Mosquito bites driving me to insanity! Send help!

[Luckingfovely]

Please somebody save me from clawing the very last bits of skin from my legs

20-ish bites across both calves and feet. From Tuesday night. Very allergic, each one is now a raised welt around two inches in diameter. Itching to the point of distraction, I can't even think about anything else.

I'm on prescription Fenofexadine, and have tried every cream in the house, from aloe vera to calamine, hydrocortisone to antiseptic, eczema relief to after sun, and now prescription steroid cream.

Nothing helps, and I don't even know how to try and do anything else but itch, but have a full day of work and kids on holidays in front of me. I can't bear it!

Please please tell me some magic cures before I ruin my legs forever?

Boil the kettle and pour a cup of water. Let it cool a bit then stick a spoon in and place the hot spoon on the bite. Just don't do it too hot, I did last week and got a blister.

www.bite-away.com/uk/blog/review-bite-away-electronic-bite-relief-device/
Just bought this because I always get bitten to bits on holiday. Worth a try?

A lot of people swear by Avon's skin so soft, apparently it's used by soldiers in bitey places and works a treat, a few friends use it successfully too*.

*disclaimer, it didn't work for me

This is to repel them by the way, not to treat them afterwards

To repel I use Jungle formula with DEET😂

The clicky bite devices are really goid, but best on new bites. The best thing for after you've been bitten is the gel that contains ammonia, it stinks but takes the itchiness away.

I find cooling them down helpful. I wrap an ice pack in a towel and put that on.

I'm like you OP & mozzie bites burn for a good week and blister in large welts. The last time I had as many as you (22) I'd been sitting at a harbourside restaurant in Cyprus in the evening. That night I got two ice lollies out of the fridge and sat holding them against the bites, moving them from bite to bite. That gave immediate relief but was temporary. Are you able to get to a pharmacy and beg for some horse-strength antihistamines?

Was just going to suggest something like this too. The one I have is an electric zapper that you use on the bite. You need to click it at least 15 times though but it works!

www.amazon.co.uk/Mosquito-Bite-Relief-Swelling-Inflammation/dp/B09C44DYYY/ref=mp_s_a_1_14_sspa?crid=1K5H04MEFLV36&keywords=mosquito+clicker&qid=1658385057&sprefix=mosquito+clicker%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-14-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRlBFVzEyOU9WU1NSJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzg4MjIzMjNISUdVQTZIUVVBVyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjEzNzI1M0xaUktCN0hHME9KUSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX3Bob25lX3NlYXJjaF9tdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

Eurax anti itch cream works miracles.

Spoon heated in tap hot water, approx 60 degrees. Not boiling! Apply to bites and press on. The itch intensifies then goes away and should give at least a few hours relief. There is a commercial version that heats up, which works well too.

The heat from a hairdryer really helps. Honestly - try it.

Thanks all! Waiting for boiling water to cook a little and will try that & report back. I think that's the same principle as the clicky thing - heat?

It's just reminded me of an entirely sultry holiday remance in Greece as a late teenager - the then lover used to swear by holding a lit cigarette just over the bite. Perhaps he was onto something (more than just the raki)?

I can get to a pharmacist a bit later so can ask for ammonia cream. I don't think can get any stronger antihistamines than prescription fenofexadine though. Added in Benadryl for good measure now too. Suspect I may become entirely Fun Mum for the day at this rate

I have terrible reactions to bites too. I haven’t found anything works particularly once I’m bitten - I put plasters on them to reduce my ability to scratch them.
I do find if I use Smidge twice a day then I just don’t get bitten… it’s so successful I forgot I needed it the other week… the dozen itchy bites that still haven’t quite disappeared reminded me! Definitely try smidge for the future. It doesn’t contain DEET and is amamzingly effective in my experience.

What mg is the fexofenadine? I'm on 180 mg for hay fever but I have some friends on 120mg.

Thanks all! Waiting for boiling water to cook a little and will try that & report back.

A hairdryer works on the same principle of using heat to numb the itching. And you don't have to faff about boiling water!

@Augend23 just checked and mine are 120. Will add another half tablet into the mix!

The only thing that works for me is ammonia . You get it in tubes in UK called After Bite. Keep slooshing it over the bites in copious amounts. This brings the bites down and stops them itching. You need to keep re-slooshing. Wrap the bites up in many layers. This stops you scratching them in your sleep. It also seems to stop them itching.

Eurax or Lanacane are the only thing that work for me-it’s miserable!

For future reference use Pyramid Trek repellent-it’s really good stuff. I have often seen the Avon stuff recommended (often by Avon reps or their friends and family!) and as someone who is bitten a lot-I can say it 100% doesn’t work for me. It smells vile, makes you horribly slimy and the gnats take absolutely no notice of it. Don’t waste your money and instead use something that actually works.

I always do the hairdryer trick to kill the itch. Running under very hot water also works if it's multiple bites in one place.

I get terrible allergic reactions to any insect bites including horse flies 20cmx 10cm
GP has prescribed fexofenadine long term as I have terrible hayfever for me but when I have actual bites I take pririton 4x daily too for 2-3 days until they start to go down and use antisan cream
(Fexafenadine is 180mg daily for insect bites )
Some say you can't take both together but my pharmacist friend said you can in this situation (depending on what other meds you are on and as long as no kidney etc problems) however you will be drowsy & never drink any alcohol with fexafenadine or antihistamines

Lol mistyped the bite size! 2cm x10cm!!

Get one of the clicky electric things and do it as soon as possible after the bite - they do still work if you do it hours after but i find if i click them straight away they basically disappear. If i leave them alone my body always overreacts.

Anthistan is good stuff too.

For the itch and redness, try bi-carb/water paste. My FIL (from the bush, Down Under), swear by baby oil / Dettol mix (50:50 ratio) made up in a spray bottle as a repellant

Have you tried hand gel? I have a similar issue and it seems to be the only thing that works. You want the most aggressive alcohol smelling you can find - non of this 'with aloe' / kinder to skin stuff.