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Original poster

COVERED in insect bites - how do i quell them?

36 replies

spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 18:42

I got bitten really badly last night by an unidentified insect - must have more than 50 bites all over - even got 3 or 4 on my face! They are very itchy red bumps and I look like I have some sort of hideous pox.

What can I do to quell the itching? Lou33 suggests Eurax cream but I can't get that until tomorrow

OP posts:
hercules · 16/05/2004 18:45

Piriton - it's an antihistimine.

hercules · 16/05/2004 18:45

Camomile?

hercules · 16/05/2004 18:45

camomile lotion that is.

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 18:47

i'll have a rummage in my medical box to see if i've got any piriton, thanks hercules

no camomile lotion - got camomile tea - would chucking a few tea bags in the bath work?

also got lavender oil ... any good?

OP posts:
kalex · 16/05/2004 18:52

Don't now the implications of this, but when I lived in SA, and the mosquitoes had a field day on my blood, I used to put hairspray on them to stop the itching, and it worked!! (sprayed it on my hand and then dabbed on affected area)

I don't know whether I would do this know though!

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 18:54

thanks kalex, i'm desperate so will try anything

from googling apparently isopropyl alcohol works (eh?), malt vinegar, cornstarch mixed with water, raw onion or canesten cream

am off to experiment ...

OP posts:
Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 18:57

have just daubed whole body with vinegar

so i look like i have a hideous pox AND i stink

OP posts:
lou33 · 16/05/2004 19:22

Sorry SM, but HAHAHAHA !

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 19:26

i look like something out of dawn of the dead

OP posts:
lou33 · 16/05/2004 19:32

Sniggers into sleeve......

jmg1 · 16/05/2004 19:34

sm are you planning on coming back into the up market bar looking like that?

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 19:44

definitely not jmg

OP posts:
Piffleoffagus · 16/05/2004 19:58

vinegar is good, as is tea tree too... try the cham tea it clears up most everything else and is soothing too.
Sounds awful

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 19:59

the vinegar is definitely helping ...

OP posts:
Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 20:01

the bloody thing(s) must've had a field day - i've got 5 bites in a line on my leg. Unless it was a formation mozzie team?

OP posts:
luckymum · 16/05/2004 20:14

Agree about the tea tree - great for anything itchy. And eating Marmite supposed to stop them biting - apparently?? but I hate the stuff so don't know if it works.

Piffleoffagus · 16/05/2004 20:15

empty the cupboard of all those things you never use and plonk it on...
Something has to work!

misdee · 16/05/2004 20:22

tea tree oil is good if u have it handy. cham tea, errrrrrrrm try putting a couple of tea bags in a mug, pour on boiling water, leave to stew and cool down then dab on when its cool enough to be applied. might work! keep the rest in a bottle in the fridge for cooling relief tomorrow.
anti-histime almost def needed, any hayfever pills u have about (clarityn?) should also do the trick.

lou33 · 16/05/2004 22:10

That will teach you to go away for such a mucky weekend SM!

treacletart · 16/05/2004 22:21

my mum always used bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to make a smeary paste

SofiaAmes · 16/05/2004 23:20

I take Clarityn for hayfever and have found that it keeps mosquito and other insect bites from itching as it act like an antihistamine. And it doesn't make you drowsy like Piriton.

Original poster
spacemonkey · 16/05/2004 23:45

thank you for all your advice everyone - i will get some clarityn first thing in the morning!

OP posts:
Original poster
spacemonkey · 17/05/2004 02:22

jeez - they're soooo itchy i can't sleep

OP posts:
robinw · 17/05/2004 06:45

message withdrawn

Original poster
spacemonkey · 17/05/2004 08:12

I've had 2 hours sleep and am in tears of frustration. Gonna get dressed and haul my be-wealed body up to boots X

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