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how to protect against midges and sandflies

How to protect against midges and sandflies

Mozzies are bad, but sometimes the midges and sandflies can be worse. How can something the size of a pin head make you SO itchy? Today we're looking at how to protect against midges and sandflies.
Insect repellents can be a bit hit and miss when it comes to stopping the midges. We found this when we were living up in Darwin. It didn't matter how much repellent we sprayed on our boys, at the end of the day they'd still be covered in bites and scratch themselves raw during their sleep.

So what is the best way to protect against the midges and sandflies?

There are a couple of things you can do to protect yourself against midges and sandflies:
  1. Wear long sleeved, light coloured clothing
  2. Avoid grassy, damp areas
  3. Apply a repellent designed to protect against midges and sandflies

How to choose an insect repellent that protects against sandflies and midges

While DEET-based repellents are supposed to protect against the midges and sandflies, you only need to talk to someone in a midge prone area to know that this is NOT the case!

We have found that choosing a repellent that creates a physical barrier against the midges is one of the most effective ways to protect yourself against their bites. That means choosing a repellent that comes in the form of a cream. A rich, moisturising cream base will contain waxes and butters that create a layer on your skin that protects against sandfly bites, even if they do land on you.

We'd recommend our Good Riddance Sensitive Insect Repellent because it offers a double-action level of protection:
  1. The smell repels the midges and sandflies, reducing the number that land on you
  2. The cream creates a barrier against their saliva (which is what makes you scratch). The Sensitive Repellent cream is slightly thicker than the Tropical and this could be one of the reasons why Sensitive tested better against the midges during clinical trials.

You can learn more about why Good Riddance Sensitive is so good for the midges and sandflies here.

So if you're a midge magnet - reach for the Good Riddance Sensitive! You'll still be protected against the mozzies, but you'll get an extra layer of protection against the midges.