Great to find this site with so many people who are comfortable in their own skin. Im just on the start of my journey and Im sure many questions will find their own answers over time. One question though Im keen to figure out quickly is how do you stop insect bites. the general advice is to wear long sleeves and long trousers etc so nothing can land on skin. Kinda defeats the purpose of being a nudist. What do you do, is it simply a case of swimming in a pool of insect repellent just before dusk?
Replies
- JO
JohnOct 13, 2020I don't know what sort of critters you have in New Zealand, but here in the US they're only a problem at certain seasons, and we have to plan nude activities around that.
I don't think it's necessary to "swim in a pool" of repellent. A standard application is all it takes for most people. Do check to make sure that the tube or bottle or whatever isn't past its expiration date. (Do you say "expiry" in New Zealand?) I keep the stuff away from sensitive areas like my genitals or lips; I figure that as long as it's close to those areas, it'll work.
I find that adding a little garlic to what I eat helps keep them away. I also stay away from scented soaps and shampoos.
Some people have found those little ultrasonic devices useful. It seems to depend on the species of the insect, and on what stage they are in their life cycle.
I hope those pesky little things don't keep you from enjoying the great outdoors while nude!
ReactReply - ST
StevieLornaOct 13, 2020In the Uk we have a product called Avon Skin so soft.
Obviously its not designed as an insect replant but its widely used by naturist as it works really well.
Only used after the sun goes down.
ReactReply - DADavidOriginal PosterOct 14, 2020
Thanks for the replies. Generally mosquito bites around here. They seem to have a liking for British ex pat blood!
ReactReply - ST
SteveOct 14, 2020If by "nudist" you mean lying around in the sun, where we are it really would take swimming in the stuff; I simply don't sunbathe around home. Many times of the day or year, I either keep moving, or cover up. When I've needed sun for medicinal reasons (before I got my prescription lamp) I would either go on the roof, or lie in front of a box fan in the back yard.
ReactReply - DADavidOriginal PosterOct 15, 2020
Thanks for the advice. Will have to see what happens. Am thinking that covering up is the obvious and most sensible answer. As Ive seen written elsewhere, being a nudist doesnt mean being stupid.
ReactReply - DADavidOriginal PosterOct 15, 2020
Sadly citronella is one of the smells my partner finds overpowering. She has a very acute sense of smell and some things she finds overpowering I cant smell at all!
ReactReply - DADavidOriginal PosterOct 15, 2020
It was more when the sun goes down rather than sunbathing. Fortunately our bugs generally seem to come out as night falls. NZ sunshine seems to keep daytime bugs to a minimum.
ReactReply - MEMemberOct 20, 2020
Be welcome. I face this same problem because in my beach house I am naked all the time and because it is an interior region for many insects. At night I wear a repellent bracelet that I bought in Europe on a trip, it works very well.
ReactReply - JOJohnOct 20, 2020
I've seen some canopies that have screen walls. They're quite large 10' x 10' (3 m x 3m) or 10' x 20' (3m x 6m). They're easy to set up. If you're looking for a place to simply sit and chat, that might be an answer.
ReactReply - DADavidOriginal PosterOct 20, 2020
Thanks for all the replies. Hopefully over our coming summer well figure out what works best for us. Will certainly look into the bug zappers and the canopies for if/when we head away from home.
ReactReply - JO
JohnOct 20, 2020Something I acquired a few years ago is a device called ThermaCell. On one of my Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area (Ely, MN) trips, another group coming in recommended it as we were heading out. Went ahead and got one. Not only does it repel the skeeters, but the biting black flies seemed to not like it either. We would put it under the canoe we had tipped over to use as a table while cooking and eating, and it worked quite well. Also would put it by the latrine in the evening. I now own three of them (One hikers version, two lanterns) to cover multiple areas, and routinely use them in the backyard during parties.
It uses a repellent soaked pad that is heated by a small butane fired flame beneath a metal plate that the pad sits on. This creates a kinda very light fog or scent in a roughly 15' diameter area. It will not work in windy conditions, as the repellent gets dispersed, but otherwise, I have had really good luck with it.
I also have a big bug zapper in the backyard. Key to the bug zapper is to put well away from where people will be gathering. The idea is to draw the bugs away from the crowd to the light for zapping.
John aka cobeachbumReactReply - GO
Gordy57Oct 21, 2020For those that leave a bug zapper run 24/7, here's a Youtube trick that worked quite well for me. Take a 1 gallon jug and fill it 3/4 with water, add 1 cup brown sugar and a pack of yeast. Get some aquarium air tube, drill a hole in the jugs cap slightly smaller than the tube for a friction fit, or if you have to go larger with the hole glue the tube in place. Place the other end of the tube in the zapper.
How it works, is the yeast eats the brown sugar and produces co2, this travels up the tube to the zapper and attracts those biting bugs that are attracted to the co2 in our breath. Good for 4-6 weeks depending on temperature, the cooler it is the slower the yeast works.
Way cheaper than the fancy attractants they try to sell you ;-)
ReactReply - JOJohnOct 21, 2020
I wonder how the hooch tastes when the yeast is done with it. As a sometime brewer, I'm interested!
ReactReply - GOGordy57Oct 21, 2020[quote]I wonder how the hooch tastes when the yeast is done with it. As a sometime brewer, I'm interested![/quote] LOL I thought about it, but never worked up the courage to try it ;-)ReactReply