I look ugly in summer - insect bites

[Toddlerone]

My fingers and legs swell up, my hair goes frizzy, I am supposed to wear less clothes but I am not confident about showing my body... Just hate it, I am super white... I also get insect bites all over my legs and the scars take ages to disappear. Often they never do. Is there anything I can apply to my body or take orally to prevent bites? And why do I get the bites? Me and my DD, so just the females of the house. Is it hormonal?

I look awful I summer too.

Hate the heat, hate the clothes and I'm so white I glow in the dark.

I also get bitten to lumps. Anti histamines help. I particularly like the drowsy version of Piriton. Helps you sleep the summer away.

Do the insect bites deffo only show up in summer? If they're there all the time then it could be bed bugs and a new mattress would be in order.

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@Toddlerone - I react badly to eg mosquito midge bites. So they swell up & are ugly. I have found this helpful to stop the itchiness because if you scratch them it makes it worse https://www.weldricks.co.uk/products/anthisan-bite-sting-cream-20g?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=GoogleShop%22&gclid=CjwKCAjwyqWkBhBMEiwAp2yUFiBolJtxRP-un-XOG3iV9KyXp5ZMTw6Y-kgRDCyr-6tEcFwnIbTxbRoC_EkQAvD_BwE.

As I believe it all people get similar number of bites - it is just that some react more . Not sure hormonal just some are more allergic than others. Some people have told me Priton tablets ( the sort you take for hay fever help ) . A Old wives tale is marmite on toast for breakfast helps as apparently it deters midges but you will have to be the judge of that.

What I do is have in the summer an insect spray and apply it liberally especially feet wrists etc but all over twice a day.

I feel for you. DH gets bites but they never come out like mine.

Hope some of that helps - so any anti histamine thing I think will help

All best to you

Avon skin so soft, daily antihistamines, cetrizine works for me, loose floppy cotton clothes

Avon skin so soft + piroton for me

Oh and germolene on any bites every time they itch

I just use Anthisan cream the minute I get bitten. It’s magic.

Feel this thread, my legs are so red and blotchy. I'm just going to wear loose trousers all summer and try not to give a shit.

I find Sudocrem the most effective thing after I've been bitten. I feel your pain (literally) as I seem to have been the munchies for every bug going this year!

Try smidge

I hear you OP, I don't enjoy trying to dress for this weather either.

Even though I'm in good shape, my lower legs and feet have annoying spider veins all over them, which looks really ugly, and not even good fake tan will cover them.
So while everyone else is in lovely shorts with flip flops and sandals, I'm still in long loose trousers and wearing runners. Very annoying.

I am an insect magnet and react badly to bites.

I use jungle formula roll on insect repellent on wrists, inner elbows, neck, armpits, back of ankles, back of knees daily all summer. Works for me.

I've given up caring about being pale, I just am. It's quite liberating getting middle aged, in some ways!

A thank you everyone for the support! I will check those recommendations for antihistamines and creams and build an arsenal!!

I am exactly the same and holidays were always less enjoyable as I felt like I wasn't looking/feeling my best.
I would recommend Avon skin so soft- spray liberally.
Antihistamines for a back up and reduce severity of bites.
If going to humid climate use colour wow spray as it smooths frizzy hair and it's likely that you have wavy hair naturally so if like me you were fighting against it and straightening it just ends up frizzy. I now use wand or irons to wave it now and so much easier.
Also for tan I like bondi sands gradual tanning lotion, nice natural colour but moisturising as well.
Enjoy your holiday.

I used to feel like this until I realised that I wasn't buying the right shape clothes for my body.

Now I've just been into primark for the first time for about 5 years and I was blown away with the simple and elegant summer dresses they have in at the moment. For about £11

I think you need to look at dress shapes in midi or maxi length and see which would suit you. Because there is a dress for everyone.

Bites : antihistamines and you can get insect repellent wipes! Which I've started using for when I'm cycling and the horse flies now leave me alone! £1 wipes and £3 antihistamines

Magnesium Sulfate: very cheap and heals skin VERY quickly. One night you can have a nasty spot and the next morning it has faded loads. £3 in Boots

You don't need fake tan. I've stopped wearing it personally. And replaced with the right shade cream blusher £4.50. Also body scrub lifts poor skin off and reveals the new stuff underneath.

Type in English Rose and see how you can make this colour / look work for you.

I'm celtic. so have very pale skin, dark hair and blue eyes. 💙

Also Green Tea every day helps reduce my water retention.

Soak feet in cool water will also help.

Type in Broderie on Vinted. Primark definitely had loads in. It's so beautiful, breathable and light. Comes in white, navy or black so it suits everyone :)

Antihistamine is great for bug bites

Take a few days before getting bitten to build up resistance

I'm also the person that reacts horribly to insect bites. I've tried anti-histamines, cold packs, anthisan, hydrocortisone - they help but not enough really

I was absolutely desperate last week, I had a bite on my knee that itched all night, I barely slept. It was red hot and started to take over my knee. I googled and read that heat can denature the protein in bites which causes the reaction - some people recommend a hot spoon pressed on it, but I tried the hairdryer next to my bed. 30 seconds warming it up and it was instant relief. The itching went by about 90% and within an hour the egg on my knee was deflating. So I'm going to try this in future instead of pills and creams.

By accident I found out that I get bitten less when I take antihistamines bor if I get bitten I don't react anywhere near as badly.

I've been doing my research and I've read that taking antihistamines can contribute to weight gain. This makes is a no no for me 😞