Midge bites!

[Irishdeerhunter]

Well, I got about 6 weeks of a zitless/bumpless dome when the other night whilst doing some outdoor exercise, some ba*@ard midges decided to feast on my head. The next morning I had 4-5 zit like bumps on the back of my head.

Is there anything to put on the dome to keep these little pests away? I heard vinegar, but it seems too harsh for the head.

Similarly, tonight I got bitten again, but, not as much. I swabbed my dome with witch hazel after getting home, hoping to stop any new bumps.  Anyone else experience this problem or am I just being victimised by these pesky insects?

[GaryT]

We worked outside this weekend and them lil buggers were bad!!! The only thing that works on them (IMHO) is good ol' Deet. So what I do is spray a bunch on a cap and keep that on my head.

Are you sure that they are bug bites and not irritation from shaving?

[Irishdeerhunter]

It's definitely the midge bites as my arms also got a bit of an eating. I haven't had any irritations since I cured myself of being a 'product junky' (Good advice from Shaf ).

Anyway, thanks Gary for advice on the Deet, but, where do you buy it as I've never heard of it.   

[The Scottish Ambassador]

Well, I got about 6 weeks of a zitless/bumpless dome when the other night whilst doing some outdoor exercise, some ba*@ard midges decided to feast on my head. The next morning I had 4-5 zit like bumps on the back of my head.

Is there anything to put on the dome to keep these little pests away? I heard vinegar, but it seems too harsh for the head.

Similarly, tonight I got bitten again, but, not as much. I swabbed my dome with witch hazel after getting home, hoping to stop any new bumps.  Anyone else experience this problem or am I just being victimised by these pesky insects?

Irish, try out Avon Skin So Soft. For some reason the wee buggers dont like the smell. Just remember there is no SPF in it. Let me know how you get on

[tomgallagher]

Scottie has the right idea. I know a lot of hunters and fishermen that swear by it.

[Tyler]

Scottie has the right idea. I know a lot of hunters and fishermen that swear by it.

That's what I was going to recommend.

[BReady]

Are midges like fleas or gnats?

In bootcamp, we had sandfleas, which are nasty little creatures (they don't bite.. they chew lol).  Skin so soft was the best stuff to use.

BReady

[Irishdeerhunter]

It's ironic that I got a Avon catalogue through the letterbox yesterday and it was collected today.  I didn't bother looking at it. Anyway, I will look locally for the product.

Thanks Scottie

[Alexander215]

Are midges like fleas or gnats?

In bootcamp, we had sandfleas, which are nasty little creatures (they don't bite.. they chew lol).  Skin so soft was the best stuff to use.

BReady

oooh man I hate sandfleas almost as much as I hate horseflies!

[SlyintheOC]

AVON's Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus does have an SPF 30.

[The Scottish Ambassador]

AVON's Skin So Soft Bug Guard Plus does have an SPF 30.

OOPS! Thanks for the update buddy

[Rhymez]

I herd a combination of 2 cups water, 1/4 cup vinegar, and 1 tsp salt, pour in a bottle and shake. I read this online somewhere. Once it is shaken and in a squirt bottle, throw a bit on your hands and rub your head with it. It's like a safe bug repellant. The water cuts down the vinegar making it less harsh to put on your head, plus bugs dont like salt.

[Irishdeerhunter]

The diluted vinegar idea sounds good!

[GaryT]

Deet is the active ingredient in like 80 or 90% of the insect repellents out there. But as I mentioned it can sting pretty badly on a recently shaved head! We just got back from a camping trip and the bugs, mostly black flies and mosquitoes. I used the method of spraying a cap and wearing that to keep the bugs off.

I like some of the other suggestions here though! I just don't know if any of them will work for an army of insects.

[buddha]

Irish, try out Avon Skin So Soft. For some reason the wee buggers dont like the smell. Just remember there is no SPF in it. Let me know how you get on

This stuff works! In northern Wisconsin we have black flies, aka river flies, which are tiny little ba$tard$ that bite in hordes. They swarm around a person's face in clouds, fly in open mouths, eyes, nostrils, etc. We also have deer flies which look like little stealth fighters. Their bites are truly horrendous. The Avon Skin So Soft repels these satanic critters very well and is also good on a scraped dome. I don't know why it works but it does.
Up here I only use deet if I am going into tick country. I spray it on outer clothing layers, boots, pants (from the knees down), shirts or fishing vests, and the brim of my boonie. I don't like getting it on my skin. On the boonie I spray the underside of the brim and then let it dry before I put it on. It is said to create a "veil" of insect repellant that covers the head. I put the SSS on my skull before I put on the hat.