Itching from bites

[milly143]

When you get bitten (without feeling it) does the itching start straight away or is there usually a delay between the bite and the itching starting.

I've just got an itch on my shoulder and when I scratched felt 4 lumps which all feel itchy, then immediately felt another lower down on my back. I'm wondering how I got them as I've been sat on my backside for the past couple of hours.

[boxtops]

It's later, unfortunately. Mozzies love me, and unless I catch it with an Afterbite stick almost straight away, the wretched things start itching within the hour. Mozzies come indoors if the window is open, now and again they even bite me when I'm asleep in bed....

[Sqad]

There is a gap in time between the bite and the itching due to the setting up of the allergic reaction.

Think about it...it is also biologically advantageous to the insect to have this time gap,as if it came on straight away, one would scratch and kill the insect......

[milly143]

Thanks Boxtops and Sqad. Am slightly relieved as I was worried my sofa might be crawling with something but I suspect it's more likely something that found me juicy when I was sat in a pub garden last night.

Off with the Piriton I go.

[Buenchico]

Many species of biting and sucking insects inject you with a local anaesthetic while they're feeding from you. So you don't notice the irritation until the anaesthetic wears off.

Further, it's the release of histamine (by the body's immune system) which actually causes the irritation. Once again, there's a slight time delay while your body reacts to the injury.

Chris

[milly143]

Crafty little buggers aren't they!

[micmak]

I have a 'skeeter beater' to bash the little bar stewards with.

[milly143]

Sounds good Mic but I only seem to know the little sods have been once they've already got what they were after.

[daisya]

Apparently this has been said to help prevent bites from mozzies and according to some, used by military personnel in Scotland. I don't know how effective it is but as it's nice to use, maybe giving it a try will help.

http://avonshop.co.uk...y-oil-body-spray.html

[boxtops]

Daisy, it's brilliant stuff, I always have some by me, and it goes on holiday with me too. It's no good afterwards, but if you spray it on every day, it certainly keeps the little perishers away. I didn't get a single bite on holiday this year.

[Euphemia]

I always get bitten in August. I try to remember to put on repellent but as soon as I drop my guard, wham! Avon's Skin so Soft does help.

[boxtops]

^ I meant, after the bite....

[237SJ]

Avon skin so soft it just IR3535 which is the chemical in pretty much all repellents that aren`t DEET.

[milly143]

Thanks Daisya, I might try some of that. I seem to be flavour of the year with them this year. Driving me bonkers!

[daisya]

That's good to know boxtops, I read that it was but as you say, only before and not used after the attack. If it's good enough for the military lol...

[DTCwordfan]

i am under major siege being one of those fair-skinned ginger tw@ts so often derogarated here. I have also raised a couple of threads.

Solutions

(i) under attack, chrysthaneum oil, tea oil, the Avon product
(ii) prevention, up your B2 and also they say garlic works - I am going for the latter though B2 intake has benefits in preventing the Big A and I might have some long term benefits from that (those on the know will know what I am sayiing)
(iii) been attacked, Avon blue and calamine lotion.......the latter dried out the bite and the "anti-coagulent that the buzzards put into you - ref the other contributions)

Good luck - now where is my shot gun?

[RATTER15]

Of course you may also have an allergy to the anti-coagulant that they inject you with, blood is far to thick to be sucked out by such tiny mouth parts.