Would you be concerned by this bite?

[Biteyflies]

Evening! Basically as the title says. Would this bite concern you? What should I be looking out for or keeping my eye on? I did go to the pharmacy this afternoon and she suggested a calomine lotion thing. She also suggested something else but they didn't have any! It's on my leg and happened on Saturday, just incase a normal bite should have gone by now!

I'd use an anti-histamine cream, AND take anti-histamine tablets, all as directed.
If it gets worse (hot, itchy, swollen and hard) over the next couple of days, either go back to the see the pharmacist, or swap the anti-histamines for an over-the-counter Hydrocortisone cream.

I react badly to insect bites and with a recent one even the AH cream plus tablets combo didn't help, so I consulted a pharmacist. She offered to prescribe an anti biotic, except I'm allergic to it, so she gave me the hydrocortisone cream instead, and it worked.

I had a similar one that started tracking. look out for that aswell

@ICouldHaveCheckedFirst the only one I can get on Amazon tomorrow is called Skincalm?! Unless Asda sell something that I could get before work. I will take an antihistamine in the morning too, and failing that I'll try a different pharmacy tomorrow after work!

@CottonSock what is tracking please?!

Could it be a tick bite, they spread out like that? Might be worth getting a second opinion from GP

I itch just looking at it <shudder>
I wouldn't worry, just manage.

oral anti-histamine might help, at least let you sleep
Ice might help with itch, too

let you sleep??? 🤔

Is it a bullseye? Looks red, then white, then red again?

I don't know Skincalm. I use either Anthisan or Boots own brand cream, and Piriton (not Piriteze, that's for hay fever) or Boots own tablets.

Is it a tick bite? Or were you in an area where ticks are common. If you were you need to go to the doctors

@Whyohwhyohwhy123 I was just in someone's back garden at a bbq? I don't know how to know if it's a tick area?!

@CatsOnTheChair yes I suppose it is, but more yellowy white.... is that bad?!

What was the other thing she suggested? Antihistamines - cream and pills, used regularly as directed should work. Or hydrocortisone cream as pp said. It can take days or weeks to settle.

If it worsens or seems infected, you should consult pharmacy again.

Yes, I would be very concerned, it’s not immediately obvious how bad it is but it is covering a large area, call 111 or go to A&E, it’s 3 days since you were bitten, it shouldn’t still be reacting in this way. And yes it’s definitely bullseye, when you call 111 tell them the dimensions as well.

Go to the GP tomorrow

@hedgehoglurker it

You absolutely don't need to call 111 as suggested above. Erythema from an insect bite can spread up to 10cm in all directions. Antihistamines, ice and elevation will do the trick as long as your well in your self.

@hedgehoglurker it was Anthisan, but she said they were struggling to get it in and so suggested the calamine lotion.

I work in a school so will struggle to get to the gps tomorrow but will visit a different pharmacy tomorrow after work/call and try and make a later appointment at the gps!

Thank you everyone

@hollylou that is reassuring, thank you!!

My legs looked much worse than that last week (we were abroad and bitten alive).

I took an antihistamine tablet every day and they improved minutes after I took the tablet, and they’ve pretty much gone now a week later.

*within minutes

I get reactions to bites like that and I’ve always been advised to mark the edges with pen so you can monitor the spread of the reaction. Tracking that pp mentioned is red streaks/ lines coming out from affected area. If you start to feel unwell or it keeps spreading I’d seek help for it.

Take an antihistamine now if you have some in. Hydrocortisone cream too if you have some, but be careful not to apply on any broken skin - looks like the centre is broken so not on that part. Ice and elevation. I'd also draw around the area with pen just so you can track if it's changing at all. I'd also err on the side of caution and ring GP in the morning.

Please call 111. If it’s a bullseye rash it could be lymes disease from a tick bite. It’s treatable with antibiotics if caught early.

I think that looks like a horsefly bite, they tear the skin rather than pierce it. I have had these in the past and they look very much like yours. The last one I had I spoke to the doctor and he told me to take anti-histamines and use a cream (anthisan). I spoke to him on day 3 and he said to phone back the following day if it was getting worse. On day 4 the swelling started to go down so I didn't but the redness and itching lasted a couple of weeks.

Yes.
I'd take photos and mark the outline and email the GP. Looking at the photo closely it's actually a really large area of red skin with the redder part in the middle.

Looks a normal reaction to a bite if it’s really itchy best thing to do is heat a spoon up with boiling hot water then place the hot spoon on the bite it draws out the poison