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Mon May 26, 2008 9:29 am |
Hi everyone! Here's the situation. I got approximately 30 mosquitos about 1 week ago. I think I'm allergic to mosquitos b/c they swelled up really bad (about the size of quarters.) Now they are quarter size deep red and purpose marks all over my legs. I am afraid they are going to scar. I am very pale, so they are very noticeable. I cannot where shorts or skirts which would show my legs right now. (They way my legs are looking right now, I will never be able to show my legs again...)
Anyways, I was thinking about:
1) dry brushing;
2) some kind of acid to soften the skin (I have 15% glycolic acid but it does nothing for my legs. need something stronger) and
3) Vit C serum.
What would you guys do? Thanks everyone for reading this. You guys are the best! |
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Mon May 26, 2008 9:42 am |
Try putting aloe vera gel on it! That could help. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 9:54 am |
I think the goal at this point should be to reduce the inflammation and histamine reaction...not to increase it with any actives.
Here are some home remedies you may want to consider:
Quote: |
Disinfect the bite. Flies and mosquitoes can spread disease. So wash the bite area thoroughly with soap and water, says North Carolina allergist Claude Frazier, M.D. Then apply an antiseptic.
Rub in an aspirin. Herbert Luscombe, M.D., professor emeritus at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, recommends an unusual aspirin treatment to help control inflammation. As soon as possible after being bitten, moisten your skin and rub an aspirin tablet right over the bite.
Relieve the itching. Fly and mosquito bites may produce swelling and intense itching that can last for three or four days. Dr. Frazier recommends the following to control these symptoms:
- An oral antihistamine. Choose an over-the-counter allergy or cold preparation.
- Calamine lotion.
Ice packs.
- Salt. With water, moisten it into a paste and apply to the bite.
- Baking soda. Dissolve 1 teaspoon in a glass of water. Dip a cloth into the solution and place on the bite for 15 to 20 minutes.
- Epsom salts. Dissolve 1 tablespoon in 1 quart of hot water. Chill, then apply as above.
http://www.mothernature.com/Library/bookshelf/Books/47/12.cfm |
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_________________ No longer answering PM's due to numerous weird messages. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 10:01 am |
jf, please don't do any of the things you listed. I think they would only make things worse!
Bethany, you are on it! So right. My mom always told me to get meat tenderizer powder from the grocery store and make a paste out of it for this reason. Did I ever do it????
I too am allergic to insect bites. The more they bite me, the more I puff up. I highly recommend you get a insect bite gadget that heats up and burns off the stuff that makes the bite itch. Otherwise you need a cortisone cream (you can get from the drugstore).
For instance, see these:
Itch Soother
http://www.problemsolvers.com/product.asp?pcode=702 (on sale but takes C batteries)
http://www.amazon.com/Itch-Soother-Insect-Bite-Itches/dp/B000QZ1M2O (smaller, takes AAA batteries)
Therapik
www.buyatherapik.com
Beurer IS 40 Bug Bite Stopper
http://www.winhealth.co.uk/acatalog/insect_bite_healer.html
I haven't tried it for the purpose of zits but it might work too as it seems similar to the concept of Zeno and you wouldn't have to replace the head that heats up... |
_________________ 42yo, natural strawberry blonde so fair skin, blue-eyed, and dry skin |
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Mon May 26, 2008 10:09 am |
Emu oil is a pretty good anti-inflammatory, works OK for me anyway.
Might be better to avoid acids and exfoliation until the area has calmed down. If your skin is already irritated, strong acids and exfoliants may make it worse. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 10:19 am |
These are great ideas everyone but I think I'm past this stage. Last week the bites were itching like crazy. I scratched the bites until they bled (sorry to be graphic.) Now the scabs are off and they left very dark red/purple marks. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 10:33 am |
Then I would go with emu and/or Vit. E oil. And, perhaps dermaroller if they are no longer itching...
With scarring, depth and also length of time since injury matter. See the thread on scarring and Septembergirl's info about the different types of scars. I found that info useful:
http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=29099
Septembergirl wrote: |
Different types of scares should be treated in different ways.
Hypertrophic scars (the raised type) can be treated with silicone gel or silicone sheets. It's said to decrease the size of the scar and reduce the redness. I plan on ordering Dermatix scar gel with silicone and ester C in my next EDS-order in order to treat some small, raised scars on my legs.
