Best Mosquito Repellent?

[tnr]

We will be sailing to the Southern Caribbean from San Juan in a few months. I am concerned about Dengue Fever. What brand of repellent containing Deet can you recommend as being the best?

[J_M_F]

Any repellant with 35% DEET is fine. More than 35% won't help and isn't good for you. You can also buy products to spray your clothes with. Once treated, they are good through a number of washings (not dry cleanings) and are very effective at repelling insects. I would still use DEET on exposed skin. We did this on a trip to the Amazon last year and had no problems.

[dforeigner]

Believe it or not, Avon skin so soft lotion (for some unk reasons) also is a great mosquito repellant.

[blindrid]

Believe it or not, Avon skin so soft lotion (for some unk reasons) also is a great mosquito repellant.

We always thought so to until I saw Mythbusters try it and it didn't work much.

[tiyana4]

We always thought so to until I saw Mythbusters try it and it didn't work much.

Maybe not the lotion, but the BugGuard works GREAT! We used it while trekking through the Mexican jungle on horseback and at Altun Ha in Belize (ruins surrounded by jungle) - not one single bite. It also has sunscreen 30 SPF, is nongreasy and doesn't have an overpowering scent like Skin-so-Soft and some of the others.

Give it a try, you won't be disappointed. Bottles cost around $4.50.

[dforeigner]

We always thought so to until I saw Mythbusters try it and it didn't work much.

If you do some research on Mythbusters you will find the disappointed truth behind their program. Some of their research is biased in order to make the show more entertaining. I do not know their facts about their findings behind the Avon product. I will say this, please do not believe everything you see on TV.

[JolieMadam]

The Avon BugGuard from Skin-so-Soft used to come in individual packets as a towelette. Does anyone know if it's still available that way? It's a great product and the smell is nice!

[rebeljohn]

I find that a nice large ring gauge cigar will keep 'em away............

[tnr]

hmmmmm, maybe I'll have to take up smoking.:eek:

[blindrid]

If you do some research on Mythbusters you will find the disappointed truth behind their program. Some of their research is biased in order to make the show more entertaining. I do not know their facts about their findings behind the Avon product. I will say this, please do not believe everything you see on TV.

Agree......and what you read in newspapers.

My point was I've always found it hard to believe that skin so soft would work as there are so many urban legends these days.

[Spikesgirl]

TNR - I like to use Deep Woods Off - it has the necessary Deet in it and comes in a variety of application (spray, rub on, towelettes).

Charlie

[last_mango]

TNR - I like to use Deep Woods Off - it has the necessary Deet in it and comes in a variety of application (spray, rub on, towelettes).

Charlie

Me too, the towelettes are the best invention. They are individually packaged, so you can easily slip several into a pocket, purse, etc. and always have them with you for easy re-application. Plus, they don't get your hands as messy as lotions and you can control where it goes much better than sprays.

[FishPunkin]

Maybe not the lotion, but the BugGuard works GREAT! We used it while trekking through the Mexican jungle on horseback and at Altun Ha in Belize (ruins surrounded by jungle) - not one single bite. It also has sunscreen 30 SPF, is nongreasy and doesn't have an overpowering scent like Skin-so-Soft and some of the others.


I bought some of these recently just to have. I got the small size bottles so every person in family could have one. It contains the IR35 (or something like that). Is that as good as DEET?

It seems my body attracts the mosquitos and in light of the dengue fever, I need to protect myself.

[Big Al B.]

You may be thinking of Picaridin which was just approved a couple of years ago although it has been used in Europe and Australia for years. It's supposed to be as effective and won't bother clothes etc. Is on the CDC and EPA approved list.

[haligonian37]

I don't know about anyone else, but I wouldn't want to rely on Skin-So-Soft to protect me from Dengue Fever.

I'll be doing a Southern Caribbean/Panama Canal cruise in Dec. with an excursion inland in Costa Rica so a while back I purchased repellent called Watkin's, which has around 30% Deet (the highest recommended by Health Canada) and is the brand used by the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Polics for those who will wonder).

[dobiemom]

Several years ago there was a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on mosquito repellent. The Amway product turned out the best. The Army uses it. Now that new stuff is out (IR35? Picaridin?) I don't know if it's still the best.

BTW, the study also said that Avon Skin-So-Soft did not work.

[Happy ks]

Avon Bug Guard has worked great for us. The added advantage is that it comes in an unscented version. I cannot stand to use any products with artificial fragrance, it makes my throat close up, my sinuses are irritated and I'm sick to my stomach from it.

Just like when people wear too much perfume :p

[clearwaters]

Believe it or not, Avon skin so soft lotion (for some unk reasons) also is a great mosquito repellant.

And has been for years and years. Funny the Avon company never caught on. But it has been an old home remedy mosquito repellant for as far back as I can remember...

[Cheshire UK]

And has been for years and years. Funny the Avon company never caught on. But it has been an old home remedy mosquito repellant for as far back as I can remember...

I have friends in Scotland who swear by the Avon stuff to get rid of the midges