Mosquito bites!

[hellswelshy]

I have been ravaged by mosquitoes while on holiday in the Algarve, first time in years. I've reacted badly to a few of the bites and they have been horribly swollen and painful. I got some topical antihistamine cream from the pharmacy over here which has helped. The bites are still very red though, and look awful- any tips to reduce the redness, or general advice?

Take antihistamine tablets. I react badly to mosquito bites so now start taking them a few days before I travel.

Can you get any Deet spray? Mosquitos love me and I found spraying this (albeit rather smelly) spray before a night out abroad really helped keep them at bay.

This has been the best thing ever for me

a million times more effective than any cream or tablet. A bit hurty (heats to 50C) but that causes the proteins which cause the itch to breakdown - itch stops.

honestly it’s amazing!

amzn.eu/d/0j5q3vaH

Sorry I thought a photo would come up with link?

It’s a Beurer Insect Bite healer pen

Buy some deet repellent and get a plug in for your room.

Garlic!
slice a who bulb across the centre and rub it over the bites (you need the juice)
you don’t smell great but my god it works

Use a hairdryer on each bite for a few seconds, should give relief for the rest of the day more or less. This hack changed my life.

1% hydrocortisone should help. Anything less usually doesn't do much

Another vote for the Beurer - or if you’re desperate and they still itch, you could get a similar effect by heating a teaspoon in boiling water and pressing it on the bite for a short while.

Antibiotic cream for the infected ones and anti histamine to stop the itching

You need an oral antihistamine
Fexofenadine works well

ds is just back from Greece and was covered in them. Pharmacist gave him hydrocortisone cream and they calmed down quite quickly.

Bit late for you now but I always get covered in bites, last holiday used Pestects, bracelets, one on wrist, one on opposite ankle, didn't get bitten at all.

Yes to the hairdryer. It stops itching almost all day. And to the 1% hydrocortisone to take the swelling down.

Just out of interest, do you use the hairdryer on the hot or the cool setting??

@MummyJ36 as hot as you can stand it for a few seconds.

Toothpaste or an aluin stone

Buy local deet spray

The llsecind the sun starts to go down run inside and spray your arms and legs with deet

Then put on a long sleeved thin white cotton shirt if you have one

I had to this when backpacking in Thailand years ago because the mozzies just attack me like a gourmet dinner at sunset 🌅

Do not drink beer

It sweetens your skin

They don't like it allegedly if you've been drinking orange juice

Not sure how true that is

I was told that having a berocca tablet with Vit C and Vit B helped so I started taking those

By the time I got to Australia I was used to fending off mozzies

1% hydrocortisone cream on the bites
Antihistamine oral tablets, like benadryl.
Also, if they're itching madly, small bandaids on every bite before you go to sleep stops you accidentally scratching them.

Probably too late for OP, but Moskinto plasters helped me in Mauritius last summer. They need to go on fresh bites.

I'm cantering towards 60, but have tried scoffing garlic, brewers yeast, marmite before trips abroad. Blood group A+ and I get eaten if I son't spray in tropical climes.

I would agree. Best thing ever, I never go anywhere without mine. Also very good for Swimmer's Itch.

I’ve just bought these for my holiday - really hoping they work!

Thank you all. I've got complacent I think as not been bitten in years like this, it's been very hot here the last few days. Great tips for future holidays 👌

I live in a very mosquito prone area (north eastern Spain) and we have tiger mosquitos as well as the normal ones. Tiger mosquito bites are really painful and seem to cause massive reactions in many people. This spray is absolutely the best I've tried - and I have tried many. It is the only one that really works and its not sticky or smelly either. Just reapply every 4-5 hours when outside.