Insect bites, what should I do?
By rebelann1949
@rebelann (117199)
El Paso, Texas
May 3, 2017 7:04am CST
Yesterday I finally posted a selfie.
Well, ok, so it was just my eye but still it's a selfie. 
Anyway, that stupid eye is still swollen and now I have welts all up and down the right side of my face and neck ..... they're all very itchy but I don't think it's mosquito bites, these welts are huge and extremely swollen.
It's the price I pay for being allergic to chemicals so that I can't use insecticides to kill those stupid noseeums. I still can't believe I never felt the sting.
Anyway, does anyone have a home remedy that helps with insect bites?
I've been washing the bites with vinegar and baking soda which give very temporary relief but I need to do something to reduce the swelling and now it's not just my eye.
Thanks ahead of time, Mylotters are always so awesome when it comes to helping out a fellow lotter.
Anyway, that stupid eye is still swollen and now I have welts all up and down the right side of my face and neck ..... they're all very itchy but I don't think it's mosquito bites, these welts are huge and extremely swollen.
It's the price I pay for being allergic to chemicals so that I can't use insecticides to kill those stupid noseeums. I still can't believe I never felt the sting.
Anyway, does anyone have a home remedy that helps with insect bites?
I've been washing the bites with vinegar and baking soda which give very temporary relief but I need to do something to reduce the swelling and now it's not just my eye.
Thanks ahead of time, Mylotters are always so awesome when it comes to helping out a fellow lotter.7 people like this
7 responses
@ilocosboy (45155)
• Philippines
3 May 17
I usually applied it with oil liniment but when its near the sensitive area likes eyes, I usually used petroleum jelly
2 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
3 May 17
petroleum jelly helps with itching?
2 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
3 May 17
@ilocosboy Really? I will have to try that sometime, but instead use my all natural jelly, then my husband won't get on me for using Fast Orange. Of course the real test would be poison ivy, because even commercial medications have a drying out ingredient, petroleum jelly doesn't dry the area, but moisturizes.
2 people like this
@ilocosboy (45155)
• Philippines
3 May 17
@Carmelanirel2 sometimes it does help lessen the itch from insect bites.
2 people like this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
3 May 17
Since it is near the eye, I would be very careful of what you use. However, for bites that are not near the eye, I use Fast Orange hand cleaner for mechanics. I shared a picture, we buy ours at Auto Zone, but these can be found online as well.
Now my husband thinks I am so wrong to use this, saying it can't be good for the skin, but I don't use it every day like a mechanic does, only when I have a bite or rash. Fast orange has pumice in it to help with the itching and it cleans the area well and dries it out (maybe my husband is concerned about the drying out part, but I don't think it dries it out that much.
Like I said, I don't use this every day, I am pro-prevention, but on the chance I get a bite or rash (I actually found this to be the ONLY thing to help with poison ivy) I reach for the fast orange. I do use it a lot when I have the bite/rash, which might make it difficult to use if you are on the job. But I use it every time I feel an itch, and not only do I get a lot of relieve, but there is no scarring, like I would have by scratching it a lot.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
3 May 17
Thanks for that tip but your hubby is correct @Carmelanirel2 I personally cannot use it because I am allergic to chemicals which means it would only make my problem worse. I'm going to try epsom salt and just soak for a little while, maybe that will help too.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
3 May 17
@rebelann Yes, I did noticed a couple ingredients that are harmful and normally I avoid chemicals, but when it comes to itching, especially poison ivy, it is the only thing to relieve me. Before I used many things, from baking soda to banana peels to tree tea oil, nothing worked and I ended up with a rash that lasted for weeks and was scarring my leg.
However, I wonder if using my homemade jelly with some salt to act as pumice, would work just as well? or baking soda and salt mixed with water instead of oil and use that to wash the area? You'd think that would work, not that I want poison ivy to test it out.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
3 May 17
Oh, wait, you were asking about something for the swelling, not the itching? I think with swelling, an ice pack might work, but I am never concerned with swelling when I get bit, just the awful itching.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
3 May 17
This isn't a mosquito bite or bee sting but I did try baking soda as well as vinegar and they temporarily worked but whatever the insect was that bit me it left a welt like nothing I've ever seen before, mosquito bites don't swell like this.
1 person likes this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
3 May 17
I really hope you get well soon. I would have said baking powder but you have already tried it. We also use calamine lotion.hopefully it is available where you stay
2 people like this
@responsiveme (22923)
• India
4 May 17
@rebelann I always keep a bottle of calamine lotion...It is rather handy
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
4 May 17
I'll have to do that as well @responsiveme especially if it works on insect bites
1 person likes this
@shivamani10 (11035)
• Hyderabad, India
3 May 17
Better you consult a Doctor. The earlier the better.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (117199)
• El Paso, Texas
3 May 17
Doctors are not entomologists so they would only be guessing about my problem, some kind of insect bit me, this is not an allergy.
