B Whyte

Had email from daughter spending summer in Florence begging us to bring bug spray with us this week -- man-eating flies and misquitoes she says. Also it is very hot (no surprise) but she is sending me home with her extra shorts as she bought several skirts to wear!! She and roomies have tried all citronella products, but to no effect

julie

It might be a well kept secret, but Avon's "Skin so Soft" is the best stuff for bugs. They have a pattened formula which they refuse to disclose, and people have been using it for years. We take nothing else, and never have problems. Try some.

Nicole

If she doesn't want to wait, you might want to suggest that she check the local pharmacy for a European bug spray/lotion called "Autan" (I think that is the spelling). It's packaged in red and light yellow. We bought it while we lived in Prague for a trip to Africa and it WORKS! It is sold over the counter.

Ken

Does anyone know of a skin product that contains a lot of "Deet" and where to get it? I've heard that's the most effective to ward off the critters. Ken.

Carol

I'd like to know about that Deet product, too. Carol

Autanspray

Why bring a spray from home? You can find plenty in Italy. Hot in Florence? Its been the coldest and wettest summer since the Renaissance (I'm not kidding!)

xx

It is usually much better to buy insect repellant in the country or region where you are using it. Don't bring any from the USA, buy it in Italy. And why can't daughter buy her own in Florence?

Mina

I had heard that Avon's Skin So Soft was a miracle worker, so I took it for my summer in the Canadian Prairies.<BR><BR>I might as well have gotten naked and lay next to a puddle. I was disappointed it did me no good. For my other friends, it worked for a short period of time (but those mosquitos were probably on steroids). The smell of it is better than most though.<BR><BR>The only thing that did work was a repellent with a high concentration of deet. There was some kind of death solution we used, and it worked to a degree. I lost a third of my brain cells though.<BR><BR>There was a recent article that compared several kinds of mosquito repellents. The results were that deet based repellents worked best, and for the longest duration. Some other types worked, but for only about 30 minutes.

ruth

DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide)is the active ingredient in many insect repellents, and apparently, the higher the percentage, the more effective. It is MUCH more effective than citronella. Hiking shops tend to sell the really strong formulations (up to 100% but I've not tried these!).<BR>

Dick

DEET is the only chemical that has been shown to be effective in "repelling" biting insects that locate you by chemoreception (it does nothing to help with greenheads and deerflies, which are sight hunters). The Skin-so-Soft thing is an urban myth - with one small exception: due to its coating properties the oily lotion does provide minimal protection against the very small flies knows as no-see-ums. There is no "secret formula" - in fact, Avon recently changed the formula to include a small amount of weak and ineffective repellant (it had none originally) just to try to get a little more sales. Permethrin-based products will kill insects, and can provide protection against ticks, but they really do nothing for mosquitos and black flies. All of that is based on the results of dozens of clinical trials, many of which I have read.<BR><BR>Those wishing to get the facts, as opposed to the hype, may wish to start with the article "Mosquitos and mosquito repellents: a clinicians guide", which appeared in the Annals of Internal Medicine 128:931-940 and is available on-line at http://www.acponline.org/journals/an...8/mosquito.htm. Though much of this paper is very technical the pertinent points are easily understandable to the lay person. It also lists over 100 technical references for further reading.<BR><BR>Ruth: The IUPAC has recently changed the name, but I can't remember what they changed it to and I'll always think of it as N,N-diethyl-metatoluamide as well.

sandi

To those that are more sensitive to mildly toxic products, try to choose a spray or lotion with low doses of DEET, especially on children. There are new products called Cactus Juice that you'll find in any organic nursery that really work and contain no DEET. I use them on the weekends when I work at a nursery in Texas. Trust me, being outside in the heat and humidity (lots of rain this year) has got everyone on a west nile virus alert. I use the Cactus juice repellent and it works for at least 5 hours. <BR><BR>Info about DEET http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/deetalert.html

Mike

In regards to Avon Skin-so-Soft I believe that it contains some citronella oil. No secret forumla. Much better on the skin than DEET though.

Diane

I just read an article in the paper that if you eat bananas, bugs will be attracted to the scent in your skin.<BR>Although I haven't read anything recently, I also recall that mosquitos object more to those who eat garlic.<BR>If the sprays and lotions don't work, try eating more garlic and avoid bananas.

Sue

Locally I read that the best non-DEET repellant is made by Burt's Bees; assume those products are available throughout US, especially at natural food stores, etc. It's sold at a number of places here in Pgh.

Shar

Why use a product that contains DEET. This is very powerful and toxic stuff. I used it on a trip to India for malaria protection. If you are not fighting bugs that carry malaria go for something a little less toxic. If you have to have it, I found mine at a local outdoor store which sells camping supplies. The product I used was REPEL 100 which has a very high ratio of "DEET" (95%). For a lower dosage try 3M Ultrathon Insect repellent. The actual name for DEET is N.N-diethyl-meta-toluamide

Ouch

While in Finland--we all were bothered by flying insects except this one man. He said he was taking vitamin B shots. Could that be a good deterrent to mosquitos?? Or just another myth?

btd

okay i'm getting scared<BR>are mosquitoes a problem in late september/early october,....or have they disapated by then?<BR><BR>where can i buy aon's skin so soft?<BR>do i have to order it?

Carol

Thank you for all the ideas. Carol

Here is yer

http://www.cactusjuicetm.com/<BR>

Marilyn

Mosquitos love me. Products with DEET are the only thing that work for me. Try Cutters in stick form. It works just like a push-up deodorant. The advantage is that you can apply it to your arms, legs, even face, without getting it on your hands. This is very convenient if you are dining al fresco or for middle-of-the-night-without-turning-on-the-light application. I have found it very effective and not to harsh on my skin. I also think you inhale less of it than in liquid or certainly spray form.