would keep a lot of the bugs off of you.

Do you use hairspray, scented shampoo, deodorant, hand lotion, perfume, scented hand soap or laundry soap, etc? These products turn you into a fragrant flower that attracts bugs.

Wendy,
I can so relate! When I go out to garden I spray a fogger and that helps alot! Sometimes I put alcohol on my bite to help with itching but recently I use After Bite. It is easy to carry much like an epi pen.
www.theitcheraser.com
Good luck
dawn227

Rub alcohol on your legs and arms; I didn't believe it but it works! An elderly lady shared it with me as flies are very bad here in the summer to me. Tks. G

I am plagued with terrible itching from bites. My husband swear by Anti Itch cream from Rite Aid, but my very favorite is a product called After Bite. Hope one of these work for you.

Check with your vet before giving garlic to your pet. It contains a substance than can cause kidney damage in small animals if they get too much.

An old farmers tip, which I use all the time (when I'm working in the garden)... Vick's Vapor Rub. I put a dab or two on each temple, my hairline above my far head, on my neck, under my chin, and at the back of my neck. This has been remarkable effective in keeping bugs away from my face... especially when working outside in the evening. A bonus to me is that I love the smell... but not all my loved ones feel the same.

P.S. I've been using the same jar for eons.

To stop the itch put deoderant on it, like ban. Whaterever the ingredient in that brand is, works to stop the itch. What I have now doesn't have that ingredient. A friend told me that 30 years ago and it does work.

My daughter has been allergic to bites since she was a small baby. She had to sleep surrounded by misquito netting. She has been hospitalized three times for treatment of severe allergic reactions. She finally went to a new allergist and he
skin tested her for allergies to the bugs habitat not the bugs saliva and Bingo, there were the allergies. This sounds crazy
but she was put on a "non sleepy" antihistamine and an anti acid drug daily, when spring starts. It works well...if anyone
would like to know the names of these over the counter drugs, I can find out.

Vanilla works but not imitation has to be real vanilla extract. My daughter used the off clip on. Says it's ok if sitting but if windy or moving it doesn't. They also have bug bracelets.
You poor thing I can see you outside jn long sleeves and pants smelling like garlic and all kinds of bug repellents gadjets attached to you!!
Hope something works!!!

I use a homeopathic remedy Apis and find it works with any kind of insect bite.

Have you tried Listerine?
Dodee

I also have used the afterbite stick for years on itchy bites. I also use windex when I am out of it... LOL! The ingredient that is in the stick is ammonia! I guess the "Big Fat Greek Wedding" dad was right! (He used it on everything and called it a miracle cure all, remember?)

As for a natural spray for the bugs not biting you? I don't know any. I have heard from hikers that if you eat banannas the bugs don't bite you. The potassium is offensive to them.

I'm going to try this, I love the smell of icy hot, vicks vapor rub, ben gay. glad I'm not the only one.

Vinegar really helps with the itching. I little on a cotton ball, works wonders. The odor goes away as soon as it evaporates. Much less money than any of the over the counter itch relievers.

I have heard Avon Skin so soft keeps the bugs, especially the mosquitos. I take vitamin B for a deficiency and find that the bugs don't bite me.

I have used the clip ons and it work really good. I was at my DGS ball game where there were a lot of Mosquitos and they didn't bother me.

We have been using Listerine for years. We keep a spray bottle on the patio and everyone uses it. It has a nice light smell and does not offend those not using it. Many of the guy folk use it as well. It works!

I was told Listerine will repel insects - I only got to try it once and it seemed to work. I put it on a paper towel and wiped around my face every so often.

Bugs seem to be attracted to perfume. During the summer I do not wear any scents or at least do not go in the woods or outside wearing scent. It has helped.

give pets brewer's yeast, pill or powder in their food. warning: you won't like the smell either, but it works pretty well.

I have problems with bug bites also. Walk outside and someone shouts "LUNCH" is here. I use the Off fan this is now available, and it works amazingly well for me. I also keep the citronella scented geraniums on my deck, and when I go out, I crush a few leaves to release the scent, with the added benefit of having the scent on my person. Seems to help. I have used facial mask products and they usually dry and pull out the toxin especially if you put it on asap after the bites. I usually keep a large bottle of aloe with lidocaine available for sunburn, and, because there is lidocaine in it it numbs the bite for temporary relief. Many years ago I found an aerosol called Aloe Ice, I assume it had lidocaine in it. It not only stopped the itching, the welt from the bite completely disaappeared. I never found it locally again. I just did a quick search on Google and something called Aloe Ice is available . Most sunburn products have a numbing agent that seeps to help. I have been taking ceterizine (also known as Zyrtec) for allergies, and it is wonderful for my allergies, but it seems to stop the itching from bug bites, unfortunately it doesn't stop the bug bites. Good Luck.

We used to give the dogs brewer's yeast (when I had dogs) 2 large Rotties who ran freely out in the country in grass that was not treated for bugs, so I would assume had lots of fleas. Neither dog ever had ANY fleas..not a one! They had a little gas, but nothing outrageous. Don't know what it would do to a human though!!

I have a bad reaction to mosquito bites, and have found menthol powder rubbed into the bites seems to relieve some of the itching and discomfort.

Put Vicks on the bites, it stops the itching. Yes, it really does.

Bounce dryer sheets are the only ones that work...no other brand have no idea why but Army guys use them for deployment and the field.
not that it helps everywhere but I always get my house and yard sprayed for bugs every three months in the states. I'm not a bug person!

I don't have a big problem with them and maybe because I eat alot of garlic. The easiest and fastest way to get relief is to rub some wet soap on them. I learned this as a girl growing up where we'd have to suffer if it wasn't for homemade remedies. Then when I used to teach pre-school I used it on the kids since you can't apply meds that don't come from a doctor. The kids loved to do it. It doesn't matter if you use a wet bar of soap or just the pump kind. Good luck on this. I know that in our area it can get bad at times.

I know of two organic things to use. Make a spray from vanilla extract and water or there is one sold at one of our area made from cactus juice that is wonderful, you can even get it with sunscreen.