Does hashimoto’s cause a worse reaction to insect bites?

[hashiman]

Hello , I just wondered whether anyone could help me after a weekend gardening ? I have suffered at this time of year with insect bites for as long as I can remember for the last 10 years things have got a lot worse with my skin blistering around the bite and the itching is unbearable .... is this reaction made worse because of hashimoto’s? Just a thought as none of my family suffer in the same way , and if it is because of my condition is there anything I can take or do to make the situation better ? I take antihistamine and obviously using bite creams but they don’t seem to work .

Many thanks

[hashiman]

Thanks JaneyJaney, I’d never heard of that before but after just googling it , it may well be this, but website says to treat with antihistamine and they don’t seem to be working , I take Piriteze every evening from March to October as I suffer with hay fever . Loratodine has never seemed to work .

[hashiman]

I don’t suffer from dermatographism, having read about it . I need to see endo for checkup soon so I’ll ask his opinion. Definitely points to immune system going into overdrive though .... sounds familiar isn’t that what hashimoto’s is 😊 thanks for your help 👍🏼

[hashiman]

That sounds a lot more like how my body reacts I will definitely go red around scratches and clothing always leaves marks for a while . I can’t write on my skin though .

[greygoose]

For the itching, if all else fails, try Hemp Balm. It's really quite amazing. I've never found anything that works so well.

fiddlerselbowgrease.co.uk/b...

[hashiman in reply to greygoose]

Hi Greygoose , many thanks for the recommendation I’ll get some ordered up and give it a whirl ... Just for info do you have a bad reaction to insect bites too ?

[greygoose in reply to hashiman]

Oh yes! Especially spider bites. Landed me in hospital for two weeks, once. But, it does seem to be getting better - although mosquitos still find me irresistable! lol

[hashiman in reply to greygoose]

Spider bites 😱 wow luckily I don’t think I get those .They sound pretty nasty to land you in hospital , you and me both with mosquitoes though .

[greygoose in reply to hashiman]

Yes, it first happened in Italy, where they have some real monsters! I had a raging fever for two days. Then it happened in France, all up my legs, and they all got infected... I won't go into the gory details, but it was pretty disgusting!

[tattybogle in reply to greygoose]

Re. the mossies and the midges. Those of us that live in the woods all use Avon Skin-So-Soft. it's an oil spray. it's not designed as a repellent , in fact it's very nice to use , and smells lovely.

It's never failed to keep midges and mossies away from anyone iv'e met.

In fact i used to buy it in bulk before a woodland party and make a small fortune selling it at twice what i'd paid for it to people literally begging to have some after they'd had a few squirt's of ours.

So unless Avon have done anything silly like reformulate it in the last few yrs since i've come out of the woods........ i recommend you get some.

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

Yes, someone else told me that, but I didn't really believe her. But, if you say so, too, I'm going to have to check it out! Thank you.

[crabapple in reply to greygoose]

greygoose and tattybogle , thought you might like this

goodhousekeeping.com/uk/fas...

I remember reading it at the time (not in good housekeeping though)

[tattybogle in reply to crabapple]

LOL proper explorers !........ wood dwelling hippies have been using it since 1998, and probably earlier. A mad old man who lived in a cave told me about it .

[Gingernut44 in reply to greygoose]

Many moons ago when my kids were young, I was an “Avon Lady” to make some spare cash. I had one lady who used to buy it when she visited her sister in Florida every year - she swore by it for keeping the mozzies at bay. That was 38 years ago - it has to be the “original” and not one of the newer fancy fragrance ones. Give it a whirl, if it doesn’t work for the mozzies, you’ll have nice moisturised skin 😀

[greygoose in reply to Gingernut44]

Well, that would be a plus! My skin looks like an old prune! lol

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

is this the one?

ebay.fr/itm/132305842242

[tattybogle in reply to greygoose]

Yes. that the one. The bottle design looks slightly updated, but reassuringly similar.

It only used to cost about £2.50 though. Maybe they've figured out what all the tent dwellers are using it for. Or maybe they heard i was getting £5 a bottle.

I've even heard a 'proper' explorer swear by it.

