What has bitten me?!

[polkadotpixie]

Something has bitten me twice on the arm and it's so swollen and itchy and sore!

I never ever get bitten by anything but something has had a good chomp this time 😩

I've taken antihistamines and used bite cream but it keeps getting bigger and redder...very difficult to get photos as it's the back of my arm but they're about 1.5" across and very raised

It looks like a Lyme rash from a tick bite. Get tested ASAP.

Agreed, looks like a Lyme disease rash.

Lyme disease? Really?
I used to get this type of rash whenever I was bitten by midges or mosquito. They would end up massive.

She says it's hot and itchy. I've just looked up lyme and it says it's usually not hot and itchy

I get that with horsefly bites (but you’d know if you’d been bitten by one of those).

I’d go to a pharmacy for a quick consultation.

Horsefly.
You'll need antibiotics probably.

Antihistamines will improve it OP. Piriton can be bought at the supermarket.

I look like that after mosquito bites, but a horsefly is also a possibility.

I've already taken Piriton but it's had no effect. I could try some Loratadine though

😩 I really don't want antibiotics as I'll then get thrush 😭 Might just keep an eye on it and see how it goes

Red ant. They do that to me

Do the thing where you draw round it. If it spreads you will need antibiotics.

I don't think it's Lyme disease thankfully, I do live on the edge of the country but haven't been near anywhere there might be ticks

Horsefly, for sure. Hydrocortisone cream will help.

The only time I've ever been bitten by mosquitoes was when I was pregnant, I blame DH for that as they love his blood! I didn't come up like this though

It's quite a decent sized hole in the centre so I was thinking probably horsefly or spider although I didn't feel it happen which seems unlikely with a horsefly and when I got bitten by a spider previously it was much more blistered

I am a bit worried as my whole arm feels quite hot and the skin around the bites is all goosebumpy so I think I'll pop into the pharmacy. I have DN's birthday party this afternoon but I'll go afterwards

I react like this to pretty much any insect bite. I quite often need antibiotics as I have a history of developing cellulitis. Definitely worth getting it checked out.

I react like this when I get bitten by anything. Pop into a chemist and get the pharmacist to rule out anything serious and recommend the best antihistamines.

Let us know what pharmacist says. Good place to ask for advice.

Don't be so sure. I got bitten by a tick in my own back garden (we live in a small town).

After your recent post it sounds like horsefly
I got bit twice last summer and didn't feel them at the time. Your description sounds like mine, even down to the goosebumped skin.
I needed antibiotics.

Went to the pharmacist and she didn't seem very bothered. Just said see how it goes and if it's no better in a couple of days then go to the doctor

It's spread beyond the outline I drew this morning, it's started weeping kind of straw coloured gunk and it's numb around it. Don't know if I need to brave the walk in centre or not? Not my idea of fun on a Saturday night

Looks like horsefly bite to me as well, I can react like this. I use a cold flannel or a cold gel pack to relive the itching.

I had the same a couple of weeks ago, horsefly bite! It will be really hot and itchy.

Get some anthisan cream it's amazing for all sorts of bites

This is it now

Yeah I react like that to a lot of bites

Usually generic anti histamines and anthisan sort me out. Anthisan is great stuff.

But I had one the other week that continued to get hotter and bigger. The pharmacy gave me Eurax which I think is a kind of hydrocortisone. Anyway within a few hours I could tell it was settling down and it sorted it out within a couple of days.