Insect bites

[NeitherKilnerNorMason]

I am sick of them! I have scars from insect bites on my legs going back months!! I got bitten on the weekend on two different parts of my leg, so there's two awful marks on each section (fangs I guess...), they're bumpy, red, itchy, of course I've scratched them and now look awful!!! I'm going on holiday in 4 weeks time and now I have unsightly bites which I know will last forever. What can I use on them to help the healing process and how can I prevent insects from biting me in the first place??

I sympathise.
Have you tried Antihisan and / or Piriton to reduce the reaction? My Gp also recommended mild steroid cream - 0.5 or 1%. Just for a few days. And then hit it with antiseptic cream to stop infection and encourage healing.
I had a few shockers in the heatwave and the marks are all but invisible now, so you have every chance of them healing in time for your holiday.
As to stopping them biting, only covering up really works. Sorry.

Thanks sono, I do have Antihisan and hydrocortisone so I'll be applying them today. Honestly I was wearing leggings, how did they get underneath????

They bite through!!! Think what the bites would have been like without the leggings ... Down to the bone probably. What bugs me, is these little blighters must have teeth like sharks - you'd think you'd spot them flying around with such massive gnashers, but I never have.

It took me a long time to accept that they do bite through leggings ( and even jeans).
This year I've used max strength Jungle spray before stepping foot outside, even just to hang the washing, and it seems to be working. It lasts several hours, but not all day, so I reapply every 5 hours or so, I spray it onto any bare skin and over clothes. Wilkos own brand contains almost identical ingredients.
I discussed it with my GP, who suffers herself, and she thought some mozzies seem to like perfume and sweet things, so try to avoid those.
But covering up plus spray seems to be keeping them at bay.

I just got these for holidays is Majorca
www.amazon.co.uk/Mosquito-Repellent-Bracelets-Waterproof-Children/dp/B01ERF2FW4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1499368588&sr=8-3&keywords=Mosquito+Repellent+Bracelets&tag=mumsnetforum-21

We live in Spain and everyone swears by the repellent bracelets. We have used plug ins at home to repel them when we have windows open (I try to be eco-friendly where possible so have windows open at night instead of air con) but the best thing we've found is having a diffuser of citronella on the outside window ledge. It costs about 3€ and lasts 3 weeks.

If you're sitting outside at night, large citronella candles work as does lemon peel scattered generously around you (also repels wasps).

Vicks vaporub, works both as a repellent and to take the itch out. ''Tis magic.