MOSQUITOES LOVE ME!

One of the major problems I've faced since coming to Thailand (well, not really a life problem, but it's been significantly annoying none the less) has been dealing with the mosquitoes! I don't remember reading about this in any Thailand travel journals! Other than beware of malaria and dengue fever when doing jungle treks. ( I would expect mosquitoes in the jungle, wouldn't you?) Although, I do remember getting bit a lot on my last trip here. It seems like they LOVE to bite foreigners.

My whole body was pretty much covered with bites the first week. Worse yet, I seem to be allergic to them because the bites after turned into monstrous bumps with red patches all around. They were SO itchy, like chicken pox. But it seems I'm not alone as I've run into several guys with nasty bites all over their legs as well.

The dark arrow points to a bite that's only a few days old. The white arrow is a bite  from within a few hours.

The bottom of my feet were attacked while I was sleeping! There's like seven or eight bites on the curve of my foot and one on a toe wtf.

I went through around four or five different repellent products. But I have found a few products that I am currently relying on. Sofell Repellant lotion with deet, it's not your typical citrus smell bug repellent. Actually it has a nice floral or orange scent which isn't terrible on your nose.

To cure the itchy bumps I asked the pharmacist for so chamomile cream. But she gave me a tube of T.A. cream instead. Also I took some kind of allergy pills to stop the itches. It worked  quite well as I was going CRAZY trying not to scratch. Scratching only makes it worse really.

For nighttime I had been using Biocin Bio Solutions Biocin-R Tea Tree and Vitamin E oil spray which has been amazing. I don't particularly like to wear DEET all the time. I can't imagine that it is very healthy anyway. This oil spray has the power to keep the mossies away while also doing good for your skin. The tea tree oil has antiseptic qualities that keeps those older bites turned bumps clean and the vitamin E moisturizes and heals. This stuff was great but since this bottle went empty, I haven't been able to find it anywhere! Many places sell a natural citronella or lemon grass oil spray you can use but I hate the scent! It smells too much like bug spray honestly! I've checked so many places and still no luck.

Since the Biocin-R Tea tree oil stuff ran out I started using Johnson's baby mosquito repellent oil. It has a nice light scent. But the bottles are small. Only 100 ml and cost approximately 102 baht (around $3.00 CAD). I've yet to see a larger bottle.

My lovely father in law felt sorry for me and bought me a Black Hole unit. The light attracts and a fan sucks the mossies in where they die. I keep it in our bedroom but sometimes carry it about the house if were going to be hanging out in the living room or something. They find me everywhere I tell you!

I read online that potassium in our diets helps attract the mossies. Coming from a Irish-Canadian family with potato based diet, I probably was full of potassium on arrival. So my advice is lay off the taters and bananas prior to coming.

I've also read on an online Expat forum that if you take vitamin B12 up to two weeks prior to coming to Thailand, that the mossies won't bite so much. Anyone heard or tried this method? I have no idea if it's true as I clearly didn't try it myself.

This reminds me of a Thai-pop song from a year or two ago, So I will leave you with Golf Pichaya's Black Hole mv.

BLACK HOLE, BLACK HOLE, BLACK HOLE, Mosquitoes FLY INTO THE BLACK HOLE! :)

ヽ(´▽｀；)/♪

Until next time.