I moved down here in January and knew that I’d be facing a bug problem, especially when it got warmer, though the bugs are a year-round problem. But DEAR GOD DO I ITCH.
I have large hot, red, HELLISHLY ITCHY welts on my legs. I don’t think this is mosquitos because of the location. They could well be flea bites; the dogs are on flea control, but all I really have to do is go outside and there’s all SORTS of bugs. I’ve always been the one person in the crowd who gets a bunch of bites when the other people get one or two.
I have tried virtually every over-the-counter product over the years to stop the TORTUROUS ITCHING. NOTHING works. NOTHING. Does anybody know if there’s something I could get prescribed that would actually STOP THE DAMN ITCHING? I don’t mean prescription strength hydrocortizone. I need something better than that. Hell, at this point I’d let them inject local into all of them if they’d just STOP ITCHING for a few hours and let me be.
Right now I have eight of these suckers on my right leg. I know people joke about bug bites but I really am suffering. Last week I had a bunch and now that they’re gone, I’ve got a new crop. I’ve been itching for a day and a half. I dread going to bed just because contact with ANYTHING makes them itch even MORE.
Benadryl doesn’t seem to work either. I’ve tried EVERYTHING out there. The only over-the-counter stuff that works at all is Lanacane, which isn’t really supposed to be for bug bites, and even then it doesn’t always work. Even the extra-strength kind! Though when it does, it’s heaven…instant “aaaah.” But that doesn’t last more than a few minutes either. As I got the current crop of bites yesterday, today is the worst, itchiest day of all!
Ice does help, except that it just doesn’t last.
The BC stuff is hydrocortizone. I’m sure it’s nice stuff. It just doesn’t do squat for my bug bites. Thanks for the recommendation, though.
My mom and I are trying to figure out what Bug From the Depths of Hell did this to me.
whiterabbit, I’m so so sorry. My daughter is the same way. Bugs just love her. When we were in Hawaii, someone was kind enough to suggest SkinSoSoft sublock. Not only did it work on her fair skin, it stopped the bugs from biting, too!! Which is good, because those monster mosquitos left welts the size of small pancakes (I kid you not) on my baby. SSS is made by Avon, you can buy it online fairly cheap.
I use hot compresses to relieve the itching of mosquito bites. Make them as hot as you can stand without burning yourself. They reduce the swelling, too. I suggest you try this on just one of your bites or a small area to see if it works for you.
Have you tried Caladryl lotion? A combination of Calomine and Benedryl. I was bitten to death by New Orleans mosquitos, and that helped a bit–that, and the ice.
Hot compresses, Rowr? Hmmm. Try cold on one leg and hot on the other and see what works. Of course, you may wind up with a thunderstorm in your crotch . . .
Caladryl generally works for me, but then I’ve never had the kind of Bug Bites From Hell that you describe. You have my sympathies, whiterabbit. Have you tried something with lidocaine, menthol or similar numbing agent?
You might see if you can find peppermint essential oil at a health-foods store, dilute in some vodka NOT water (trust me on this, peppermint oil will burn your skin if not diluted, and EOs are not water-soluble) and apply compress-style to your bites. Peppermint is the original source of menthol, and should give you some cooling action. If you feel like getting a bit more exotic, mix in some lavender; my books say that lavender helps reduce inflammation. Hope this helps!
Aaaand that might take your mind off the itching for a little while…
For poison oak, I like this stuff called Calagel, but I have no idea if it would work on bug bites.
You might need some sort of oral antihistamine to reduce the allergic reaction as well as the topical stuff. They might zonk you out a bit, but at least while you’re asleep, you’re not itching madly.
Meat tenderizer. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I swear it works. Just wet the affected area and pat the powder on. d_redguy’s mom (my MIL) told me about this and I thought she was nuts, but it works. We have converted many.
I hate to state the obvious, but if no one else will, I guess it’s up to me. . .
If you’re truly agonizing, and you’ve tried every over-the-counter remedy known to humankind, and there’s still no relief, it’s time to haul your butt to the doctor. Period. Don’t argue.
Lee Valley tools is kinda like the Trader Joe’s of gardening and similar equipment. Some of their stuff is wonderful; others junky. Today the Therapik bug bite treatment tool caught my eye. Who knows if this really works, but if you bite, let us know if you got bitten.
Maybe it got lost in the OP, but I DID ask if anybody knew if there was something a doctor could give me that would be better than anything over-the-counter. All I know about is prescription-strength hydrocortizone, which never has done all that much for me. I’ll be HAPPY to cough up the money for a doctor visit if there’s something they can do, but why bother otherwise?
I survived the night, though I itched the whole time.
Try putting a couple of drops of full-strength ammonia on the bite, IF you haven’t scratched it open. That usually takes the itching away for an hour or two.
Oh I feel you pain.
Bugs love me as well, I was always told they love whiter skin people (blonds), well I am the brunette proof it isn’t true…
Sometimes (and only sometimes so I don’t get it), a bite will turn into the size of a baseball on me… They get hot to the touch and painfull… That happened last summer, not this one, thanks God. I did got to the doctor and he basically gave me hydrocortizone… It helped a bit but no miracle.
Best thing, prevention… Spray OFF on you or something.
For the existing bites, an old grandmother recipe in France is to apply red vinegar to the bite. Watch out if you already scratched it, it will sting!
I’ve tried EVERYTHING out there. The only over-the-counter stuff that works at all is Lanacane, which isn’t really supposed to be for bug bites, and even then it doesn’t always work. Even the extra-strength kind! Though when it does, it’s heaven…instant “aaaah.” But that doesn’t last more than a few minutes either. As I got the current crop of bites yesterday, today is the worst, itchiest day of all!