Insect bites/hives

LegacyUser

Hi there, I'm not so sure if this belongs HERE, but I think it's the best fit for it.

Basically, the past week or so I have been suffering from weird hives, which are really itchy. They're like bug bites. Every day I discover new ones. It's not an allergy. My mother has gotten them too. They're small enough - about the size of a matchhead, but they itch like crazy.
Also, i don't know if it's connected, but sometimes when I'm sitting down my skin will feel really crawly and itchy for a few seconds. Different parts of my body, completely at random. It's almost a tickling sensation.
The funny thing is, this happened last year around the same time too, but I never got an answer as to what it was.


So, any ideas anyone? Btw, it's NOT scabies, trust me.

eoinm

sounds like 'prickley heat', caused by sweat being trapped under the skin. Quite common really, especially for Irish and British folks, in this humid/hot Lots of showers and no anti-persperant or really strong sprays like lynx, also stay away from man made fabrics. I got a dose of it on my hands/arms when on holiday in Turkey, and a trip to the hamam (turkish bath) cleared it up nicley... i guess it was the exfoliation.

http://www.studenthealth.co.uk/leaflets/PricklyHeat.htm

luckat

Are they all in a bunch together or evenly spread? Do they appear at a particular time of day?

Insect bites typically concentrate on particular places - feet and legs, around the waist, for instance.

If they are insect bites they're probably fleas at this time of year. You'll need to vacuum the house well (which will make more hatch out), wash all your bedclothes, hoover the mattresses, use insecticide, etc; if you're vacuuming, pay particular attention to the sides of rooms, under furniture, on top of skirting-boards - fleas like to leave their babies in an undisturbed place close to a good source of food (you).

If you have pets, go to the vet and ask for something like Advantage or Stronghold, which you put between the dog or cat's shoulders where it can't wash it off; you put it on once a month and it kills any flea or tick that sucks the animal's blood - handy for you, as fleas much prefer delicious doggy blood to nasty human blood.

And to cure the itch, if you put it on straightway, there's a thing called Afterbite that Boots sells. It's made of ammonia, though, so you'll smell like the lions' cage at the zoo. But it does stop the itching; it's also good for jellyfish stings and mosquito or midge bites.

lisa.c

hoover hoover hoover... your bed your couch your mats any thing that you sit or sleep on.... also i know this sounds silly but it could be new spuds.. have you eaten them lately? my aunt gets them from eating new spuds every year....

irlirishkev

Don't want to worry you, but it could be scabies, though if it's random parts of your body, perhaps not.
If it is, you're looking for slightly raised hive-like spots. Usually between the webbed parts of your fingers, and anywhere you've got well, hair. Tends to get worse when you heat up.
I know somone who had scabies. He spent about 2 months scratching like a dog before he went to the docs. Got some cream and was sorted in a couple of days.
If it continues, get it checked out

K.

PS _ I've just read the last part of your post. I'm sorry. It's not midday yet, i'm still in stoopid mode.. :rolleyes:

K.

Hello Kitty

Its probably fleas, my cat has them and there everywhere.
I never get bitten by them but i feel them on my skin.....ewww :eek: :mad:

luckat

And if you're using a hoover with a bag, put a couple of mothballs in the bag (you'll get them in the chemist's) so the eggs are killed before they hatch; if you're using a Dyson empty it every time you hoover.