bug bites, help!

Vitamin E and/or a prescription Retinol A

Try apple vinegar... dip cotton balls into the vinegar and tape them to your bug bite this takes the "itch" out and also will start to decrease the bite.

Ok, will try those. Just trying to avoid going to a dr for a prescription if I can help it.

Try OTC hydrocortisone creme, it will help with the scratching, which will help the bumps go down.

Witch Hazel much like Irish suggest with the vinegar!

Ok, making my list for the drug store!

Witch hazel or vinegar or calamine lotion or hydrocortisone

Over the counter antihistamine can work (topical)

Ice them

Epsom salts on the bites

I had never tried the witch hazel before but it worked WONDERS on a bite I had two weeks ago - these are the before and after pics! I'm a believer now haha!

Damn, jules! Holy crap.

It was awful - my bike broke during one of my trail rides and I got eaten alive walking back to my car. That was the only really bad one - I still don't know what bite me to this day!

Like some of the other ladies, I swear by witch hazel now. I had a college teach who would always go on and on about the stuff and I thought she was crazy. Then last year in Mexico FH got burnt and it started to peel and got burnt again near our last day. He was in so much pain so when we got home we went and got it just to try it out and it healed it by at least half over night it was crazy. The stuff also works on bug bites, cuts, bruises, acne and many other things.

So I have tried the following "remedies" : banana peel, hot water, ice, benadryl, benadryl gel, hydrocortisone, rubbing alcohol and scotch tape, and just recently went and got some witch hazel (put it on 20 minutes ago). It seems like nothing is really working. Everything only helps for a few minutes tops and then I"m back to being crazy itchy. And now I fear that there is no way in hell that these marks will clear up by Saturday. I wanted to wear a dress for the shower but I would look like a scary diseased person. I just want to cry right now.

Ive heard that Visine (yes, the eye drops) will take the red out of it. May not take the swelling down but it is supposed to take the red out.

That one is interesting Angel. I guess I still could try that and the vinegar too, but didn't have any at home and didn't feel like trapsing to the grocery store in addition to the drug store. I'm going to keep giving this witch hazel a try but I was expecting a miracle with one application and didn't get it. I'm just overly tired, frustrated, sad, and upset right now.

Owwweeeee Jules, I wonder what that was too!

I swear by Bactine for itching or burns.

(I have never tried the witch hazel, never heard of it, may be something I need to look into)

I guess I spoke too soon about the witch hazel. That stuff is the best. It has actually helped calm my itchiness after I doused myself in it. And I'm happy to report that this morning the redness isn't quite as bad as it was yesterday. Still totally noticeable, but I'm hoping between now and Saturday that it goes away. I guess I'm just one of those people that is semi allergic to the gnat bites and my body is inclined to swell up from them. Thanks to everyone for their recommendations. For as horrible as that stuff smells (and its pretty nasty) at least it is helpful.

You can make a paste with baking soda and water. Slop it on and let it dry and brush it off/rinse it off