Biting flies

Got bitten a couple of days ago. Ive been taking antihistamines and using steroid cream on the area but its so sore. I'm on RoActemra and Mtx. Any advice? I never have got on with midgy bites.

[Philip]

You know what you should have done? Bite the little bleeders back or one of its hands, what is the last thing to through a fly mind when it hits your windscreen? It’s Ass.

[Philip]

Happy swatting

[Caza]

Ouch!

[Hidden]

The dreaded Blandford fly!?

I found something called incognito. It's a repellent with no nasties in. It works! Bit late now, but in future?

All you can do is use antihistamines and jeep an eye on it

[Hidden]

And what was I doing when this happened? Rescuing a stray dog from the farmers field. Be warned flies, I now have Deet and I'm not afraid to use it!

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Be careful with Deet. It melts plastic... I'm not kidding! won't use it myself...awful stuff.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It melts plastic! I only got it because nhs website recommended it. I'll have a closer look into this. Thanks

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

It does! It's lethal stuff. I have s mate who was in forces. He told me it actually melted the straps of his watch. I belonging to a wild camping club. Lots of stories of damage to tent foot prints etc.

[Matalow]

Try skin so smooth moisturiser that’s what some of the lumberjacks use in Scotland even if it doasnt work on the dreaded midge you’ll have loverly soft skin.

Mike

[Mittagating]

If it’s blandford fly watch out for blisters and infection. They fly low to ground so long trousers or jeans and socks. They should be out of season soon.

[Hidden in reply to Mittagating]

Thanks, I'm being super cautious now

[Gnarli]

There's not much you can do now that you're not already doing except keeping an eye on it. I have used Avon's Skin So Soft moisturiser and that works for me. Hugs

J

[DelicateInput]

Buy a product (red tube, by Lucas) called Paw Paw. It is just the pulp of the papaya fruit. It will clear that up in a couple of days. It retails at only £2/tube but is sometimes hard to find in the UK in a single tube. You can get it on the internet in a pack of six tubes for £12.

I've used it numerous times for insect bites, burns and cuts and it is better than anything else I have tried worldwide and is very effective.

I got badly bitten in the garden by a swarm of green flying gnats. I had 30 bites on each leg and they were almost closing up on my hands, arms and shoulders. I tried everything imaginable yet the bites lasted almost a year.

I was badly bitten in Kuala Lumpur by mosquitos and tried stuff I had brought with me and also bought stuff there to no avail. In Australia a week or two later, I was recommended to try Paw Paw - the bites went down in less than two days.

There are studies linking histamine to the cause of RA - the histamine being thought to cause leakage from the blood vessels near the joints. My GP said there are numerous studies into histamine (including into RA) and it will be many years before this is fully proven. It is a good thing therefore to reduce the histamine as much as you can.

[Hidden in reply to DelicateInput]

This is so interesting. I got badly bitten one year and have reacted badly to bites ever since. They don't just hurt they make me feel really ill. I'll look out for the Paw Paw. Thanks x

[MissMinto]

I literally just read this on another website - don't know if it works but it might be worth a try as it's all natural and apparently helps the itching and swelling subside fast:

For 1 use

1 teaspoon baking soda

A few drops of water or witch hazel

1. Combine baking soda with enough water or witch hazel to make a paste.

2. Spread it on the affected area.

3. Allow paste to remain on skin for 10 to 30 minutes. Rinse with cool water.

[HappykindaGal]

Manuka honey has natural antiseptic properties

[Hidden]

if you can find a good plantain / chickweed oil in a coconut oil base that will help. If not, try just either coconut oil, or EV Olive Oil...

[Hidden]

Thanks for all the brilliant advice. You're all so kind and helpful x