Any Tips for mosquito bites?

[Unocard]

I’m really allergic to mosquitos - seems to be getting worse in recent years. They love me and then the bites swell up to as much as 10cm, go hot, red and take weeks to go! I always end up having to see a dr abroad which costs a small fortune.

I’m wondering if anyone else experiences this but also if anyone has any tips on how I can prevent this ruining my holidays?

Thank you

I get this too so I feel your pain. There was a thread about this last year and a few people suggested pressing a hot teaspoon that has been in a cup of boiling water against the bite as soon as possible.
Haven't tried this myself yet as no bites yet this year fingers crossed 🤞🏻

Deet repellent and an ammonia pen for when the buggers get you.

Works like magic, for me, at least.

Don't scratch
Callamine elocution
Nets over bed
Don't eat sugary food
Long sleeve and trouser and hat that cover the neck
Stay indoors especially in the evenings
Antihistamine

My GP gives me antibiotics to take with me as I’ve ended up in hospital due to bites. Depending on where you’re going a lot of chemists abroad will prescribe something for them.

I use Jungle Formula max strength abroad and Smidge at home because everything eats me!

I found mosquito clickers really helpful. They stop the itching which is one of the worst things for me as I scratch until they get really angry and weepy.

The hot teaspoon works, at least temporarily. You can just leave it in a cup of tea for a bit.

Eat a lot of garlic

Apparently Marmite is a deterrent too, I've always eaten a lot of it & rarely get bitten.

Take antihistamines on a precautionary basis so if you get bitten it hopefully won't provoke such a strong reaction

Take antihistamine every day
Get some avon oh so soft many expats swear by it.
Eat marmite
Drink plenty of tonic water
I wear a watch like thing that emits a high pitch buzz
Depends on which country you go to, I live in Spain and you can get something called baby cologne from the supermarket which is great.

Anthisan cream really helps for me. You can put it on 3 times a day.

I’ve taken antihistamines after being bitten and found they really helped with the itching / redness / swelling. I’ve never taken them on a precautionary basis as suggested by others here but it sounds like a good idea.
(The antihistamine after getting bitten was a revelation to me! I’d spent years suffering!)

Mosquito clicker device helps take the edge off the itching.

If bitten, take antihistimines straight away.

When outside in the early morning or evening, make sure you wear clothing that covers you well.

Close all windows before dusk to help prevent them coming inside.

When I have travelled to hot climates where I know mosquitoes will be in issue, I have also treated some of my clothes with permethrin. I'm not in the UK but where I live you can also buy clothes pre-treated with it in some outdoor shops (sometimes it's called "Buzzguard" or other names). Then at night I sleep in a silk sleeping bag liner also treated with permethrin, which helps stop being bitten at night.

You can also buy travel mozzie nets for the bed which you can hang from a light fixture or ceiling fan.

I am exactly the same and I moved to Australia so deal with this nine months of the year (bloody annoying and painful). Things I do:

Take vitamin B1 - this is not scientifically proven but it did work for me for one Summer at least so I cling to it.
Mozzie repellant - set an alarm to put a good repellant on before sunset and make it part of your morning routine.
Plug ins - get the plug in repellers and put them in every room
Fans / air con - use this inside as it keeps the mozzies away

If bitten:
Antihistamine straight away (always carry them with you). If really bad, take with red bull or coffee as it gets it into your system quicker.
Ice packs - keep some in the freezer and put them on to reduce redness and swelling.

Good luck!

I react badly and now live in the bush in NZ. Prevention is better than cure. Golden rules:

• just before dusk is their prime moment. Anticipate this by putting on long sleeves and long leggings (don't worry it's not for long!)

-DEET spray every bit of skin that might be uncovered later using a tropical strength spray. Forget any other repellents including any daft recommendations for Avon skin so soft. They don't work

• shut all windows in bedrooms and use an auto mozzie spray until bedtime
• once proper night has fallen you can uncover a bit more but have another DEET spray to be sure. Don't forget neck and face. I spray into hand and dab on forehead and cheeks.

If you are bitten try not to scratch. Teaspoon in hot water trick removes the itch as does a hairdryer (point hairdryer at bite quite closely until you can't stand the heat, move it away, and repeat about 5 to 10 times. Something to do with the heat deactivating the amino acid that makes you itch or something. Anthisan also of some use

Oh and same applies if you are in mountainous, shady or damp bush areas at anytime of day: spray and cover up.

Use your nail to create an X on the bite. Just don't break the skin.

Preventative is tough, you need to coat yourself in anti mozzie spray.

Leggings won't really help that much - they can bite through them. Better to wear something baggy. I used to react so badly and found hot water helped so I think the hot teaspoon sounds good. Definitely agree on the deet and antihistamines too. I don't use them anymore though as I've got used to the bites so they only annoy me for an hour or so (as long as I don't scratch them).

I'm not sure if you have this where you are, but Bushman Heavy Duty 80% Deet Insect Repellent is amazing.

I use Deet, horrible stuff but it works.

I also take antihistamines for at least a week before I go anywhere and while I am away.

Then more antihistamine cream if I am bitten.

Wilkos do an amazing spray for bites- it cools the skin right down and stops the itching. Their repellent is good as well, and cheap.

You can get suction thingies which suck the mosquito saliva out of you which stops you reacting to it.

I use mozzie clickers and this: bite away - Electronic bite Relief Device - Completely Free from Chemicals - for itching, Burning, Pain and Swelling Caused by Insect Bites https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07Q5C21Z1/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_QT5A6T6GT7HZWP3FD6HD

It does help.
And anthisthan cream.

Preventative, you can't beat Deet!

Prevention…
Skinny jeans, tuck in tops, socks, deet, get antibiotics and steroids from gp before you go (you can do this privately)

If bitten…
Do not touch them or scratch them!
Cold compress
Take antihistamine straight away
Start meds if need be.

If none of that works, doctors abroad seem to have better drugs so go rather than ruin the rest of your holiday!
Can you tell I suffer too!

In the UK: antihistamine tablets (I have hayfever anyway so take them daily in the spring and summer) and the Bite Away pen which takes the itch out.

Abroad: I was bitten in Egypt horrifically one night and had around 50/60 bites across both legs from the knees down. A local pharmacist prescribed calamine lotion twice a day dabbed on followed by antihistamine cream and an antihistamine tablet.