Why do my bites always go like this now?

[SinkGirl]

I’ve always been sensitive to being bitten (seemed I would get bitten more than others and always had bad itching and swelling) but over the last few years whenever I get bitten it’s awful. They go scarlet red most of the time, insane itching and often bruising too.

I have one under my knee that happened two weeks ago and is still a deep red / purple patch. Now this one on my outer thigh which is so painful and it’s already been about 5 days. Now the redness is going down a bit but what looks like a bruise in the middle.

I know all bites are allergic reactions, but do other people go like this? None of my family do but I’m more prone to allergies generally.

This has happened to me. I have a theory that it is linked to my Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Do you have an auto -immune condition?

Huh. Funny you should mention that! I’ve had loads of symptoms of hypothyroidism for years but my blood tests are always in normal range - I’ve done some private blood tests and on a few occasions my TSH was higher (between 4 and 5.95) but then any time the GP repeats it it’s totally normal (eg TSH 1.5-2). I’ve had antibodies show up but within normal range.

I’ve given up trying to figure out if my thyroid is an issue to be honest! But it would be interesting if it were related.

After a while, you become sensitized and your immune system overreacts.

Yes I react to bites like that too with large red circles. I tend to think I am allergic to a few things and have had iritis, hives and plantar fasciitis in the past. So I just think my body is a bit over reactive to things. Recently had a series of large bites across my back it looked awful.

I guess it’s just the different reaction that confuses me - I would understand if the normal symptoms of a bite got worse, or if I had other symptoms of an allergic reaction - it just seems so weird that they go this crazy colour. It always looks like I’ve been shot by a paintball or something!

@Allsloppy

Yes I react to bites like that too with large red circles. I tend to think I am allergic to a few things and have had iritis, hives and plantar fasciitis in the past. So I just think my body is a bit over reactive to things. Recently had a series of large bites across my back it looked awful.

Yes me too - I have anaphylaxis to a few things and tend to be allergic to stuff. Makes sense for it to be a heightened immune response I guess.

Dh gets this
Today I got stung by a bee AND bitten by a horse fly and I have barely any redness.

Dh gets huge huge reactions

Must be something to do with histamines?!

Histamine intolerance maybe? Links to DAO deficiency.

I am looking into why I have this too - also hypothyroid.

I get like that too.

Goes like a bruise.

Didn't know it could be a sign of something else, thought it was just me!

I have tjis issue too. Summer is a disaster, I have an auto immune condition. I have a history of allergies too.

I react terribly to bites. If I e been taking antihistamines, my bites look like yours. If not, they’re twice as big. Hot and tender to touch and last for days, ending in a bruise. My legs are a mess in summer.

I thought it was just due to overreacting histamines. 🤷🏽‍♀️Never considered it to be anything else. Not sure what thyroid symptoms are and auto immune, as others mentioned.

That’s really interesting - I am hypothyroid and when I get bites they go like that. Never occurred to me there could be a link.

@ThorFull

I react terribly to bites. If I e been taking antihistamines, my bites look like yours. If not, they’re twice as big. Hot and tender to touch and last for days, ending in a bruise. My legs are a mess in summer.

I thought it was just due to overreacting histamines. 🤷🏽‍♀️Never considered it to be anything else. Not sure what thyroid symptoms are and auto immune, as others mentioned.

Yeah, I take an antihistamine every day in summer so I imagine if I didn’t it would be worse!

I react terribly to bites (massive swelling that lasts weeks, antihistamines dont touch the itching). I got bitten by something in the garden in march that went like your bite and the purple mark is still on my ankle now!

I also react
Very badly to bites and am hypothyroid. It’s due to an overactive immune system .

I’ve noticed this over the last couple of years and am also hypothyroid with other autoimmune conditions also.

Me too.

The hot teaspoon as suggested on here has literally transformed my life.

Gone from huge overreaction whilst they spread to the size of a cup, itch like mad and last for 3 weeks, to literally nothing in a day. The relief is huge.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow oooh what's the hot tea spoon method? Whenever I get a bite they go like the one in the photo, they take weeks to go away.

Interesting- if bitten, my DH's bites go like this - a red circle / lump then what looks like a bruise.
His legs (calves) have ones from a couple of years ago still and they look like what I would imagine cigarette burns are like
In summer he has to really cover up but he must be really tasty as he has been bitten through his jeans

Christ they are bad!!!

Put a teaspoon in boiling water. Then as hot as you can bear it place it against the bite. Do it a few times.

The heat kills the poison. Do it as early as you can.

Honestly l was an itchy scratchy mess. My legs were just covered in huge red circles. I can’t remember moment it enough. It’s changed my life!

Or a hot hairdryer. But the spoon gets right to the point!

I have always reacted very badly to any bite and it has got worse over the years! I get hay fever so take a daily anti-histamine from May onwards but it makes no difference.
Never heard of the hot teaspoon method. Can you explain?!? Strangely excited by the idea of a wonder treatment!

Me too. I’ve been told piritase may help next time by our allergy clinic.

Thank you for this tip, wish I’d known about this a week ago! Will definitely be trying this next time one of the blighters attacks me.

It will change your life!!!! Believe me.

The misery of itchy scratch all the time. And all the bloody antihistamines, lotions and potions had zero effect.