Better than "Off"?

Dionysus · #1 09-12-2002, 10:57 PM

Is it true that there is a insect repellent better than Off? What is it?

dzrose93 · #2 09-12-2002, 11:16 PM

Deep Woods Off works great... The stuff stinks, though.

I prefer Avon's Skin So Soft because it keeps mosquitos away but not everybody else.

KillarneyRose · #3 09-12-2002, 11:21 PM

Many people swear by Avon's "Skin so Soft" but I've never tried it.

If you DO get bit though, and it's driving you crazy, the best way to stop the itching is (you're going to think I'm nuts but I swear it works very well) is to get your blow dryer, set it on the highest setting you can stand and heat the area where the bite is. Don't just hold the blow dryer over the area, kind of wave it around.

It will itch like crazy for a few seconds and then when the itching stops, you can stop heating it.

I read about this in a home remedy book a few years ago. I don't remember why the book said it worked, but it does! Try it!

xok85xo · #4 09-12-2002, 11:28 PM

i also heard a good remedy is to mash up an aspirin pill mix it w/a little water to make a paste & put it on the bite..it causes the inflamation to go down which is what causes the itch

Dionysus · #5 09-12-2002, 11:43 PM

Actually this is more of a prevention thing. I'm going in the woods this weekend for a trip. Someone told me yesterday, that there was a brand of insect repellant better than Off, but I forgot the name.

I do have a can of Deep Woods Off, but I have had it since a year or two. I guess it is still effective.

texas*princess · #6 09-12-2002, 11:51 PM

I think i know which one you're talking about... although I can't remember the name of the product

It contains 100% deet, which is the the stuff that keeps bugs away. however you might want to be careful ... products with deet is harmful to your skin (or to humans in some way

)

i took a camping class last spring & our instructor warned us about products w/ deet

carnation · #7 09-13-2002, 12:06 AM

Killarney, I'm guessing that the blow dryer works because of the heat--I'd heard that applying the hottest washcloth possible to a bite would work. I tried it yesterday after getting a fire ant bite and it did!

ThetaLove · #8 09-13-2002, 12:10 AM

I don't know what would be better. I know the higher the DEET concentration, the more protection you would get. Although, I'm sure that the amount in off will work just fine. As they said before, it is probably harmful to humans. I can't win for losing- either harm myself by using it or risk getting the west nile virus.

Peaches-n-Cream · #9 09-13-2002, 12:35 AM

Off also comes in a cream

I mean lotion form which contains 15 SPF. I doesn't smell too bad. Last weekend I sprayed OFF, but I forgot the SPF so I had a minor sunburn. crème brûlée

Hootie · #10 09-13-2002, 01:34 AM

Anything with DEET in it should work pretty well. I remember a few years back though there was some controversy over deet because too much can kill you. I think the amounts have been lowered though.

texas*princess · #11 09-13-2002, 02:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cream
crème brûlée

lol that made me giggle!

justamom · #12 09-13-2002, 09:05 AM

Are you camping or just hiking? When people have outdoor parties, we empty a couple of cans around the yard and the shrubs. (Aren't we a nuisance to the environment)

Still, it keeps the bugs away so you can play...for a while at least.

Yes, be careful with DEET. I think the % you need in the product is over 10% but under 35%. I don't use it since they aren't really attracted to me, just bees and wasps!

Dionysus · #13 09-13-2002, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by justamom
Are you camping or just hiking?

Actually its a workshop and retreat at a campground w/cabins, which is in the deep woods and by a lake, a nice breeding ground for those little bast*rds. We won't be spending a lot of time outside at night, but we will in the day, however someone told me that mosquitoes are out in the daytime too.

texas*princess · #14 09-13-2002, 10:34 AM

yea those mosquitos are strange lil creatures...

if it's any help, i remember my camping class instructor saying the best thing you can do is wear jeans and basically be as covered as possible.

something you might also want to watch out for are those sneaky ticks. i'm not sure if they are in the camping area you will be in, but some of them carry some strange things too. just make sure to check yourself (including your scalp while washing your hair) so that one of those suckers don't attach themselves to you.

i'm personally more of an "indoors" kinda girl because of bugs like that

gphi2k2 · #15 09-13-2002, 03:21 PM

hey,
is it possible you're thinking of muskol? i'm allergic to mosquitos and i find that's the best stuff to keep them away from me.

i actually tried skin so soft and found it did sqaut for me. i got eaten alive with the stuff. Muskol is great. Better than Deep Woods.