Insect Repellant for Sensitive Skin?

Updated on July 25, 2008
C.L. asks from Chapel Hill, NC
28 answers

DD is 6.5 months and just started daycare. She needs bug repellant, as she is getting about one bite per day. I really want something that will definitely work. I've thought about having her wear pants, but it's really humid and I know she'll get a diaper rash from that.

Am also interested in your opinion on combination sunscreen and insect repellant. Does not need to be waterproof.

Thanks in advance!

Almost forgot to mention: She tends to have dry skin patches on the outsides of her legs and arms. So far, we're making do with mild baths and some lanolin or aquaphor.

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L.C.

answers from Owensboro on

I would recommend Avon Skin So Soft bath oil or lotion. They even have a sunscreen with it in it. It will even keep ticks off of you if you live in the South in the country like I do. If I know I will be outside when I get finished with my shower I will spray the bath oil on my skin before toweling dry & rub it in. Works like a charm! I am really sensitive to bug bites & for some reason they seem to love me & dry skin/psoriasis & dermatitis runs in my family.

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A.R.

answers from Knoxville on

I have found the only thing that really works for us is deep woods off with deet. I have talked to my Ped about this and he says to go ahead and use it. I forgot one day and my daughter had a tick on her. YUCK!!!!!! The mosquitos are so bad this year.

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R.M.

answers from Chattanooga on

As mentioned before, the skin so soft insect repellent, they now have a combo that has the repellent and sunscreen (30 spf). I don't know if it's really good for a young child, but I do use it on three of my kids (two 6 yrs olds, and a 7 yr old one of which has eczema), but it does work very well, the only problem I have with it is that it's very oily. We only spray it outside while standing on the grass, because it tends to make the floor slippery.

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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi C.,
Try Skin So Soft from Avon in original scent. You can buy it in a spray which makes it easier for application. It is a little oily, but it really works even after it dries (and her skin will feel so soft...ha!). We have always used this with my son who has very sensitive skin and is prone to eczema flare-ups. Avon also makes this SPF/Insect repellant. We have used can after can of this stuff, but I am not sure if it would be safe for kids under 1 year. You would need to ask a rep.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.D.

answers from Raleigh on

I like Tropical Traditions all natural products and they have a bug repellant.

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M.R.

answers from Memphis on

Avon" skin so soft insect repellant " great stuf especially for younger children safe to even use on there face has a sunscreen in it, smells good , is a light skin softner and for when they are a little older to make it fun it comes in a blue color that goes away after its rubed in good , I am the 54 yr old grandmother of 21 and I swear by it .

Kathy R.

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C.P.

answers from Norfolk on

Hi C.,

As an Avon Independent Sales Representative, I would have to recommend the Skin So Soft Gentle Breeze for your daughter. It is Deet Free and is a Bug Repellent and Sunscreen all in one. The link is below to check it out. There is also the Disappearing Color one that I use on my son, who has eczema and it does not cause him to break out!

http://shop.avon.com/shop/product.asp?department=&lev...

Hope this helps you out!!

C.
youravon.com/christypack

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G.M.

answers from Raleigh on

we wiped ours down with a drier sheet. I don't know if that will work for sensitive skin though.

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R.M.

answers from Nashville on

I love skin-so-soft for myself, but I would be careful of what I use on a baby that small. This is one of those times you should ask your pediatrician. (You can always just call them.) I asked mine the exact same question when mine was about 7 1/2 mos. because there are tons of bugs at my mother's house. They suggested not using a combo product this early. And they also said to make sure repellent contains NO deet. I've seen lots of stuff online that say deet is ok up to a certain percent, so I was glad I asked.

BTW, I am a Melaleuca user also, and love the stuff. Their sunscreen is really good- it is mineral based which is what they recommend for babies. And I use Sol-U-Mel myself for insect repellent and it works great. And it's supposedly safe for babies also.

