Anyone else getting itchy insect bites during the heatwave?

[Cakeymauve]

Me and my daughter seem to be covered in what looks like insect bites the last few days, feet, arms and back. She has about 8/9 across random parts of her body. I have 4. So itchy :( She goes to a forest school and we do live near some rivers and lakes. Mine come up randomly when outside or at home

we leave our windows open at night because it’s too hot.

I’ve been looking round our house and can’t find fleas, no bedbugs. The bites or spots are random so not in clusters or a line.
is anyone else getting this during heatwave?

I’m getting a bit panicky thinking I’m missing a big infestation in my home.

My husband though - no spots at all.so fed up with this

Could it be a heat rash/allergy. This happens to my sister. She uses antihistamines for the itch.

I get lots of random insect bites all times of year, but I think is worse in summer.
You could consider mesh screens on the windows.

In this heat the windows should be closed from dawn to dusk, too. And curtains drawn all day, too.

Mosquitoes I should think. I've been bitten as well.

We wear insect repellent when we sleep with the windows open because otherwise the mosquitos go to town. You could also get a bed net to see if that helps.

She goes to a forest school and we do live near some rivers and lakes…
we leave our windows open at night because it’s too hot.

It is mosquitos and other bitey insects that you don’t see but are totally normal. Wear insect repellent and put mesh on your windows.

Mosquitos, DH gets them often when he goes fishing

Sounds very normal for hot humid weather, especially if you live near water or are in woods/fields. Gnats, mosquitoes, midges, various types of fly - they can all bite.

Your DH probably does get bitten, but just doesn’t get the same allergic reaction that you and your DD. DP and I both get bitten by midges whenever we go to certain places - he gets zero reaction to the bites and I get a terrible one.

Yes, but I work outside. I have been coating myself liberally in fly spray.

As I live in a rural area full of farms, I have fly screens up at home due to the dreaded horseflies, which like to feast on my legs!

I'm in London and have had lot of bites. probably mosquitos but i haven't seen many. DEET all over and anti-histamines and anthisan all help.

I sleep under a mosquito net and have a bug zapper by the open window.

Same - I assume it’s mosquitoes or other biting insects getting through the open windows.

I don’t like using strong Deet unless unavoidable (e.g. if I’m abroad somewhere mosquitoes carry malaria) but I have found Boots after sun with insect repellant very effective. They start biting around dusk so at that time each evening, I apply it and I haven’t had any new bites since I started doing it.

For the bites themselves, I use a Japanese bite cream called Mopiko. I bought it from a shop on the edge of a rainforest when in Borneo (so I knew it must work!) and indeed it immediately stops the itching and brings down any swelling. I imagine it can be bought in the UK but I have never seen it in a shop/pharmacy.

Good luck, OP. Itchy bites are miserable!

Like @CuriousKangaroo I’ve also found Boots’ Soltan after sun with insect repellant very effective, Just needed to apply it more liberally when I went to Greek islands where the mozzies seem to go into overdrive with me.
Double up with a DEET spray if need be.

I sat outside in the back garden last night for all of 40 minutes before a thunder clap and seem to have been bitten on my arm and ankle 😬. Didn’t sit in the sun yesterday so hadn’t applied any after sun.

Yes, loads of little ones!