Gnat bites.

[Sharitone]

It's a trivial thing, but does anyone else find that ordinary little gnat bites blossom and grow, and take ages to go away AND STOP ITCHING!

I'm suspecting TCZ may have something to do with it.

[HeronNS]

I wonder if this is a thing to mention to your doctor? It seems minor but what if it leads to more serious reactions? Have you tried otc allergy medication to see if that helps?

[Sharitone in reply to HeronNS]

Good point. I do take loratadine for hay fever. Atm it's not serious, just lasts for so long - well over a week.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Nope - can't actually recall getting gnat bites since TCZ but maybe gnats don't get an Italian passport ...

[piglette]

Gnat bites have aleays done that to me, I am Gnat Chocolate.

[Sophiestree in reply to piglette]

Love that.... a Gnat chocolate 🤣

[SheffieldJane]

I seem to be prone to all kinds of things like this. I think it is long term immunosuppressants. I also catch a cold whenever I go out amongst people.

[Sharitone in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, I really think it is the immunosuppressants

[Sherlock57]

Those gnats love me too! All attempts to evade them haven’t worked so far. My hairdresser told me that soldiers who do jungle training use Avon ‘Skin so Soft’ dry oil spray. I’m trying it out now - £5.50 for 150ml from Amazon. So far so good.

[Stills in reply to Sherlock57]

This is true and works

[Golf-1 in reply to Sherlock57]

It works !!!! I have used it for several years

[Temoral in reply to Sherlock57]

I always use that...offers usually on line...doesn't smell horrible and also softens your skin...win win.😊

[Broseley in reply to Sherlock57]

Skin so soft worked for me, for a while. I've now had to back to the nasty chemicals because they were still biting!

[Sharitone in reply to Sherlock57]

thanks for the tip. I'll give it a try.

[Mfaepink1973]

I’ve used skin so soft for years and it works for me, hope it does the same for you.

[Sophiestree]

I was reading the other day about something called Moskinto Itch Relief Patch/Plaster. Think Amazon sell them. I was going to get some for my grandchildren for when they go on holiday in the summer.

[Sharitone in reply to Sophiestree]

Thanks. I'll get some!

[Zebedee44]

Hi Sharitone, yes I have found any insect bite gets really itchy and lasts for days by which time I have rubbed my skin so much it is bruised and broken. None of the regular anti itch products seems to help.

Skin so soft is a lovely product and smells nice but turns solid if it gets cold due to the coconut in it I think. It is used a lot on horses as a fly deterant .

[Sharitone in reply to Zebedee44]

Must need a lot to cover a horse! The trouble is, wherever I put repellent, I can be certain that the nasty little beggars will find another patch of skin.

[AshPen9]

I use Skin So Soft, Sharitone. I'm a bit of a magnet to anything that bites, and it works for me. I'm currently itching like mad because I gardened without any protection yesterday and the little blighters made a meal of my scalp. Drives you mad doesn't it?!

[random901]

Some people, myself included, have Skeeter syndrome. Had it pre-pred. Definitely going to try Avon Skin So Soft because of the glowing recommendations here!

[S4ndy]

Do you know your blood group? Seems that gnats and mosquitos favour O- blood group. Can5 remember who or where I read about this but it made sense as to why my A+ hubby never got bitten when I was eaten alive! I am like a smorgasbord for insects and I react to every bite. I have used Skin So Soft and it seems to keep them away. It's a nice product too not full of chemicals.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to S4ndy]

Is that O negative or just O blood group? My B negative husband was eaten - me not usually and I'm O positive.

[S4ndy in reply to PMRpro]

I only remember reading about O neg. I will see if I can find the article.

[random901 in reply to S4ndy]

Yep, as an O neg person I can vouch for that!

[S4ndy in reply to S4ndy]

snopes.com/fact-check/mosqu...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Me also O+

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

Do you get nibbled?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

I do a bit... but not horrendously so!

Think I might have more so when I was on Pred. Can remember a couple when in Spain in 2014 that were not pleasant.. but that might just have been coincidence..

[Sharitone in reply to S4ndy]

🙁 I have blood group B+. but I don't think I necessarily get bitten more than others; it just takes so long for it to subside. I've currently got triplet corkers that have lasted over a week.

[AtopicGuy]

Up here in Scotland, it is recognised that one hill-walker can be eaten alive by midges, while their companion will barely suffer a bite. Woe betide the unwary tourist who fails to come prepared with repellents and anti-histamine cream! Some people are so attractive to the tiny insects (which zoom in on the CO2 we breath out), and react so badly to every bite, they resort to covering-up all skin and wearing mosquito nets on their hats.

[Sharitone in reply to AtopicGuy]

Thanks for the warning!

[Broseley]

I never used to get bitten. I used to get quite smug about it when other people suffered and I didn't. But something has changed in the last 5 years or so, and now I get bitten when other people don't! I don't think it's the menopause, as that happened 15 years ago!

[Sharitone in reply to Broseley]

Thank goodness you don't live in a country where there is malaria!

[Rugger]

My Pharmacist sold me (OTC) Hydrocortisone cream 1% and advised just a light smear on the bites. It works for me - I am also a magnet for the little critters!

[Sharitone]

Thank you. That makes sense. worth a try, since the lumps are 8 days old and still purple splodges. I shall be choosing names for them soon.

[WhiteRabbitty]

I use Kind Patches Anti mosquito and find them effective, as most of their range too.

kindpatches.com/collections...

[Sharitone]

Thanks for that tip.