My daughter can handle the Bug & Sun version that Avon sells - the blue lotion "Cool and fabulous" but there are times, like evenings when we like to sit around the camp fire and she doesn't need the sun protection. I've tried the off skintastic and some others and they BURN her; especially where she's already been bitten. Technically I don't think she's allergic to mosquito's b/c she's had allergy testing at a younger age and that didn't come up. But she swells from them and the site becomes warm to the touch. Could she be allergic?? Also any idea if the avon bug repellants w/o the sunscreen will be as sensitive to her skin as the ones with it? She has no problems with the one in the blue lotion bottle - cool & fabulous.
I heard an awesome way to keep bugs away! Spray listerine in the area and it keeps them away - and you can spray it on like a bug repellant too!
SKIN SO SOFT Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition™ SPF 30 Pump Spray
687-878
www.youravon.com/kimberleedavis SKIN SO SOFT Bug Guard Plus IR3535® Expedition™ SPF 30 Aerosol Spray
687-882
Repels mosquitoes for 8 hours. Provides effective protection against gnats, no-seeums, sand flies and biting midges. DEET-free, dermatologist-tested, hypoallergenic. 2-in-1 protection.* Aerosol spray, 4 oz. net wt.
I had actually heard of the Listerine trick too but found out on snopes.com that it's actually an urban myth... Listerine does not work.
I would try an all natural or organic bug spray for your daughter. At least with sunscreens, my daughter seems to react badly to the mainstream brands like Coppertone, etc, even when they're made for babies. But the organic and all natural brands work wonderfully and her skin doesn't get red. I imagine all natural/organic bug sprays would be helpful if your daughter's skin is sensitive.
Dear M.,
2 of children have reactions to mosquito bites, and sometimes when they have bites they get red, swollen to the point of being 20x larger than the bite, and hot to the touch. It could be an allergic reaction, or it could just be the course of the bite. I have used over the counter 1.0& cortisone cream on the bite, and I have also tried benadryl cream. Hit or miss with both. When they become really big, or they start to get swollen in other areas of their body, like a systemic reaction, I called the doctor, and once I had to use oral corticosteroids. As far as repellants go, so many brands have a carrier that they kids could be allergic to, such as a lotion-v-a spray. Many of the sprays have alcohol in them, which could be what is burning her. REad the ingredients and find one that doesn't have alcohol, and see if that helps.
The swelling & heat at the bite is an allergic reaction. My daughter is very allergic to mosquito bites and after her first bite or two of the year always reacts this way. They will itch & actually burn. When she was little she used to cry because they hurt so much as the swelling got worse and the skin was stretched tighter. What has helped her over the years (she is 18 now) was Benadryl and ice as soon as you realize the bite has happened. If you get it right away with 15 min time periods of ice it will control the swelling & heat & the Benadryl will control the allergic reaction to some extent. Good luck!
M.
