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!

Google hairdryer on bites.
Apparently the heat changes the chemical injected by the insect and stops the itching.
I only found this last week and haven't yet tried it.

To prevent bitey bugs coming near you start taking garlic and B1 supplements. in a high dose. Anti histamines to stop/reduce the itch.

I tried sudocreme earlier this year and it immediately took the heat and sting out of the bite. I wasn’t expecting it to be very effective but it stopped itching straightaway.

Try this-excellent on my usually disastrous bites
www.amazon.co.uk/Relags-Scratch-Stichentsc-Sharpener-Multicolour-One/dp/B008928I6Y/ref=mp_s_a_1_11?s=gateway&keywords=zap+it+mosquito+bite+relief&sprefix=zap+it&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1563803800&sr=8-11

Grandmother, mother and myself don’t get bitten by mosquitoes and rarely by other insects.

Grandmother passed away but the three of us very similar -

Low iron so take supplements.

Rarely sweat and only on forehead or neck if so and not much.

We eat a lot of garlic.

They’re Malaysian, I am mixed.

Can those things be a coincidence that we don’t get bitten?

Someone recently told me about the spoon in boiling water thing and it really does work. I have also invested in some citronella incense sticks which a neighbour swears by - we live near water and it's very insecty.

Horse fly bites are the worst, they actually leave teeth marks.

Cut these to size and stick over the bite. Mine swell horrendously and these help a lot www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/254470779?sc_cmp=ppcGHS+-+Grocery+-+NewPX+%7C+Shopping+GSC+%7C+Top+OffersNew:+Non-Food:+Health+%26+Beauty:+Health+%26+Beauty+-+Top+OffersPRODUCT_GROUP254470779*&ds_rl=1116019&ds_rl=1116322&ds_rl=1116019&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpcy7v9rI4wIVB7DtCh0a8w7VEAQYASABEgKja_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Regarding the hot spoon and hairdryer trick, it definitely does ease the itch for a bit, but when I get a really bad reaction, like now, it feels very sore afterwards, although I was very tempted at 2 am this morning!

I've heard about the B1 supplements being good. Maybe worth a go.

This hot weather is not helping! I need to be in the cool at all times or the pain and itching is relentless

Oh and is the zapper and the clicker the same thing?

Dennis, I actually tried the cold patches last year and found them really irritating, so had to take them off. Not sure they're exactly the same thing though. These were very mentholy...

ammonia stick works a treat

I second Eurax - it is really effective

I use lavender or tea tree oil

For normal mozzie bites I just stick a bit of sticky tape over the bump and leave it alone. The tape can be any kind really . I've used whatever was nearest although I did get a lot of sideways looks when I used sellotape.
Last week I was being tormented by a bite under my back bra strap. Every movement set it off and I felt like a bear scratching against a tree as I used every opportunity to scratch. I didn't have any tape handy but I did have a roll on deodorant which I whacked on. It was successful to the point that I only remembered about it when writing this post. And I have had showers since the application.

I use Germolene on bites to reduce the itch. It certainly works for me, the tube says its antisceptic and also has local anaesthetic in it.
It seems to help with the itch and scratch

I recently got bitten while travelling Scotland to SW England. They certainly came up like mozzie bites. DS and DH were unaffected but were with me all the while apart from when I filled the car, so we can only think it was while I put fuel in near Birmingham

Learned this on mn last year. It works !!!!

Blow dry the bite until it stings and you can't stand it anymore. Just a few seconds. Do that 2-3 times one after the other. Stops the itching and they heal V quickly. If you do it right you get a sharp deep itchy sensation And then an ouchy burn sensation.

Saved my summer hols last year.

Eurex Cream kills the itch for 10 hours. Amazing stuff

Fenistil - gel by GSK. I got my first tube from Amazon but I can buy it OTC in Italy. Amazing stuff.

I’m also taking 2 x one a day anti histamine tablets. I can tell when they are wearing off as the bites get bigger and itchier!

I also have elocon cream which is good but is a steroid cream so I only use it at bedtime.

For future prevention, I'd try [[https://www.smidgeup.com/ Smidge]]. Developed in Dundee to fend off midgies. Smells OK (ie not ammonia!) and actually works on me, a life-long midge magnet, who reacts badly to bites. Available from various online sellers, eg Amazon and in shops all up the west coast of Scotland!

The zapper works best for me.

I don’t use a cream I use an Aspivenin kit.

Taking a high dose of thiamine for two weeks before exposure stops bites from happening apparently. I always find Avon Skin So Soft works like a dream. The bullseye appearance could be a tick bite so beware in case of Lymes Disease.
Clicker, piriton and lavender oil on bites helps me.

I use Anthisan topically and take Cetirizine antihistamines. I have steroid/cortisone cream on prescription for a skin condition but don't find this any help with mosquito bites.