Insect bites

F F

frothy

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 Jul 2007
Messages
5,234
Location
Denton
Got bitten really bad a few weeks ago on holiday in Greece the both of us,but the Fuckers have followed us back here
 
We have more midges (mosquitoes) and horsefly’s in the UK nowadays, due to climate change and the mild winters.
Apart from lathering insect repellent all over you (itself a health risk. So best avoided unless there’s a high risk of malaria) and wearing insect netting & full body armour, there’s no stopping them from biting you.
However taking vitamin B complex tablets will help their bites to heal quickly rather than hang around for weeks being itchy and horrible.
 
OccupiedPalestineBlues said:
We have more midges (mosquitoes) and horsefly’s in the UK nowadays, due to climate change and the mild winters.
Apart from lathering insect repellent all over you (itself a health risk. So best avoided unless there’s a high risk of malaria) and wearing insect netting & full body armour, there’s no stopping them from biting you.
However taking vitamin B complex tablets will help their bites to heal quickly rather than hang around for weeks being itchy and horrible.
Click to expand...

Genuine question - what's the health risk with repellant? I swear by "jungle formula" when I go abroad. I forgot it when I went to Lisbon and I came back with 6 whopping mosquito bites.

Whenever I apply Jungle Formula they leave me alone. It is industrial stuff, I sprayed some on my belt by accident and it had a bad reaction with the leather.
 
Try taking a more regular antihistamine like piriton if you become symptomatic with itching from the bites. Too many people use a daily antihistamine which is not strong enough. If you stop the itching you reduce the risk of cellulitis and need for antibiotics. Same for hay fever which is at high levels this year.
 
BlueMoonday said:
Genuine question - what's the health risk with repellant? I swear by "jungle formula" when I go abroad. I forgot it when I went to Lisbon and I came back with 6 whopping mosquito bites.

Whenever I apply Jungle Formula they leave me alone. It is industrial stuff, I sprayed some on my belt by accident and it had a bad reaction with the leather.
Click to expand...
Avon 'Skin so Soft' spray works a treat at a repellent (Amazon link). Jungle Formula contains DEET which is safe to use (Safety Data Sheet) but works on contact rather than actually keeping the bugs away.
 
BlueMoonday said:
Genuine question - what's the health risk with repellant? I swear by "jungle formula" when I go abroad. I forgot it when I went to Lisbon and I came back with 6 whopping mosquito bites.

Whenever I apply Jungle Formula they leave me alone. It is industrial stuff, I sprayed some on my belt by accident and it had a bad reaction with the leather.
Click to expand...
Well I’m not a doctor or what have you but my personal experience is that the repellants make my skin itch and cause havoc if applied to broken skin.
And they don’t stop you getting bitten, they just exude a scent that’s supposed to mask the smell of ripe human flesh so as to confuse the mosquitoes and make you less of a target - but if one happens to bump into you then it’ll still have a meal out of you.

For dealing with bites I just take vitamin B to boost the repair process and take an over the counter antihistamine if I any ever give me an allergic reaction.

I suppose the worst advice will come from the companies who profit by encouraging us to buy overpriced chemicals when we venture abroad and the best examples will be seen by looking to the people who live in countries where mosquitoes / midgies are rife (Brazil / Scotland). From what I see of it they don’t generally use skin applied repellants - they just dress appropriately (wear light colours, wear long sleeves in the evenings) avoid the worst places (don’t hang around near still water) and maybe burn a citronella candle or oil lamp on their veranda at night.
 
Trevor Morley's Tache said:
Avon 'Skin so Soft' spray works a treat at a repellent (Amazon link). Jungle Formula contains DEET which is safe to use (Safety Data Sheet) but works on contact rather than actually keeping the bugs away.
Click to expand...

So DEET is safe?.. so doesn’t irritate the skin, can be drunk like mothers milk and doesn’t burn like fuck if you get it in your peepers?

Haha Did you read that safety data sheet?

Causes skin irritation / harmful if swallowed / causes eye irritation (which from personal experience would be better described as pure agony!).
 
OccupiedPalestineBlues said:
So DEET is safe?.. so doesn’t irritate the skin, can be drunk like mothers milk and doesn’t burn like fuck if you get it in your peepers?

Haha Did you read that safety data sheet?

Causes skin irritation / harmful if swallowed / causes eye irritation (which from personal experience would be better described as pure agony!).
Click to expand...
I did read the SDS. I'm actually a workplace COSHH assessor ;-)

'Safe' with the caveat 'use as per the manufacturers recommended instructions'.

And I concur; it burns like f*ck if you get it in your eyes.
 
Trevor Morley's Tache said:
Avon 'Skin so Soft' spray works a treat at a repellent (Amazon link). Jungle Formula contains DEET which is safe to use (Safety Data Sheet) but works on contact rather than actually keeping the bugs away.
Click to expand...
Haha, I've just asked Mrs Ewing what that Avon stuff is called, and she's just gone off hunting down our supply. This stuff isn't strictly a bug repellent, is it? But it seems to work. We've told loads of people about it, those who go golfing for hours on end and the like, and they seem to give it 5* every time!
 
I do the wrong but right thing for me , normal itchy bites i itch it , break the skin a bit , squeeze it all out , put antibiotic/steroid cream on ( fucibet ) then put a dressing on to stop me scratching further , by a couple of hours it has settled down

Anything like a horsefly i would ask the chemist

Dont take my advice lol
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Unread Posts

Don't have an account? Register now and see fewer ads!

SIGN UP
Back
Top