What the heck is biting me?

link, sorry

www.mosi-guard.com/articles/insect-bites-in-the-uk-identify-what-has-bitten-you-with-this-ultimate-guide

other insect repellents are available

It does sound like fleas, they are often in carpets when people have pets so they get the ankles. They can also be in soft furniture which could be why they are on your arms. Worth treating your carpets and sofas and chairs and wearing insect repellent for a bit. They like me too and I am convinced that they communicate in some way with each other if they find someone they like the taste off and invite all their buddies to the party. Hopefully I'm wrong and it is something like midges that have a shorter lifespan.

I read the posts with great interest as I've been bitten too - and I've recently discovered my DD has as well. I also thought it was mozzies, fleas or bedbugs but they didn't fit with the pictures I'd seen [nor any in the link either] and one of them was half an inch across and came up in a huge blister;I'm still left with the aftermath of a brownish circle the size of a 5p piece. They only itched in the beginning and didn't hurt and all bar this bigger one have now disappeared. Weird!

I've recently been bitten by mosquitoes and I'm in Hertfordshire, pharmacist said mozzy bites are common in U.K. now.

Well, I have been indoors more than outdoors this week and have no fresh bites.
New carpets and suite fairly recently too.

It only happens in the summer - every summer. I have to smother myself in insect repellent if I go overseas too.

I was bitten by a spider -- it got away but I saw that it was like a smallish black spot. What was it? It's bite was like a sharp dart. Not nice.

I read that toothpaste helps ease the itching when used on bites.
Fleas will happily hide between boards of laminated / wood flooring.
Animal fleas can live off human blood for a limited time, so long as they get a bite of their preferred host once in a while. Any grass you walk through may have fleas from hedgehogs, squirrels, badgers, foxes etc as well as domestic pets e.g. cats and dogs.

Jalima 1108 I am also absolutely delicious and extremely attractive - to anything that sucks blood and has a proboscis, so I sympathise.

My life can be dictated as to what is around to bite me: I live in the south east and have now resorted to buying a 'mozzie-killer' light. This attracts biting insects and they are killed by electricity. It can be interesting to examine what it has caught and I can categorically say that there are mozzies and biting gnats in the south east of the UK.

I realise I am now officially a 'killer' but as you have experienced, having an insect bite is far worse than it sounds (to those who are not as juicy).

I can only open a window if I ensure that my window netting is firmly in place and despite all f the above, I am still bitten as the blighters come in through open doors (why can't men close doors/anti-mozzie netting?!).

I have no animals, a clean home and I am the only person in it to be bitten - my husband is immune. I can;t express the misery of an insect bite - being woken at night as it begins, having to deal with it for perhaps a week and sometimes the semi-permanent (they fade in about fifteen years), 1/3"bumps left in the skin.

The best solution after one is bitten that I have found is to as soon as one can, put witch hazel on to the bite with a Q-tip. When that has dried, add a tiny amount of hydro-cortisone cream. This can, if applied quickly enough, be of immense help but sometimes even this is not enough and the suffering begins!

Oh Jalima have just read your link and this post and now feel itchy all over. A really useful link. I think the picture of the early symptom of Lyme's disease as it is so distinctive could be very helpful if the occasion were to arise.
I used to be the one bitten in our family but recently it has been DH. He seems to be first choice for a meal.

I have searched in vain for a guide to 'holiday areas where there are few mosquitos', well you get the idea) but failed miserably!

If anyone can suggest holiday areas in Europe where a similarly afflicted 'juicy' person has had a relatively trouble-free (i.e. bite-free) holiday, I would be immensely grateful.

I understand about standing water/long grass/dusk/dawn/pale v dark clothing etc., but despite taking all precautions and covering myself in DEET (which, incidentally tastes revolting, wards off my husband and ruins costume jewellery and plastic specs!) am still bitten to bu**ery!

Any suggestions, please? Many thanks.

ive got bites that sound like yours, it is these little mosquito things yes they are very itchy , i use anthiisan cream

My dgd is plagued by insect bites. Every year during the summer months she gets huge swollen bites which are red but with a harder lump in the centre which pulses from red to white. She can't sleep because of the itching, and sometimes the swollen areas can be larger than a teaplate. She gets them mostly on her legs arms and back, fortunately so far not on her face. She has tried everything on the market, either to stop being bitten, or to reduce the itching, but nothing seems to work. She has even tried wearing thick tights to prevent being bitten, but that hasn't worked either, she still gets them. I have never heard of tiger balm, so I will try to find it and get some for her. Can anyone say where I will be able to find it?

Ps, I am now itching all over. Lol

I get bites all year round that itch and very often get infected to the extend that I have to have antibiotics. Anything and everything bite me. I have had tests for years by a Dermatologist and we have been through the following reasons

Cat's flees (we got rid of the cats, still got bites)

Dye in tights (washed all tights before wearing, still bites)

Citrus fruits (stopped for 3 months still got bites)

Ants, flies, bed bugs, or any other creepy crawly Betnovate recommended at night and masses of moisturiser in the day. This definitely helps, but still bites.

Sun reaction, same cure as above and plenty of sun protection, still bites)

I now get prescribed a 5 days course of prednisolone when I am really bad, which clears them up at the time, but then it starts all over again.

Stop scratching only cure but almost impossible and I also use an antihistamine cream and Calamine lotions on new bites, which helps. I cover bad ones up with plasters so I cannot scratch at night.

Hope any of this might help

I have just read Starlily's post this is exactly like I get.

Is there a pharmacy near you? Lloyds and Boods let u see the pharmacist in a private wee room. They will look and give u sound advice in confidence

I read that Vic vapour rub, on the ankles and wrists deters biting insects. I have used it while in a midge area and was bite free. You only use a little slick around the ankles and wrists so it doesn't smell much to humans!

Iv had the same problem this week. The bites itch so much that i could rip flesh when i scratch. I spoke to my pharmacist and he said they were mosquito bites. Iv only been in my garden in this country so was a bit supprised. It does make sense though as iv been sitting in the garden on the hot evenings and the bites look the same as the mosquito bites i had in Turkey a few years back. Im always the insects favorite meal. He gave me Eumovate cream which has a steroid in it. Its really helped although 5 days on they still itch at night. Iv been putting ice packs on when it gets to bad

Don't know what's biting you but like the first response you received Avon Skin so Soft is the answer. Our troops use it abroad, we don't know what's in it that bugs and things hate but it works.

I take an antihistamine once a day to reduce the effect of insect bites. It seems to help and was recommended by GP.

I know this sounds horrible, but what I do with most itchy bites is prick the centre with a (sterilised) pin. Then try to squeeze out the poison. Dab with antiseptic.
Onctose hydrocortisone cream is good too.

If you are having difficulty sleeping because of the itching Phenergan is an anti histamine which works wonders.

Midges seem to like diabetics too . I presume the blood is sweeter :-(

I am suffering too. Had a hip replacement postponed in June as I had an inflamed bite on my leg, apparently the infection could have spread to the new hip. Am now due again in 3 weeks and am scared to even venture into the garden. Have had screens put on the bedroom window so I can have windows open in the night. Slathering myself in all sorts of creams/repellants & squirting the whole house with bug spray every night. 1 can of Raid used to last about 6 years!

I'm now itching all over just reading this - and I'm one of those nasty tasting lucky people who never gets bitten.