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MmeGigs -> RE: What in the world... (9/2/2008 5:34:32 PM)
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Benadryl Gel is the best thing I've found for stopping the itch. I carry a bottle around with me all summer long. If you've got a ton of bites, you may want to try taking some antihistimine/allergy medication. That can help a lot. Put bandaids on the ones that are really bothering you - sometimes if you can just leave them alone for a while they'll quiet down.
As far as preventing the bites goes, I've heard that taking vitamin B and eating garlic helps to make one unattractive to mosquitos, but I haven't tried it so can't say that it works. I've tried Avon Skin-So-Soft, Cutters, Off (all varieties) and all kinds of others, but the best repellant I've found is Bugg Spray. I've used this stuff at state parks in northern MN and have been really impressed with it. It's made up there, where the mosquitos can come in clouds. It is relatively unoffensive. It has a very mild smell - kind of vanilla-y rather than insecticide-y - and isn't all greasy. I don't know if you can get it in other states or if it's still in the stores here. I'd be happy to look around.
If you're looking for something natural, you can mix some peppermint oil and lemongrass oil in some grain alcohol (Everclear - vodka will work if you can't get grain alcohol) and put it in a spray bottle or soak some papertowels in it and use them like wet-wipes. It's not as effective as chemical sprays, but will make you less attractive to mosquitos. It's kind of a spendy way to go. You only need a tiny bit of the oils - about 1/4 teaspoon of each for 8 oz of grain alcohol - but the smallest quantity you can usually get of the oils is 1 oz, which is enough to make about a gallon and a half. I have the oils and can get a bit to you if you'd like to give it a try.
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