Mosquito bite prevention Italy May

Evryone has their own recommendations, and you can find articles online to back most of them up! For instance, I saw NotSpaghetti’s article saying the Skin So Soft worked, but Which’s tests said it didn’t! It does seem that the more Deet is in a repellant, the more protection you get, but I guess you just keep trying until you find something that works for you.
For Greek holidays, I always find Mosquito Milk from Amazon or Chemist Direct works really well, but I’ve met people in Greece who start with B12, garlic capsules, and anti histamine tablets two weeks before they go, then lemon shower gel, Skin So Soft, and Boots After Sun with repellant! Who knows what ( if anything) is working. Of course, maybe some people just don’t react to the bites. Trial and error, I suspect.

Afterbite pen Maybee? I carry one at all times to dab on any bites. Preventatively I use the highest DEET I can find, the Avon SSS did nothing for me.

We often used to go to Italy generally end of May when our children were young. I always got bitten badly. My husband not so much.
The mossies were outdoors but also used to be indoors on the bedroom walls and we woukd squash as many as we could. They left a nasty mess on the walls but hoped it would wipe off.
We bought things to plug in which were supposed to discourage them. Not sure it did.

I use highly strength deet based products, plus Boots after sun with repellent in the evening.

found that toast (and Marmite)... by mouth..... not for application, was quite effective in several countries of Europe and Asia. Hormonal females are supposed to be often afflicted so better to keep the skin covered if the term fits you
I was advised in Singapore years ago, to buy( and apply to exposed skin) a product called Peaceful Sleep but never managed to find it

I think some of you may be interested in this study which found Avon's Skin so Soft to be pretty good - but only gor an hour.

www.researchgate.net/publication/287046713_Mosquito_repellent_effectiveness_A_placebo_controlled_trial_comparing_95_DEET_Avon_Skin_So_Soft_and_a_special_mixture_containing_eucalyptus_oil?hl=en-GB#:~:text=Mosquito%20repellent%20effectiveness%3A%20A%20placebo,Article

Skin so soft does nothing for me. I was advised to take an antihistamine a week before I travel and whilst I am away. I use the strongest deet I can find and avoid being outside at dusk. It's the only thing that works for me.

Avon skin so soft dry oil spray usually keep the little buggers away .

We use Skin So Soft from Avon. Seems to work. I've heard that the SAS use it.....

Avon skin-so-soft (spray on body oil). Avon themselves clearly don’t want to get involved as it would involve a lot of liability issues along with properly conducted testing. But it’s well-known for being extremely good for repelling mosquitos and I’ve even heard it being used very successfully on horses to repel horseflies. I also use either a strong lemon soap or citrus shower gel as well.

They avoid you if you take B vitamins.

Someone I knew swears by Brewers Yeast tablets , similar effect to Vit b but much stronger.
He would start taking them about 3weeks before camping in Europe during the school holidays.
Said they were very effective.

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Drink lots of Gin&Tonics before you go and whilst you are there!!!
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Don't think we get that here as I brought it back from Oz

50% DEET works for me. The plant-based ones never worked for me.

Skin so soft helps and apparently used by the army . Worst mosquito experienced was near the Old Man of Hoy , Orkney . They come out of the heather as soon as no breeze and sunny so it’s either bad weather or Mozzies . I used a large brim sun hat with mosquito jet too .

I use Avon Skin so Soft oil daily. It is well known for its insect repelling properties even though it is not advertised as such. Seems to work for me. Added bonus of nice smell and moisturisation.

As well as mosquito repellant, I take a daily antihistamine to offset the itchiness and inflammation.

Florence is notorious for mosquitoes.

…the upside is that the aftermath of mozzie bites now seems to release endorphins in my body as it thinks it’s still lying on a Mediterranean beach.

crissy

I had some worst mosquito bites ever on a camp site near Venice in 1970 !!
Whatever repellent you use, make sure you have a good supply of Anthisan if you do succumb.

I have memories of camping at Lido Di Jesolo (sp) in my youth and they used to spray the campsite each night with something very toxic. Years later photos of my daughter covered in mozzie bites at the same place. I used to have a little pen that I used to dab on any bite straight away that would help greatly. It smelt like bleach. Can’t use too much Jungle Formula or have too much antihistamine cream and tablets imo.

You can buy mosquito repellant clothing ( and socks hats etc) from outdoor sports companies (such as crag hoppers ‘Nosi’’ but other brands too) The downside is the styles are also aimed at outdoor sports such as hiking which may not suite Florence.
I don’t remember mosquitoes being a nuisance in Florence ( I think we were there late May) - although they were a nuisance in Venice ( we were camping next to water).
I use stick on patches ( Mozipatch bought from Sainsburys) when the threat is low- stuck on clothes. Mozipatch are meant for children but a couple stuck on adult clothes - one near the top and one or two lower down- seem to work ok in low risk areas ( Ds and I react badly to bites but have skin sensitivities so avoid skin sprayed repellant except when there is higher risk) The patches are brightly coloured! I think patches are meant to disguise the attractive human smell for several inches so protect the bare skin near by.

Jungle Formula Maximum strength is the only product that works for me.

Whenever I get bitten without having had applied it, I then need a course of antibiotics from the GP

Mosquitoes love me and I use a repellent she with 50% deet . The natural ones don’t work on me . I also use a shower gel with teatree oil , no perfume . Post shower I use Avon skin so soft and then bug spray . I also have a plug-in spray for the room . And take vitamin b complex for 2 weeks prior . This seems to work . Although I was recently in Thailand and got bitten but I think that was sand flies during the day .

I had some worst mosquito bites ever on a camp site near Venice in 1970 !!
Whatever repellent you use, make sure you have a good supply of Anthisan if you do succumb.