Insect bites turned into boils/pustules

[ACJane]

I have had a number of insect bites over the last few weeks (maybe 8 in total) and over this time five have turned into pus filled pustules (sorry tmi...) - see the image. The scab to the right is one which did eventually deflate on its own.

I attended the local walk-in earlier in the week as three of them were causing me discomfort and I wanted to check they were not infected. The nurse drained them and cut the expanded skin away - these are still pretty sore three days on and still "red raw". She and the doctor she called in for a second opinion were confident they were not infected but she couldn't say what had caused them to go like this.

Now I have a new one which developed a couple of days after the bite itself occurred. I can't face another three hours waiting in the walk-in if I can avoid it. Will it eventually burst? It is uncomfortable but not painful.
Do I need to get this one lanced too?

Also what could have caused this reaction?

Ooh nasty - I think you need to go back. Or at least see a pharmacist who will know whether it looks infected. Bites can turn really horrid and you can get cellulitis or even sepsis.

Mine sometimes go like that if I don't scratch them. I would poke that with a clean needle to release the fluid (it's not pus but I can't remember what it's called, someone else will know I expect) and apply a dressing. Antihistamines will help reduce any itching.

You should probably use insect repellant. I use Incognito.

I got this in Italy having been bitten by mozzies. All over my legs.

I get eczema sometimes so it was an allergic reaction / overreaction to the bite.

Take antihistamines as a PP said but I also bought a steroid / topic antibiotic cream to both bring down the inflammation and stop it getting infected. You'd have to get it on prescription here so go see your GP or go back and ask them to prescribe that if a couple days of anti-h don't do it.

Yup. I react to mosquitoes in some countries like this. Singapore and Mexico spring to mind as the worst. Mozzies here in Canada are just really REALLY itchy.

It's not especially itchy now - really interested in the idea that they've gone like this because I didn't scratch them actually.
I was trying not to do so as if I scratch they get massive (I'm definitely allergic based on past experience but they've never gone like this before.

It's very unsightly!

I had these a couple of years ago and again just this past couple of weeks. I popped them with a sterile scalpel blade to relieve the tightness, then applied hydrocortisone 1% cream on and around the bite. One week on and the bites are now flat to the skin, itch free, and barely any redness. The cream can be bought OTC.

Some of my bites do that, I'm severely allergic to them. If I am going somewhere I may be bitten I take a daily antihistamine, use lots of repellent and apply Sudacrem if I do get any bites.

Looks like horseflie bites. Put sudocreme on and don't scratch

That's an allergy. Take anti histamine until it goes away, and next time as soon as soon it starts looking a bit puss-like.

It can vary whether you react one year to the next as well as by region.

Magnesium paste is an extremely old fashioned treatment for bites but works well and will draw out any infection. About £3 from amazon.

Incidentally I used the hot spoon method on the latest bite as soon as I noticed it and it's barely there now! Wish I had known this before!
Not sure I can stomach bursting it myself...some of you are less squeamish than me it seems!

Be aware of mrsa and mssa. Your GP should swab the bites jic

Right now I'll order anything regardless of cost!
Had this going on for two weeks now - not this specific bite but that's when I got the first couple...there are far worse things but it's literally rather irritating.

So you need to stop going wherever you've been going for a bit. If you're having a reaction to a bite, getting bitten again will make it worse and increase the odds of the new bite reacting.
If it's happening at home, lots of insect repellent and obnoxious cheap body spray.

Yep it's happening at home.
I've started wearing longer trousers and insect repellant round the house. I have a theory it could be something living in my fluffy sheepskin slippers but is that ridiculous? I have stopped wearing them just in case.

I do get mozzies in the kitchen but haven't seen any for the last week or so.

Awake as two of the bastards are really burning so much. Had a paracetemol, antihistamine and used Eurax Hc cream so not sure what I can do.

Ds who is nearly 1 had a random blister that was like this but smaller pop up and it popped quite quickly (hard for him not to touch it or knock it) the GP couldn't tell me what it was so this is interesting to see. They did tell me to use sudocrem but it's not healing well so will be going back

At the walk-in centre waiting and waiting to be seen.
It seems this is called a bullous reaction.

Hope you've been sorted now op!

Interesting - do you have immune problems OP? That seems to be a denominator with Bullous reactions.

I don't but have horrific reactions to Moz bites along the lines of what is called Skeeter syndrome in the US. I get plasma sacs like in your image and scratch like crazy. The heat/ itching/ burning/ swelling is off the scale

I used to get these all the time whenever bitten on my feet or ankle, 7 or 8 at a time. A bullous reaction. I don’t believe it is dangerous or needs to be seen by a doctor. Just treat it like a blister. Don’t cut the skin off but drain the fluid if there is too much pressure. They go down on their own in about a week. I used also to get red raised patches the size of saucers if bitten elsewhere on my body. No creams or tablets ever helped with either reaction. Weirdly both types of reaction have ceased since giving birth (got them for many years before and during pregnancy though).

What did the walk in centre say OP? My niece gets this reaction and the doctors just shrug and tell her to use frozen peas and piriton, neither or which do much for it. Love to hear any advice!

I think if you are prone to strong allergic reactions you need a daily anti histamine. I often get a very nasty reaction so now take a daily anti histamine when I know I am at risk I also treat all bites immediately with hydrocortisone they still swell a bit but they are much better. You also need to start spraying with deet when you are at risk.

Horsefly bites do that to me. It's grim when they pop.

The walk-in centre nurse (after a three hour wait) drained and tidied up the two new blisters (one large "hemispherical", one small) -and re-dressed the ones drained on Monday as they're not healed at all.

He just said carry on with antihistamines and return asap if there are any signs of infection.
The bites were fine all day really but itch and burn like crazy this evening so I've taken my now daily antihistamine a shade earlier and am hoping it will kick in.
I was stood cooking a lot this evening so wonder if that has contributed to rhem stinging more somehow.
Am lying down raising my legs on the back of the sofa in a desperate attempt to alleviate this based on no science whatsoever.

After two weeks of all this, I'm feeling quite infuriated by it although of course there are far worse things.

To the pp who asked if I have immune issues - I have hypothyroidism and PCOS both of which are auto-immune disorders.