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?

My brother swears by taking Vit B complex to avoid being bitten - he used to do a lot of running and cycling in the woods and was given the advice after his first session when he was one massive insect bite!

Another tip for stopping the itching is aloe vera gel either straight from the plant or in a tube that has been kept in the fridge.

The best thing is prevention I’ve found (citronella, sprays, having a bat roost in your house helps 😂), though as I do a lot of gardening, that isn’t always possible. I don’t get bitten often, but when I do I always have a horrible allergic reaction to it, usually requiring antibiotics (one side of my face was swollen for the whole of a weeks holiday a few years ago because I’d done a quick weeding and deadheading session the day before departure and got a spider bite 🙄). I am now an utter superstar at NOT scratching, no matter how itchy, because that always makes it ten times worse. I got caught out a few weeks back though and absent mindedly scratched an itch on my leg not realising it was a bite. The infection spread pretty wide (about 20 centimetre circle) and I ended up in hospital with cellulitis again (about the fourth time, think once you’ve had it you’re more likely to suffer again). And that was probably just from a teeny spider bite. Someone remind me not to move to Australia, I doubt I’d survive. 😂

Some people attract bugs more than others. Everything bites me. I suggest covering up - lightweight long sleeves / legs / socks so there's less to bite, and /or insect repellent (although I don't like the smell, so generally don't use it).

Hydrocortisone cream. Available at supermarkets, no prescription needed. Just stick to the instructions.

Also calamine lotion will soothe your itchiness. I have also been known to coat my legs in germolene for the anaesthetic effect when I've reacted to bites

I ended up with cellulitis this week from a mozzie bite. I live in London 🙄

I'm off to buy citronella scents aplenty

Ok so brief update: I went to work and bought Piriton on the way in, I could only get the normal drowsy making stuff so I put off taking it until I couldn’t bear it. By which time my ankles were cankles and my minions at work were telling me to call 111. I took the piriton and it worked almost immediately to reduce the redness and swelling so it’s def an allergic reaction rather than anything nasty like cellulitis. Unforch it made me a bit out of it and drowsy so many customers got extra/free/wrong drinks so I’m either hugely popular or on a HO shit list.

Still fucking itchy though. I’m never getting nature on me again.

@diddl

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

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

it was to heal the bites! and it was amazing. Had to reapply a few times but took the itch out and dried them up

I used to get eaten alive but they mostly leave me alone now. IMO Citronella works a bit, but really you need a good insect repellent, the more DEET the better. The best I've used is Bushman's, but I don't think you get it in the UK, I think it is 40% DEET. I'm sure you can get similar. Those repellent bracelets are good too, we also burn incense coils that we got in Bali that seem to do the trick.

I'm liking the vitamin B tip. Have taken it 3 days on the run and they haven't bothered me. Who knew? Will be sharing that one! Have also had the citronella out, although previous experience tells me that's not particularly effective against them. Could've been doing it wrong though. This week I've kept topping up the burner with drops of oil every hour or so, and it might've helped. Nice to not have to go round shutting all the windows at 8pm! 🙏