To never venture Outside again.

[BelleClapper]

Last night I set out the garden sofas all beautifully with a gazebo and cushions and fairy lights and lanterns. I sat outside until nearly midnight with wine and a book. It was lovely, or so I thought.

Today I am absolutely COVERED in horrible red itchy bites, massive red patches all over my legs. I’m so uncomfortable. Something has clearly taken a great liking to the taste of me.

I’ve put anthisan all over and had a cool shower but what else can I do? I have to go to work tonight and I can’t stand there scratching all evening.

Why does nature hate me?

An oat bath will help the itching

Try that skin so soft Avon spray as an insect
Repellant.

Buy original Avon skin so soft spray and cover yourself in it before going out. The fierce Scottish midges avoid me when I wear it. We camped in a forest next to a Loch and got one bite in total between 4 of us.

I feel your pain - youngest daughter are obviously tasty.

Antihistamine tablets (go supermarket own brand... same stuff but cheaper) as well as cream. If anthisan doesn't touch it get Hydricortisone Cream.

Citronella candles when outside combined with insect repellant.

Even covering up isn't a guarantee. A couple of years ago we met some of DHs friends in a beer garden for a party... I wore jeans and a top. I also stayed near the building not close to the grassed area. I still got bites on my legs!

I feel your pain i get badly bitten and can't sit out. I use a daily non drowsy antihistamine from the supermarket throughout summer and Avon used to do a dry oil spray which I stockpiled and I use before I water the pots at night. they may well still do it I've not looked for about 2 years due to lock down and stockpile but failing that I've used a high street insect repellent in the Past as well.

I saw a news report a few years ago where scientists had investigated why some people got lots of insect bites and others didn't really get any. It was all down to the pheromones we excrete. Makes sense of why I'm always covered in big angry bites especially now we've built a pond whereas other family members are not.

i am a mozzie magnet. A few years ago while in the Dominican Republic I got eaten alive ( I actually think they were sand fleas as i was beach walking every morning at dawn) Benedryl helped alot , but the best was that our pool waitress saw them,, and told us she had something back in her room for it and would get me it on her lunch break. She came back with a little can of Vicks Vaporub. My god ...it worked. I now always have a jar of it in my suitcase!

You can't really do anything else. Anthisan is good. Savlon is also good. Take an antihistamine. Don't scratch!!! Bites can become infected if you do that.

Why on earth did you not use insect repellant? I wouldn't go anywhere without spraying myself with Jungle or something, never mind sitting out at night. Anyway you'll know next time. Wear nothing perfumed and put on insect repellant.

It does sound as though you had a lovely, restful evening, pity you are paying for it now but - never again.

Chiggers are known as harvest mites in the UK. Normally associated with sitting/walking in long grass.

I’ll definitely use insect repellant next time! It just never occurred to me.

Thinking about it, I don’t often have bare legs, even in the summer. But I was wearing shorts yesterday.

Some good suggestions here OP. Would also suggest a really well stocked chimera or fire pit near where you are sitting- def keeps the biting nasties away!!

" She came back with a little can of Vicks Vaporub."

Was that to heal the bites/stop more or both?

citronella candles work well under a gazebo as it seems to contain the scent somewhat. You can get really nice ones in tins from Amazon.

I learnt recently that everyone gets bitten just only some people react. So antihistamines before you go out, insect spray

I use the insect repellent bracelets, got a pack of 20 from Amazon for about a fiver, think it's citronella they are impregnated with and they work a treat - one bracelet lasts 300 hours. The ones I have look like the plaited leather bracelets you see in touristy shops - best fiver I've ever spent

I sympathise! I am allergic to mosquito bites so eg if I get bitten on the foot it swells up so I can’t walk. I basically cover myself in an insect repellent called Incognito which I got in Holland & Barrett. It’s not got DEET in it so feels safer to use every day, but is still effective even when we’ve travelled to Central America. Piriton tablets help bites go down a bit - I don’t bother with bite creams, they are useless ime. Oh and they can bite through leggings so don’t be lulled into thinking they are a defence! Had to take a day off work to sit in cold bath with oats (soothes itching) after that mistake.

I expect it's mossies or midges. Chiggers (harvest mites) crawl under tight clothing like waistbands and bra straps and then attack. They crawl on from undergrowth. I get them when picking blackberries. They are so very bastardy itchy.

Jungle Formula do a blue spray that really takes away the itch instantly. If I only have one or two bites I do the hot spoon thing to break up the protein strands from the insects saliva. Put a teaspoon into a mug of boiling water for a short while. Take it out, wave it a little bit to cool, test the outside of the bowl briefly on the skin until you can tolerate it, and then hold on the bite for at least 10 seconds. Aim for not hot enough to burn but hot enough to feel uncomfortable.

I peacefully lay in my bed, which is indoors, and am still covered. Worst of all I was awake half the night as a mosquito essentially moved into my ear and ZZZZZZZZZZZed there. YANBU to avoid the outside but it won’t save you.

@PattyPan

I sympathise! I am allergic to mosquito bites so eg if I get bitten on the foot it swells up so I can’t walk. I basically cover myself in an insect repellent called Incognito which I got in Holland & Barrett. It’s not got DEET in it so feels safer to use every day, but is still effective even when we’ve travelled to Central America. Piriton tablets help bites go down a bit - I don’t bother with bite creams, they are useless ime. Oh and they can bite through leggings so don’t be lulled into thinking they are a defence! Had to take a day off work to sit in cold bath with oats (soothes itching) after that mistake.

Totally agree with all of this! I react badly to bites and creams don't do a thing. The liquid ammonia stuff does help, though it stinks! For really itchy ones, giving them a blast with the hairdryer also helps to take the itch away. You need to do it until it's so hot you can't take it. And definitely take an anti-histamine, that's what really helps for me.

Prevention really is better than cure with bites though. Lots of Skin So Soft, repellent and citronella candles if you're sitting outside. Or just a campfire as the smoke tends to keep them away. Cover up where you can, but I agree with others, it's not guarantee. I got horribly badly bitten after exercising in the park wearing full length leggings once. Little buzzy fuckers.

I hate getting bitten. Wash them down and pop a Dan of antiseptic and some bite cream on them and cover with a plaster and try not to scratch as advised by the NHS. I always thought this advice was totally ott until I had a bite get horribly infected a couple of years ago. It was a huge open wound that took weeks to heal and has left me with a nasty scar bigger than a 50p piece. Antihistamines are fab too.

I got bitten at the weekend whilst cutting the grass. Fast forward to yesterday and I had to get antibiotics as it had become infected and the swelling was travelling down my leg . Be very careful they don’t get infected. Take antihistamine and an insect bite cream that has some hydrocortisone in it. Hope I feel better soon. Has put me off being outside too!

Did you have a storm yesterday? Don't ever sit outside just after rain

Hydrocortisone if it gets too itchy
I react like this to midges and it’s the only way I can cope. I’m scratching them until they bleed otherwise.

Something bit/stung me yesterday. I didn't feel or see it, but my foot swelled, went numb, couldn't bend toes.
It's almost back to normal today, apart from my toe is almost purple, but still no idea what was responsible.