[greygoose in reply to tattybogle]

I shall order some right now, then. And hang the cost! lol

[tattybogle in reply to greygoose]

Buy two . and sell one . i guarantee you'll soon meet someone who starts desperately 'borrowing ' yours.

[Cat013 in reply to tattybogle]

I swear by it. It smells nice and really does work 😊👍🏻

[tattybogle]

I only mention this because the photo shows it on the side of your finger. if you are getting this on other areas of the body not just palm/sides of fingers, or feet /toes then you can safely ignore the rest of this reply.

Are you sure it started with a bite? if it didn't , the blistering and intense itch could be pompholyx. This is (loosely)associated with thyroid disease, and it tends to come on only in the warmer months. I and a few others on here have it.

[hashiman in reply to tattybogle]

Hello thanks for your reply , this actually is quite tame to what generally happens with mosquito bites abroad , bites can be on my legs and arms and literally blister up to the size of a ten pence piece and then weep and the weeping kind of then crystallises . I have had similar happen in this country too. Does this sound like pompholyx ?

[tattybogle in reply to hashiman]

No , i think your safe . pompholyx only happens on palms and soles and sides of fingers/toes. It's not from bites. It's done by some unknown weirdness from inside to out.

[hashiman in reply to tattybogle]

Yep just googled it , although the blisters look remarkably similar just smaller .

[DoeStewart]

I dont have Hashimotos but if I get bitten by an insect it almost always ends up infected and I get antibiotics from GP. Most recent case was just over a week ago, weeding in front garden about 5pm, came in for a shower and realised I'd been bitten on side of leg. Used hydrocortisone cream straight away, witch Hazel for itching. Within 3 days it was infected. One of the GP's at my practice said I need to use a product contains Deet to stop being bitten, I use Jungle Formula extra strength but forgot to put it on on this occasion and paid the price.

[hashiman in reply to DoeStewart]

Thanks for you reply , I always use jungle formula abroad but still inevitably end up getting attacked , but never think to spray it in this country ... stupid really. It doesn’t seem to matter what you do they always get infected . I think I could live in a completely sterile environment and still end up with infection.

[tattybogle in reply to hashiman]

See my reply to greygoose above . try Avon Skin So Soft. instead of that nasty smelling jungle formula.

i'll bet you 50p it works for you too.

[Arrigo]

My brother has Hashi and a disproportional response to insect bites is unfortunately part of the 'experience' for him as well... A particularly bad episode was when he got bitten by several mosquitoes simultaneously, and his reaction was so bad that it sent him straight into WEEKS of hives.

[hashiman in reply to Arrigo]

Weird isn't it I'm sure as we have "over active" immune systems this is why our bites seem to turn so nasty .. Luckily I dont seem to suffer with hives if I religiously take antihistamines if I dont I tend to suffer with it under my arms .

[Lesleynotts]

I have a reaction to insect bites with swelling and redness. A few years ago I discovered that arnica ointment by Weleda was the most effective treatment for reducing the swelling, redness and associated itching.

[hashiman in reply to Lesleynotts]

Hi , thanks for your reply , it's been quite a busy thread and I have quite a few things to try now to alleviate symptoms and also the Avon skin so soft ! please don't let onto my mates !! Many thanks for your suggestion i'll give it a go

[hashiman]

I have always suffered as a child too but I have to question whether I've always had Hashi's and this is the reason ... My daughter has it too and has always suffered with bites

[sunsetssr]

Do you have any underlining condition like Lymphoma?Low immunity like low IGG?

[hashiman in reply to sunsetssr]

Hi sunsetssr, not that I’m aware but having googled IGG I can relate to many of symptoms . Thanks for putting me on to this 👍🏼

[Canta]

Hashiman, citronella oil dabbed at various points on to skin (test on small area beforehand) or clothing really does mask the odour which attracts mosquitoes. Taking a daily vitamin B complex pill also helps. If you forget and do get bitten, as soon as you notice place a hot teaspoon on the bite and hold it there until it cools. Do this a few times just to make sure - and obviously make sure the teaspoon isn't burning hot. Good luck :).

[hashiman in reply to Canta]

Hi Canta , I will certainly give this a go thanks for the recommendations . I take Thorne basic b complex daily along with quite a few other supplements. Never heard of the teaspoon before but will certainly give this a go . Thank you