Mosquito bites! Ahhh

[7dayslater]

Shamefully posting here for traffic.

I woke up with these bad boys on my legs in the night. They've become increasingly swollen, painful & itchy as the day has gone on.

Is it normal? I've had bites in the past but they're never this bad. My calf feels as though it will burst!

If you have tiger balm put a bit of that on it will stop the itching

Anthisan works for us.

I never go on holiday without it - don’t seem to get bitten much in the U.K. at all.

Word of warning re the hot spoon cure. I never get bitten, until I went to a tropical country and I got a few then. I'd heard about the hot spoon cure so boiled the kettle, stuck a spoon in, happy days.
WHATEVER YOU DO, CHECK THE SPOON TEMPERATURE BEFORE USE. As you may have guessed, I didn't, took the spoon out of the water, gave it a shake and stuck it on a bite. Omg I was hopping about like a bloody kangaroo, christ it hurt. On the bright side it did take away the itch from the bite so yes it does work. Good luck.

Worth getting a pharmacist to look at the bites if not improved. I had this last year and they got worse and it turned out I had an infection from the bites and needed antibiotics.

Draw a line around your largest few bites and monitor to see if the redness is expanding. If it is then it may be infected.

So glad I’m not alone. Absolutely covered. DH doesn’t ever get bitten so is on scratch duty. Ugh. Bastards. And I’m using repellent! They just find the inch that isn’t covered!

Similar to the hot spoon, you can also use a lit cigarette. Don't touch the skin with it though! Just hold it as close to the bite as you can stand for a few seconds.

Try taking an antihistimine as well.

I swear by the click it above.

I am a magnet for mosquitos. OH never gets bitten but I have to douse myself in spray even to go and get the post. I forgot the other day and went to open the post box which is about 3 metres from our front door. Came back with 7 bites. I swear that they wait by the front door for me to emerge.

The hot spoon works well if they are fresh bites. I have also found that carrying a spray bottle with some lavender steeped in water is a reasonable repellent. They don't like lavender.

I attract them so much!! Hydrocortisone does help a lot, I also recommend making a paste from bicarbonate and water and putting that on. It's not glamorous looking but it will reduce swelling and itching better than the other things I've tried (basically everything on this thread!).

I have 2 horrible bites right now and have to go take my own advice. Sorry you've got it too OP, it's the worst. I'd rather be in pain than itchy!

I've been eaten alive this weekend too. I'm thinking its the lack of pollution

TCP is the only thing that works for me, feel better x

I react like that to bites. I take antihistamines and anti inflammatory tablets and apply a paste made of baking soda and water

Thanks all for your tips and solidarity!

Mosquitos are bastards. DP remains untouched! They're less swollen although look horrible now & are seeping a bit (not envy), have used ibuprofen gel

Put a dab of aluminium containing deodorant on the. My chemistry lecturer in Australia taught me that.

We have one of those Zap-it clicker things-they’re good at keeping the itching in check.

I get terrible reactions to bites, they tend to now form blisters after the initial redness and swelling starts to go. I had a really bad one a few years back and the nurse at my gp surgery gave me some iodine patches to help. I’ve been buying them myself ever since as the iodine is antiseptic and really helps them heal. Unfortunately antihistamines and hydrocortisone never seems to do much for me. If they are very swollen and hot icing them also really helps.

Take an antihistamine. Honestly.

My reactions to mosquito bites are getting worse and worse, I regularly look like you and take an antihistamine tablet. That really helps get rid of the swelling, itching and stinging.

@WobbleHead

Hot spoon pressed on. Needs to be hot enough to destroy the proteins in the bite but don’t scald yourself. Run teaspoon under hot tap and immediately press on bite hard. I suffer terribly and this is the only way if I don’t want to end up with scars from scratching.

I use a hot cup of tea to put over the bite

works like a dream

Mosquitos love me. Whenever I get bitten the area around the bite gets hard, red, hot and very itchy. Holidays were a nightmare unless I was covered in Deet! On a couple of occasions I even needed antibiotics.

In desperation, I started taking a daily B12 and a garlic capsule. I know there is no proven scientific evidence this should work, but for me it has been life changing. Over the last three years I have not been bitten either on holiday or in the U.K and I live in Scotland surrounded by pesky midges!

Aloe vera gel is your friend here too!

Tried to hit spoon method. Now have a burn blister as well as a bite.

So stupid and miserable

It's odd that some people get bitten more than others.
I can lie next to DH all night in a room full of mozzies, and I'd guarantee that in the morning he would be covered in bites and I'd have either none or one.

For those who get bitten regularly take garlic capsules - I’m not sure exactly what it does but changes the way you smell to mosquitos and they don’t go for you ( and no it doesn’t make your breath smell!)
Also if you know you are going somewhere likely to be bitten take an antihistamine before you go so it’s already in your body to minimise reaction to bite.

I used to be target practice for mossies but since doing the above two things I have no problems whatsoever

Portion will reduce the allergic reaction. An this an will stop the itching. If you get really swollen then germoline will reduce this. These are all available at any chemist. I get the same reaction to you and always have the above in the house. Avon skin so soft spray on the legs is a good repellant. Good luck op I feel your pain/itch.