Insect Bites

[Will1981]

This year has been terrible for insect bites, everytime any of us cut the grass or do any gardening we are getting bitten multiple times.

 

I think it is Horse Flies as my garden backs onto a river and I have idendified them landing on me, the bites themselves are so sore and itchy and keep me awake sometimes.

 

Any one else suffering this year with them or have advice on how to deal with them.

[Royston.]

I work close to a canal and had several bites. Now the weather is a little cooler (and wetter) i havent had any bites.

Just used insect repellent wipes on exposed skin.

[VLC86]

1 hour ago, Will1981 said:

This year has been terrible for insect bites, everytime any of us cut the grass or do any gardening we are getting bitten multiple times.

 

I think it is Horse Flies as my garden backs onto a river and I have idendified them landing on me, the bites themselves are so sore and itchy and keep me awake sometimes.

 

Any one else suffering this year with them or have advice on how to deal with them.

Bite them back, always works.

 

Failing that, go to he chemist and get some hydrocortisone cream to put on them, does the job.

Edited 5 August 2019 by Costock_Fox

[Out Foxed]

vicks does a great job in the interim. i got mangled abroad and this saved me

[cambridgefox]

When you get bitten I use “ After Bite”

stinks of Amonia,but works for me.

[StanSP]

Could you not use some kind of repellent before you go out to do the lawn or do some gardening? 

[Manini]

Savlon works. Stops the itching almost instantly. 

[isaidno]

I've recently moved to the countryside and have been bit loads this summer 

[broughtonblue]

Never got bitten till about 3 years ago (52 now) every time they seem to go bad now and need anti biotics, no idea why sudeenly get bit.  What seems to work now though is sannex 0% shower gel mixed with a small amount of citronella oil .

[yorkie1999]

Top tip:  Wash your legs and arms in water from the river.

[Wolfox]

Cover up if your mowing your lawn…. Horse fly bites are horrible 

 

just a reminder to be aware of ticks if you’re the outdoorsy type…. Lyme’s diseases is horrible and always err on the side of caution… 

[smitha]

Horse fly bites are a nightmare for me, seem to have some sort of allergic reaction and a trip to the doctors for a course of fluxocillan, once one bite got infected which led to cellulitis and 3 days in hospital so can sympathize with those who get bitten.

 

Used to take some sort of antihistamine but wasn't really successful, eating marmite is another tip i've been given, not sure it works but luckily I like marmite.

[Buce]

I had infected bites twice last summer. This year I had my hiking gear treated with permathrin and haven’t been bitten at all. 

Edited 10 August 2019 by Buce

[murphy]

On 10/08/2019 at 12:09, Wolfox said:

Cover up if your mowing your lawn…. Horse fly bites are horrible 

 

just a reminder to be aware of ticks if you’re the outdoorsy type…. Lyme’s diseases is horrible and always err on the side of caution… 

 

Yep, Lyme is on the rise in the UK as are ticks.  Horrible, debilitating disease, very difficult to diagnose and to treat.  Isn't there a theory that this was developed in the US and spread by escaped weaponised ticks? 

 

No, really. 

 

I've had a few trips to Scotland ruined by those horrible midges.  I heard a lot of recommendations for 'skin so soft' by Avon as a repellent.  Didn't really work for me but some swear by it.

[Wolfox]

10 minutes ago, murphy said:

 

Yep, Lyme is on the rise in the UK as are ticks.  Horrible, debilitating disease, very difficult to diagnose and to treat.  Isn't there a theory that this was developed in the US and spread by escaped weaponised ticks? 

 

No, really. 

 

I've had a few trips to Scotland ruined by those horrible midges.  I heard a lot of recommendations for 'skin so soft' by Avon as a repellent.  Didn't really work for me but some swear by it.

Yes…. I heard that…. Google suggests it too…. 

 

No idea if it’s ‘conspiracy theory’ or based on any form of reality 

 

I’ve tried skin so soft in Thailand and seemed to work ok…. A high deet content jungle formula is also effective. 

 

You just have have to remember to put it on!

[lifted*fox]

when travelling in asia and getting bitten ****ing loads I was putting tiger balm on the bites and taking antihistamines.

 

it kept itching to a minimum and the tiger balm immediately took the sting / swelling from the bites.