Bug Bites Update!

Well...the bugs around here just love me. At one point, Dave counted around 60 bites. It makes it very difficult to do anything after dark. Our creek crossing is still not crossable. That means a bit of a walk up the driveway surrounded by hungry bugs who just want to feast! Blech!

I have tried different things to take care of the itching and to try to prevent the bites. I figured I would share what I have tried in case it helps someone else.

For some reason, I seem to be extra allergic to bug bites. They tend to get big and red and some of them get kind of swollen. Two years ago, I had read about Vicks VapoRub working pretty well on itching. I tried it and it did help a lot.

This year, we added a product Dave had gotten from Kroger last year for sunburn and general healing. It is called Aloe Vera Gel Relieving with Lidocaine and Menthol by Kroger. I notice that both Vicks and the Aloe Vera Gel have Menthol. I think that is a key ingredient for the itching. I am sure it probably did not hurt to have the numbing effect of the Lidocaine!

This summer I have used quite a bit of the Aloe Vera. I have found that it worked really well. I benefited from the healing that comes from the Aloe Vera, the numbing of the Lidocaine and the anti-itching of the menthol!

I also had someone suggest something called After Bite. It is kind of like a pen filled with a type of medicinal ammonia. It worked really well for the one who recommended it. It is supposed to make the bites heal faster, but it did not seem to do that for me. But then, I do react a whole lot more strongly to the bites, so ordinary measures may not work as well for me.

To keep the bugs off I have been using something I bought a couple of years ago. I read about it in the same place that I read about the Vicks. It is called Buzz Away. The active ingredient is 5% Citronella Oil. When used diligently, it does seem to help, albeit not perfectly. A lot depends upon making sure I reapply it often enough. Unfortunately, I did not think about using it until it was too late. I was caught by surprise.

I am also trying something else that was just suggested to me. It is called Natrapel Plus. It uses 5% Citronella oil plus something called Geraniol. Both Buzz Away and Natrapel Plus have assorted other ingredients, too. Both are all natural. Neither contains any poisons. It is too soon to tell if it working. It does seem to help.