Mosquito bites- The itching. Oh the itching! Please help!!

[Aperolspritztime]

Hi,

So I never used to get bitten. Certainly not in this country. Would maybe get the very odd bite abroad, in Spain for example, but they wouldn't turn into anything. Just a little bit annoying and then they'd soon disappear.

The last 2 or 3 years though, I've been getting horrendous mozzie bites, which swell and go hard, with unbearable itching and the heat which comes off them is like fire.

I can't sleep or walk very well, if they get my feet or legs, which the bastards usually do!

They normally get me when sat out at night, when I've let my guard down and forget to cover up. This year though, I've been on it with socks etc and they still get me! They got me through two pairs of socks and through my jeans and my cardigan.

I can cope with the pain and swelling, but the itching is driving me insane!

Any advice? I've tried the hairdryer thing and it does work for a few minutes, but then comes back and actually, my skin feels more damaged and angry. Understandable really.

Any creams which actually work? I think I've tried hydrocortisone, but didn't really help. I've tried aloe vera, but again, no use. What about the E45 anti itch? Never bothered with it, as I assumed it would be useless too.

The only thing which soothes it, is an ice pack, but I'd need it on constantly and I can't do that at night time.

Please! Any suggestions?! I need some sleep!

I sympathise. Itching could be used as a torture or punishment method.

Is it possible to get some sort of numbing cream? Local anaesthetic type. I tried the hot spoon method and that did help a bit, and I also have a clicker that gives a teeny electric shock, like a mini taser.

Are you in a stressful time at the moment? I stopped being eaten alive by midges about six months after a very stressful decade ended (family deaths) and its stayed that way. I'm sure the wee bastards are drawn to stress hormones.

Local anaesthetic cream sorts the buggers. Avon Skin So Soft dry oil spray will keep the mozzies away in future.

Steroid cream really nukes them I find

Tiger balm
Clicker
Antihistamine tablets.
Mosquitos love me. They never bite dh.

Oh, and definitely use repellant before going out.

Have you got a clicker?

Have you tried After Bite stick or other ammonia based sticks?
You can also try planting things like basil, lemongrass or mint in the outside area where you sit, which will hopefully reduce the number of mosquitoes as they don't like the smell. If you do you can spray the leaves with water and and shake them a bit to release the smell when you are in the area.

I find this works the best.

I'm very prone to bites from anything that flies even though I use a repellent, and I use Eurax anti-itch cream which does actually do the trick for me it's from the chemist and about £6.99 per tube which lasts for months. Worth a try I think

Jam, I guess I am naturally a bit of a stress head tbh. Seems to unfair that the stressed ones are the ones more likely to get bitten 😣

Disgrace, the Avon stuff didn't work at all for me unfortunately. I know it's a miracle for a lot of people.

endof, I thought tiger balm was more for pain. Can it help with the itch?

Cuddly, I didn't know such a thing existed! I initially thought you meant the dog ones and was wondering if mosquitoes could be trained not to bite

Are they effective?

This is the absolute best!

The reviews are spot on.

This year though, I've been on it with socks etc and they still get me! They got me through two pairs of socks and through my jeans and my cardigan.

Are you actually sure this is mozzies?
I regularly have to visit a tropical area which is rife, and I sleep in cheap leggings and thin socks and came home last time with not a single bite from overnight.

What you describe sound more like something is in your clothing/not mozzies, rather than them having some kind of ungodly super-stinger to get through multiple layers/denim.

Take an antihistamine tablet as well as using a cream. Tiger balm worked for my husband. Thankfully mosquitos don't like me.

Maddi, thanks. Slightly weary of the good reviews, as antisan has the same positivity and it's rubbish. Well, it was for me. Have you used this?

Dp just picked up some of the E45 cream and it feels like it's frying my skin 😔 Rather like going out in the sun when wearing oil. My skin is so hot!

Back to the ice pack for now then...

Buzz, I'm almost certain of the culprit. I was reading that they can penetrate most clothing, as it's usually very porous.

frax, I'm taking piriton and I think it's helping slightly with the swelling, but not at all with the itching

Where are you? I wonder if its berry bugs? Teeny tick like mites. They're horrific.

Should also say that I've tried OFF! and it's pretty good, but if I'm going to need to wear something daily, I'd rather wear something more natural.

As I said, the Avon stuff didn't work, but have heard good things about Incognito. Anyone tried this?

Maybe you need something stronger. My husband takes fexofenadine but it's on prescription and it definitely works. As I said, mosquitoes don't bother me but one time I got bitten on my toes by sandflies, the was horrendous. Going into saltwater helped with them.

hydrocortisone cream - over the counter at the pharmacy

I've got the stuff Maddi recommended- recommended by a German chemist. It's pretty good but the cheap ammonia things are even better.

jam, I'm in the UK (Cambs) I have never heard of berry bugs They do look like typical mozzie bites, I.e, initially a white raised lump, followed by a bullseye sort of appearance.

Thanks Remus.

Can anyone link me to a good zapper/clicker?

I suffer too, especially when abroad and found the best thing was to stick a teaspoon in boiling hot water then gently press it to the sting. Stops the itching for hours.

Tea tree oil for itching.

years of reactions to bites and found the most amazing relief comes from heat: fill mug with boiling water. Heat spoon, making sure you don't burn yourself put on itch, it goes quite intensely itchy then stops. you may need to repeat a few times. It's a miracle cure!

Sounds more like harvest mites. Their bites itch intensely - and they are tiny bugs so you don't see, hear or feel them biting you - only the itch afterwards.

A combination of piriton (not piriteeze) taken every 4 hours, plus onctose hydrocortisone cream does help. Ultimately they will itch like a bastard for 4 days. Try to keep cool and not scratch.

Avoid parks / grassy areas as this is where they live.