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C.B.

answers from Knoxville on

Hi C.. If your daughter has very sensitive skin then most products will be too harsh for her. Most will contain an ingredient called quaternium 15 which is really harsh on babies' sensitive skin. You might want to check out a line of products from Melaleuca: The Wellness Company. www.melaleuca.com. All of thier products are nontoxic and gentle on sensitive skin. The lotion called Renew does wonders for my daughter's skin. And, you can use the lotion with a couple of other products they make to mix up your own insect repellant. That way you know it is safe for your daughter and her sensitive skin as well. They also make a spray sunscreen called Sunshades that is not billed as a bug repellant but many people have found that they are not bothered by bugs when they use it. There are reasons the labels say not to use sunscreens and other products on children under six months. What the labels don't tell you is that those same ingredients that are dangerous on babies skin are dangerous on adult skin as well. Check out the website and if you want to know more, you can reach me through www.saferhome4u.com or ____@____.com
C.

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T.B.

answers from Nashville on

Dear C.,
Since your DD is just 6 months old, I recommend ABC Arbonne Baby Care products which are safe, pure and effective for children with sensitive skin and great for eczema or other rashes. My background is in pharmacy but I'm now a SAHM with and Arbonne biz. Additionally, caution is well advised regarding repellent usage. There is a product available from Arbonne with lemon oil and other ingredients that naturally repel insects, called Awaken Rejuvenating Spray. Please visit my website www.teresabennett.myarbonne.com. My MamaPerk discount is 20% off retail. Please email for discount ____@____.com helping mothers! Sincerely, T. Bennett, Pharm.D.

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D.J.

answers from Greensboro on

stay far far away from "deep woods OFF" I have sensitive skin and it breaks me into HIVES if I even hug someone wearing it. If it's mosiquito bites, then my suggestion (and you know it won't hurt her skin if you do laundry in it) is Fabric softener sheets in her pockets. try rubbing it all over her skin, just enough to get the scent on her body and stuff one or two into her pockets. I grew up in the "mosquito county of the USA" and this works. Skin so soft, I found (in my case) only attracted them, it may vary from person to person.

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T.

answers from Chattanooga on

I have used the Bug & Sun combination insect repellent and sunscreen. It does contain DEEt so I am not sure about using it on a child so young. It is waterproof and is made by coppertone.

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J.M.

answers from Memphis on

I use Natrapel on my 4yr old and 9month old and have since my older was 6months. It comes as just an insect repellant or as a combination with sunscreen SPF 30. The insect repellant ingredient is citronella oil. I steer clear of anything with deet in it. The Natrapel Sun (the combo) comes in a tube and is very creamy like a thick lotion. The Natrapel Plus (just insect repellant) comes in a spray (not aerosol, just squirt). It has never irritated my sons' skin and my youngest is a redhead with very sensitive skin. My oldest is highly prone to mosquito bites and gets huge welts from them that last more than a week. He never gets biten when I remember to put on the Natrapel. I find it at babies r' us usually.
www.natrapel.com

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J.S.

answers from Raleigh on

I don't sell Avon, but I do purchase their Skin So Soft Bug repellant. Our whole family uses it. I initially bought it for myself and my daughter (she's got bad dry skin and eczema, and I have rosacea). DH attracts mosquitos like no one I've ever known.

I love this stuff for our whole family.

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M.W.

answers from Huntington on

Avon's, "Skin So Soft" is the best. Even though it is marketed as a hand and body lotion, it is excellent in repelling insects. Does the job so superior to anything else on the market, that the Boy Scouts FL sea base puts it on the supply list for the boys to bring. Some don't want to be "sissy" or "fags" so they ignore the advice, but after a few days at sea base they are borrowing someone else's "S.S.S." And yes, it is is compatible with young tender, sensitive skin.
I do not work for Avon, nor am I getting any recompense for this info. I am speaking from the voice of experience as mom of 7 & g-ma of 11!
But, BTW, people deficient in Vit B complex, seem to attract bugs more than those who have diets high in B vits. Maybe introducing more B complex in her diet would help too.

