Insect Bites That Won't Stop Itching!!

[Virgo10]

This is ridiculous. There is some sort of bug down here that leaves a bite that itches for not days but weeks. I've blamed the bites on mosquitoes, black flies, deer flies but, honestly, I don't think it's any of those. I've got a bite on my right foot that has been itchy for nearly two weeks.

I'd say black flies because I know I've had terrible reactions to those bites but this is Florida for crying out loud. Do black flies even live here and, if they do, would they be out in the middle of the summer??

What ever they are they're sneaky little buggers. I got nailed 3 times last night while I was watering... once on the hand that was holding the hose and I never saw a thing.

Looks like chemical warfare is in order and I'll be buying some bug repellent with arsenic in it. Oh and thanks to the person/people who told me about using ice on the bites. That's the only thing that really works.

 

[GirlWithSpunk]

I live in Florida and those kind of bites are really normal around here.
Right now I have on e on my knee that is itching really bad, probably last for a week or so.

But the ice thing does work really good!
Good luck!

 

[sorcerormickey]

Right now I have about a dozen fire ant bites on my 2 ankles. That is about par for the course for me. Hate those things!

I am just getting rid of a bite from I don't know what!! It hurt like heck when I was bit, then the skin turned black and blue - like a bruise, got really hard, and felt like it was on fire! I never saw what bit me.

 

[Beth76]

My mom bought a thing of Benedryl that was like in a liquid/gel form. It's supposed to stop the itching (at least temporarily).

 

[shortbun]

I'm betting you have no-seum bites. They are called no-seums because they are so tiny and on me their bites last forever! (it seems so anyway) The best remedy I've found is to mix lanacaine and benedryl and apply after I use an ice pack to take out the swelling. My girlfriend puts nail polish on them; I don't think they are like chiggers but she swears it works. Good luck.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Have you tried Cort-aid? It seems to have more success with insect stuff than other cremes.

I don't live in Florida, though, and have little experience with Florida bugs.

Hope it gets better soon!

 

[Serena]

If benadryl doesn't help, try some Oragel, or some other toothache pain medicine. It helps.

 

[cryssi]

Hey, maybe you guys can help me out. I got 3 reactions to bites last week at WDW. 2 of them blistered (one on my ankle so bad I had to pop it...it swelled again, I popped, peeled the skin off, and here, 8 days later still have it covered with polysporin and a bandaid...it is still raw!), 2 of them made big red areas on my leg (the actual bite bump didn't get big, it was the area around it), and the rest I just had my normal bug bite reaction, itchy bumps that don't spread. I'm pretty confuzzled about the other 2 reactions, though, as I've never had those particular symptoms. I know that I got those bites in the World Showcase...

 

[bookgirl]

I react to bites and all biting things LOVE me. So I feel for you.

Sounds like fire ants or those little gnat things.

Are you getting a little blister. That would be fire ants and the best thing I"ve found for those is to break open the blister and put neosporin in it. They clear up really quick.

For just regular bites I use witch hazel. This lasts for a while but you do have to reaply it. Benedryl gel or sting eze are also good.

Hope you feel better.

 

[OK!]

One thing that's worked well for me, especially on large areas of multiple bites (like chiggers...grrr) is Solarcaine. Same principle as the Lanacaine--it numbs the area so you can't feel the need to itch anymore. My skin is a complete drama queen about EVERYTHING that happens to it: bug bites swell up and become enormous and itch forever, minor injuries like cat scratches produce nasty-looking scars, etc., and Solarcaine's been the thing that works best for me.

I can't wait till the first frost and all of these nasty little buggers go off to that Great Campground in the Sky.

 

[solferino]

I doubt they're black flies because here in the NE they're gone when it starts getting really hot. Generally once the skeeters show up the blackflies are gone. Black flies leave a very telltale bite- there's a bloody dot in the center of the bump. The little cretins actually bite some flesh out of you. One of my friends calls black flies butchers and mosquitoes surgeons in comparison as to how they attach themselves to you.

The only time I've had bites that itched forever was when we had a flea problem. That was miserable.

 

[Mady/Sophiemom]

Sounds weird, but paint a little bit of clear fingernail polish on it, and allow to dry (or colored, if you like the look).

My mom takes a q-tip, and dips it in clorox bleach, and daps that on her poison ivy. Haven't tried that one, but she says it is the only thing that gives her relief?