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?

A hot teaspoon will also work. Heat stops the itch

@FairyLightBan i agree it works but it’s less convenient and you need to get temperature right (too cold won’t work, too high and you’ll burn)

but clearly if you don’t have the beuer then a hot teaspoon or hairdryer good alternative.

The sea will soothe them. Helped massively when mine were infected.

For immediate relief when they are really itchy - ice cubes! Heaven.

Buy a mild hydrocortisone cream to put on. I use it if I get bitten and it works far better than antihistamine cream or tablets. Hydrocortisone works as an anti inflammatory.

Antihistamine tablets, including old school drowse-inducing piriton at night.

And Deet repellent, to keep any more of them away.

Blow dry them with a hairdryer. Seriously life changing thing I got off MN years ago. It really works. Bites on me swell up and get very inflamed. Clown,drying is pretty much the only thing that gives relief.

I also use deterrent sprays, plug-in deterrents, bite cream but still get bitten to pieces. They just love some people.

For future I take anti histamine a day or so before I leave plus a garlic tablet every day and so far holds them at bay (also blood group A positive)

Another note for the Beurer

Vote not note

I'm blood group O- as is my mother. Not sure if it's relevant but people are sharing so meh. We both get bitten wherever we are. We both come up in blisters. The best thing that works to prevent it is Deet 50%. Wear loose clothing, spray your clothes and hair.

The only thing that prevents a huge reaction after a bite is daily antihistamines 2 weeks beforehand and once bitten 1% hydrocortisone cream on the bite every 3 hours, up to 3 days thereafter. If we don't do that we end up having to be debrided. So much not fun.

We've tried it all. Heat (spoons, hairdryers, zappers) cold, Avon Skin So Soft, garlic (before and after), bracelets, prayers, curses, leaving children exposed, sacrificial bloodletting (joking), not going anywhere (still get bitten).

You may not react as extremely, and I sincerely hope you do not - but we are your canaries. This has been a public service broadcast 😁

If there's anything in the blood groups I'm A positive

I’m B+ and reacted horrendously to multiple bites in Majorca a couple of years ago - so I don’t think blood group can be the deciding factor - my husband is A and if he was bitten, there was no reaction