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S.B.

answers from Raleigh on

I use Avon Skin So Soft on all of my kids and even use it myself. Our pediatrician recommended it. There is one for kids that changes color, goes on blue but dries clear. It is a little pricey but worth every penny. Good luck!

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D.B.

answers from Charlotte on

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D.S.

answers from Memphis on

I have bought a product called Bug Bam for Kids. They are award winning all natural insect repellant bracelets. They have an odor, but nothing too terrible. For outside use, they are wonderful.

Go to Bug Bam.com and check it out. I originally ordered some from the Leaps and Bounds children's catalog (One Step Ahead.com and Leaps and Bounds.com) but found that you can order them in family packs on the Bug Bam site.

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P.G.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi C.~

I recently read an article about the repellent/sunscreen combo and it said that ratio of repellent to sunscreen was much higher and if it is applied often throughout the day, your baby could be getting too much repellent. I read this on one of the baby websites (I can't remember which one and how long ago).

My suggestion is to ask the nurse at your pedi's office because your baby is so young and I'm not familiar with repellent products for little ones. Especially with babies that have sensitive skin.

One other suggestion I could offer you is Avon's Skin So Soft. It's a product that has been around forever and it happens to repel bugs, without all the harmful chemicals and it doesn't smell too bad. I would also use sunscreen separately instead of buying a combo product. Good luck~

P.

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C.C.

answers from Knoxville on

When my older son was little we lived on the west coast and had sand fleas really bad. My doctor told me to give him vitamin B. I got liquid vitamin B at a health food store and put it in his juice. It's water soluable so any excess will be exreted in her urine. It takes a few days to build up in the system and have the desired effect, but it's the best thing I found that was safe. The thing about insect repellent at 6 months is that none of it is really safe. As far as sunscreen, find one that JUST has zinc oxide, no chemicals. There is a good one by Badger - also found at health food stores, or on their website (badgerbalm.com)

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B.M.

answers from Wilmington on

I know I'm a little late on replying, but just thought I'd add this: Skin So Soft is great, but I hate how oily it is, and also am not crazy about the smell. I cut mine with alcohol (1/2 alcohol, 1/2 SSS)... it still works great, the smell dissipates sooner, it's not as oily feeling, and it makes the SSS go twice as far! Good luck, and enjoy your summer!

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W.M.

answers from Nashville on

Skin So Soft from Avon is oil based and has so many uses, ie, dry skin, great in baths, shining your faucets after cleaning, etc but one that it is most known for is a bug repellant. It is safe and makes their skin soft while repelling bugs!

Another I heard is a dryer sheet. Attach it to the belt loop, rub on skin, etc and it should repel them! Good luck!

ps/ Walmart carries a new cream called After Bite that you rub on after the bite to stop the itching..works great. They have an adult and a child version.

W. M

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D.P.

answers from Raleigh on

Hello C., due to your daughter's sensitive skin I think natural products is the way to go. My children both have sensitve skin too. We have been shopping with an online company that has environmentally green products for over 4 years and really love them. The products that they have really work on my kids skin. They have natural insect deterent, sunscreen, and lotion that helps heal dry skin (even eczema, rosacea, and psorisis).

I have liked them so well, that I decided to do a business with them after 3 1/2 years of enjoying just being a customer.

Here is my website, you can request more information if you like.

http://www.switchingstores.com/danipen

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T.C.

answers from Charlotte on

Hi C.,
AVON makes an insect repellant/sunscreen combo for children in their Skin-So-Soft product line that I use on mine and it works great. I think it's designed for sensitive skin. Hope this may be helpful to you.
T.

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H.M.

answers from Raleigh on

You can try California Baby bug repellent. It's all natural. You can get it at the Calif baby website or at drugstore.com.

S.F.

answers from New York on

I agree with the AVON Skin So Soft oil, however I have been using the combination bug guard with sunscreen, and have found that my daughter and I are still being attacked! The SSS has worked for me since childhood :)

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