This might belong in IMHO, if so feel free to move it
It’s summer, mosquitoes are flourishing here, and my SO and I have been getting eaten alive.
I’ve bought the OFF! candle lantern for prevention when we’re sitting out on the front porch, and that works great for area protection. The problem is we still get nailed constantly if we’re walking 5 minutes to a friends house, or when I go out for a cigarette at work.
What the best itch-fighting stuff out there? The only thing that comes to mind is calamine lotion, and I don’t think I’ve used that stuff since I had the chicken pox back in 88-89.
lurks away to scratch the 5 new mosquito bites I received during cig breaks at work tonight…
I have some stuff called BiteMD. I am being bitten to death (hopefully not literally…I keep forgetting to take my antimalarials) and use it constantly. It’s a lifesaver.
The only thing that I find even moderately effective is Benadryl tablets. I’ve tried various ointments and creams, and I never found one that really worked. Well, I suspect that if I took Demerol that that would work too, but I’m talking about over the counter stuff.
Not made strictly for bites, but I like a product called Sea Breeze. I think it’s supposed to be a cleanser for oily skin, but it’s good on mosquito bites, too. It’s especially good if you’ve scratched them a bit; it sort of stings the itch out.
For all I know rubbing alcohol would do just as well, since it also stings. But my grandma used Sea Breeze, so I do too. After all, she was an old lady from the countryside; she must know what she’s talking about… :dubious:
Where are you? I grew up in Central Arkansas, and have found that if I can just leave the damn things alone for thirty minutes, they go away. Mrs. Plant, who is Not From Around Here, on the other hand has a bad reaction to them.
Back when I smoked, it kept mosquitoes away.
Very hot bath water works for chiggers.
I advise to just leave them alone for a while. I can’t help scratching, but mosquito bites for me are gone within a couple of hours. And like Ned Flanders says, mosquito bites aren’t that bad - it sure does feel good scratching 'em!
We got seriously bitten a couple years ago. After some internet searching, we stumbled across a few homespun remedies, all of which worked but to varying degrees depending on the person:
Spread toothpaste over the affected area.
If your feet are itchy, make some oatmeal in a footbath and soak your feet.
Spread latex paint over the bites & let it dry.
Wrap the area in Scotch tape.
They now make a clear version of calamine lotion – same effect, but it’s invisible. I keep a bottle for when I get into the poison ivy, but I’ve also used it on bug bites.