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Don't Bug Me! Patch

About.com Rating one out of Five

By David Sweet, About.com

Don't Bug Me! Patch

Don't Bug Me! Patch

The Bottom Line

The Don't Bug Me! Patch is the first transdermal skin patch to provide bug bite protection from head to toe. The patch uses all natural ingredients (Vitamin B1 and aloe) and no DEET. It is waterproof, and it protects you for up to 36 hours. The patch is effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, chiggers, sand fleas and noseeums. Available at major retailers nationwide in 5, 10 and 20-patch boxes for $4.99, $7.99 and $15.99 respectively. Check it out, it works.
Pros
  • provides head to toe bite protection
  • uses all natural ingredients
  • protects for up to 36 hours
  • waterproof and safe for children
  • effective against mosquitoes, gnats, ticks, chiggers, sand fleas and noseeums
Cons
  • none

Description

  • transdermal skin patch
  • contains only vitamin B1 and aloe
  • effective for up to 36 hours
  • waterproof
  • safe for children to use
  • available in 5, 10 and 20-patch boxes
  • cost less than a dollar a patch

Guide Review - Don't Bug Me! Patch

My favorite place to camp is Ocracoke campground on Ocracoke Island, NC. It is not without it's problems though. There is no shade and the mosquitoes can be horrendous. They can be so bad sometimes that we take a can of bug spray with us to the showers so that we can spray before exiting and heading back to our campsite. Nothing like getting cleaned up and having to immediately spray down with bug spray. Well, (hopefully) that won't happen any more thanks to the Don't Bug Me! Patch. The makers claim that the patch delivers an excess of vitamin B1, which the body excretes through the skin. The smell of vitamin B1 masks the carbon dioxide odor. Consequently, biting insects are no longer attracted to your skin.

I tested the patch while working for two days in the yard. The weather was hot and humid, and I could see lots of flying insects. I applied the patch early in the morning, allowing a couple hours for it to take effect. The first day I had a few bugs fly in my face, but no bites. I worked up a good sweat, and the patch stayed on. In fact it stayed on through a shower and a night's sleep. Day two I worked in the yard until noon, and I had the same results: no bites.

It seems that the patch lives up to its claims: it is waterproof, it lasts for 36 hours, and it keeps bugs away. I guess the real test will come this fall when I travel to Ocracoke. I'm looking forward to taking showers without requiring bug spray. (If that is the case, I change my rating to five stars.)

Edited 9/24/07 - Four of us tried the patch on the beaches of Ocracoke Island. Three wore it for a day and took it off because they kept getting bitten by mosquitoes. I did too, but I kept it on for two days. It was not working effectively. I had to resort to my old standby bug repellent Cactus Juice. It works!

Consequently, I've changed my rating to one star.

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