Good morning, SF. Let's talk mosquito bites.

This is a good place for an epic rant, but I'm not creative enough this morning. The root of it, though, is that I don't see mosquitoes serving any good purpose, they are evidently no fan of mine either, and I believe these wee-beasties to be winged instruments of the devil.

Last weekend I got clobbered -- I figure about two dozen bites around my ankles and up to my knees. Mosquito bites are straight-up rough on me -- the itching never stops, I scratch, and over a period of weeks (or even months) bites turn to scars.

I'm doing the cortisone cream routine right now, trying to tamp down the itching. But here we are a week after the initial battle, and the bites look like I just got them yesterday. Is there any good way to speed up the healing?

Johnson & Johnson make an anti-itch gel, Walmart sells it. I buy it by the case.

My wife has a sensitivity to bug bites and has found relief using the After Bite Itch Eraser. Carries one in her purse plus there a several around the house. Your mileage may vary, but it works for her.

Straight ammonia when first bit. Use a cotton ball to apply. After that, use extra strength Benadryl itch stopping gel.

Here is an interesting study from Germany about this very topic:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257884/

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog:
Here is an interesting study from Germany about this very topic:

That's bloody fascinating! Thank you, Bulldog.

The device mentioned in the linked article is available on Amazon (yeah, I know... ) for just 30 bucks. I'm hella-tempted to try it.

Mosquito bites seem to last for a couple hours on me.

Damn chiggers are the ones that itch like crazy, and last for 2 weeks.

Ok, I'll admit to using herbal type remedies.
This time of year I take something called Stinging Nettles (sp?).
Comes in a dropper bottle but I just take about a half of dropper in a little water. You can just squirt in your mouth but it taste like how I imagine shit would taste.
It takes a few days to start working so I do it twice a day for a couple of weeks then just once a day through the rest of the summer.
I get to the point that mosquito bites don't even start to bother me.

My fiancée, her son and my daughter don't react well to mosquito bites. Benadryl Extra Strength Anti-Itch Cooling Spray works for them.

For me, Afterbite gives about a 20-30% reduction in symptoms. Topical Benadryl does nothing. Cortizone 10 is what I use along with avoidance.

Interesting article Bulldog. I just ordered one of those and we'll see how well it works.

A method I use is to take a hot spoon and use the back side of the spoon on the bite.
I heat the spoon by putting hot water in a glass either by the tap or a heated by a microwave (be extra careful) then putting the spoon in the water.
Make it as hot as you can stand.
It seems silly but shortly afterwards the itching stops or is drastically reduced.
Mosquito bites drive me crazy and this helps me a LOT.
The bites still swell but the itching is controllable.
Good Luck.

Campho-Phenique works great on insect bites, especially mosquito and chigger bites. Been around forever but still a good product.

For me a mosquito bite leaves a welt like a spider bite and itches for days. I have quite a few scars from itching as I haven't found a good anti-itch remedy (not benadryl cream/gel, not Cortizone 10, after bit is ok initially but wears off, etc).

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Interesting article Bulldog. I just ordered one of those and we'll see how well it works.

+1

I use Chigarid, an OTC med. It works really well.

Good luck to you.

For the first time I used coconut oil on a few mosquito bites, and it seemed to work pretty good as well. Did have to put it on a few times a day as the itch returned.

quote:

Originally posted by tatortodd:
For me a mosquito bite leaves a welt like a spider bite and itches for days. I have quite a few scars from itching as I haven't found a good anti-itch remedy (not benadryl cream/gel, not Cortizone 10, after bit is ok initially but wears off, etc).

quote:

Originally posted by Gustofer:
Interesting article Bulldog. I just ordered one of those and we'll see how well it works.

+1

Me 2. Amazon has a $10 off coupon on it atm.

quote:

Originally posted by vthoky:

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog:
Here is an interesting study from Germany about this very topic:

That's bloody fascinating! Thank you, Bulldog.

The device mentioned in the linked article is available on Amazon (yeah, I know... ) for just 30 bucks. I'm hella-tempted to try it.

That is interesting but consistent with my above post ^^^ with the heated spoon but easier.
Might have to try one.

Rub the bite with ammonia on a cotton ball asap. Quicker you apply the less swelling. Burn Jel Plus works good as an itch reliever.

quote:

Originally posted by Bulldog:
Here is an interesting study from Germany about this very topic:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3257884/

They got me with:
“Conclusions
Locally administrated concentrated heat leads to fast amelioration of symptoms.”

Health warning: You’ll need a minimum of six cowboys to hold you while someone treats your mosquito bites with a branding iron.

I've had good success with Sting-Eze. Get it on the 'bite site' early and it keeps the irritation down. Ice cubes help by numbing the location.

For general soothing, especially sunburns and multiple bites, Sarna lotion provides relief.

The trick of course, is to stop scratching...easier said than done for some.