Super gigantic mozzie bites - what can I put on them?

[~*Niadalla*~]

Ok, so I live in a place where it's not unusual to kill 1 million mozzies an hour. It doesn't matter how much fly wire you have on your house or how many citronella candles you are burning, they still get through.
Obviously, something in my blood attracts th little buggers as I am always the first to get bitten and get bitten the most.

Now, After Saturday night, where I was brutally attacked, I have a few spots where the usually tiny mozzie bites, have grown to the size of a tennis ball. The bite area itself, is about normal, but around the outside of the bite, the skin is raised and red and warm. Much like after having a flu vaccination and you have a slight reaction.

Ok so what's the point of this thread I hear you ask. I want to know, is calamine lotion safe for me to use in pregnancy?? I am trying my hardest not to scratch, but it's the only thing that relieves it. I am more concerned about the enlarged red ares around the bites..... but figure if I can get the itching out of the way, that's one thing down.

Does anyone have any good tips for keeping the little buggers at bay?? Fly spray doesn't cut it, neither does citronella, and I am hesitant to use anything like aeroguard during pregnancy.

Cheers

[Ryatha]

Hi Niadla

I don't get bitten myself but friends who do and get reactions like that suggest using cold wet flannels with or without ice to bring the swelling down.

How to keep them away - I can't really help too much - sorry

Good luck with keeping them at bay!

[jackrose]

I suffer when the mozzies are out and biting and I find the best relief comes from tiger balm of all things! (I am not sure about its use in pregnancy though.... sorry)

For keeping them at bay I use the mozzie coils, I burn them outside at all doors and windows and I have recently found a little gadget in the insect repellent aisle in the supermarket that you plug in the power socket in the wall and insert little chemical repellant strip in it. I have found it works really well overnight... but I would guess that we don't have as many mozzies here as you sound like you have where you are.

HTH

[Danni]

Sorry I have no ideas, but please don't use tiger balm during pregnancy

[~*Niadalla*~]

Thanks all and thanks mabello

It looks like calamine lotion is ok to use during pregnancy, so I will give that a burl..... but keep the ideas coming everyone

[mbear]

Tea tree oil is supposed to be good for the bites.....once they happen though, then dab every 2 hrs....ive also heard talc powder on the bite relieves the itch.

In relation to keepin them away, do you have any stagnant water aroudn your home ???- flower vases, indoor plants that have recently been watered, buckets, gutters etc....if so, that may be what is attracting them....

I hate them too - esp at 2am when you hear one buzzing in your ear - UGH !!!!

[jackrose]

Sorry I have no ideas, but please don't use tiger balm during pregnancy

opps, thanks Mabello!

[~*Niadalla*~]

Nope, no stagnant water (we have a tank, but it is completely covered), no pot plants, and we don;t even have gutters on our house at the moment, lol.
MIL seems to think it might be the peppercorn trees around the house..... I wonder. Very tempting to cut them down though.

[diva det]

Paw Paw cream!!!
Safe to use during pg and made for that purpose!!
HTH
odette

[AliBaby]

I have one on my lower back that is all red and raised areound it too, I got it on Sat night. I have been putting an icepack on it which has relieved some of the itching and swelling and has been great for my lower back pain!

Some great ideas for relief in this thread. Thanks and hope yours stop itching!

[Pandora]

vinegar. preferably brown vinegar if you have it.
not the most attractive fragrance but it stops the itching, and its cheap

[{sarah}]

Yup go the vinegar

[mitzy81]

I used to live in Darwin and would attract mozzies and midgy flies from 100km away!
Tea tree, eucalyptus, calamine (although it is no where near as good as it used to be!)
and I found a guy who sold magic spray we called it, 'stop the itch' I think it is called (I will look tonight) he was from NSW I think, and would sell it at the markets in Darwin, you can order it online. It is the best stuff I have ever used and highly recommend it.

I will post details tonight.

[kitten2b]

we use Vicks on mozzie bites, and it keeps future mozzies away

[Nai]

Rubbing beer on exposed skin also works - doesn't smell that great though

[SamOake]

For the swelling, I would suggest using a antihistamine eg Polaramine which is safe, this will bring the swelling down

For the remainder or future bites, just wipe with Vinegar or the Vicks Vapour Rub, they both work wonders.

I have a recipe for a insect repellant that hubby used in the Army which really works well.

You will need

1 water squirty bottle
1 small bottle of dettol eg 150 ml
Methylated Spirits ( same quantity as dettol)
baby oil ( same quantity again)

Mix them all together in the bottle, give it a good shake. If you dont like the smell of dettol, you can leave it out and add some essential oils such as Lavender.

This is safe to use during pregnancy and even on little ones. We have used it on our kids from as young as 6 weeks of age when we have gone camping.

To apply - just simply spray a small amount on your body eg: Arm and then spread it along. A little goes a long way and in the end, you have nice smelling and feeling skin and are mozzie and midgie FREE

[LimeSlice]

toothpaste. put some on and rub it not quite all the way in.
will stop the inflammation, the itch, the swelling and will be completely safe during pregnancy

repellant - 1 part baby oil to 1 part dettol in a spray bottle. spray liberally and rub in