Hypotrophic scars (depressions like acne and chicken pox scars) can be treated with cps, emu oil, rose hip oil or vit E oil in order to build tissue. Honestly, I don't know how much these oils will help you, but quite a few have reported on improvements with cps. You can also take a look at Boskis before- and after-pictures in the "302 Skincare"-thread on the reviews forum. Her acne scars and marks improved significantly with 302 Skincare products. |
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_________________ 42yo, natural strawberry blonde so fair skin, blue-eyed, and dry skin |
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Mon May 26, 2008 10:46 am |
jf wrote: |
These are great ideas everyone but I think I'm past this stage. Last week the bites were itching like crazy. I scratched the bites until they bled (sorry to be graphic.) Now the scabs are off and they left very dark red/purple marks. |
True, but they haven't exactly had sufficient time to heal on their own. At this point, I think they still qualify as healing wounds, as opposed to scars. The red marks indicate inflammation at a deeper level.
I am allergic to spiders, and was bitten numerous times down my side last summer...they itched like crazy for a week, then were red, and at the end of 3 weeks they finally disappeared.
But do what you think is best, and let us know how it turns out. |
_________________ No longer answering PM's due to numerous weird messages. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 2:55 pm |
thanks everyone for your advice. I think I'll put vit E oil and acquaphor (a healing ointment) on them right now since the bites are still healing. I'll report back my progress. |
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Mon May 26, 2008 3:44 pm |
lunarmm, have you used these before? I've never even heard of them but if they work you can bet I'll be ordering one. We're going through black fly season right now and we literally run to the car and back so we don't get bit. Does the itch come back after you use it, or can you apply the heat and the itch goes away for good? |
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Mon May 26, 2008 5:13 pm |
Diana P,
I had one years ago and it worked. One good application and itch was gone. I've only used in on mosquito bites though... |
_________________ 42yo, natural strawberry blonde so fair skin, blue-eyed, and dry skin |
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Mon May 26, 2008 5:21 pm |
Hi, I find pinetarsol and aloe vera good for itching. Beyond the scratch and broken skin stage, just vit e.
Isn't it the worst! Sooo itchy |
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Tue May 27, 2008 3:02 am |
First of all, don't itch the bites. That is what actually causes the scarring. If you can't help it and some scars happen, you can go to a spa and get a deep body scrub. This can help remove the top layer of your epidermis (which is dead cells) which may help fade the scarring. |
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Wed May 28, 2008 1:11 am |
Ugh the itching was awful. I tried soooo many anti-itch remedies. I must say, one that worked for me was applying gel deodorant on the bite. I got the idea from this website. I applied it when the bites were really inflamed. The salt really help shrink the bites and cut the itching down. The effect would wear off after awhile but one of the most effective home remedies I tried. Now my two weeks of itching torture are over. I'm applying Acquaphor right now on them. Hopefully they heal without leaving a scar, but looks doubtful...they are really red. |
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Wed May 28, 2008 1:39 am |
jf wrote: |
These are great ideas everyone but I think I'm past this stage. Last week the bites were itching like crazy. I scratched the bites until they bled (sorry to be graphic.) Now the scabs are off and they left very dark red/purple marks. |
I had the same thing happen to me from some strange bugs in Cuba. I thought the red blotches would never go away... as a matter of fact even the itching flared up a second time after a few weeks.
However, after a couple of months everything disappeared, and my skin looked normal again. I guess that's not what you want to hear going into bare leg season (unless you're down under!), but at least it's most likely not permanent!! |
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Thu May 29, 2008 4:21 am |
Use fresh aloe vera to put it over your wounds. |
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Fri May 30, 2008 2:54 pm |
jf wrote: |
Ugh the itching was awful. I tried soooo many anti-itch remedies. I must say, one that worked for me was applying gel deodorant on the bite. I got the idea from this website. I applied it when the bites were really inflamed. The salt really help shrink the bites and cut the itching down. The effect would wear off after awhile but one of the most effective home remedies I tried. Now my two weeks of itching torture are over. I'm applying Acquaphor right now on them. Hopefully they heal without leaving a scar, but looks doubtful...they are really red. |
I feel for you jf, I am allergic to bug bites as well and I tried everything including several bug stop ointments, aloe vera, and calamine lotion last year. I was applying it at least 5 times a day, but nothing helped. I could consciously control scratching during the day but at night time I would wake up scratching the bug bites. Needless to say I have some scars regarless of all the ointments and polysporin I tried. Let me know if the vitamin E works for you... |
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Fri May 30, 2008 3:00 pm |
chan wrote: |
I am allergic to bug bites as well and I tried everything including several bug stop ointments, aloe vera, and calamine lotion last year. I was applying it at least 5 times a day, but nothing helped. I could consciously control scratching during the day but at night time I would wake up scratching the bug bites... |
Chan, you might want to try one of the gadgets I wrote about and put links in to help prevent itching. It really worked for me! |
_________________ 42yo, natural strawberry blonde so fair skin, blue-eyed, and dry skin |
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