spazmodeus
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posted on July 23, 2000 03:01:49 PM new
You have any antihistamines available? The allergic reaction of the skin to the mosquito bite causes the bite to swell with histamine. That's what makes it itch. Take an antihistamine, though, and you reduce the production of histamine in your body, thereby lessening the itch of the mosquito bite.
Or so they say.
Witch hazel works too, I think. Applying alcohol might dry it up some, too.
I've had poison ivy these last two weeks, so anti-itch has been on my mind a lot.
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bunnicula
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posted on July 23, 2000 03:14:55 PM new
Spaz: Thanks for the advice.  Rummaged through my medicine cabinet & found some antihistamines. Just took one. Keeping my fingers crossed.
Unfortunately, no alcohol or witch hazel in the house...
edited 'cause there *is* a difference between advise & advice!
[ edited by bunnicula on Jul 23, 2000 03:16 PM ]
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Meya
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posted on July 23, 2000 03:14:56 PM new
My husband just got over a case of poison ivy. He got relief from the itching by taking the hottest bath he could stand to soak the spots, (most was on his legs).
The hot water hurts at first, but then the itch is gone and the relief lasted about 4 hours.
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bunnicula
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posted on July 23, 2000 03:17:33 PM new
Meya: If it wasn't so *hot* today, I would try that. Come to think of it, this itching is making me so desperate I might try it anyway!
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bitsandbobs
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:04:17 PM new
Commiserations.
You might like to try plain household methylated spirits. Just dab it on the bites. It usually gives relief.
Bob, Downunder but never down.
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tokay99
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:08:00 PM new
We have not been bothered by the bugs for the past few weeks. Here in Michigan it is down right cold. Just making it past the 70 degree mark and falling to the mid 40's at night.
And this is July?
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femme
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:22:43 PM new
Bunnicula,
Rather than cold compresses, try some ice cubes directly on the bites.
I vaguely recall having found relief from bites doing this.
BTW, I left you a message in EO about your dachsunds.
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barrybarris
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:29:20 PM new
bunnicula,
Unfortunately, no alcohol or witch hazel in the house..
No alcohol?
I would be more than happy to share my Southern Comfort with you. Drink enough of it you will forget about the mosquito bites...
Barry (wasn't Witch Hazel an old TV show?) Barris
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jeanyu
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:30:09 PM new
Hi Bunnicula--hope you have found relief at this point--but I'm wondering about the hungry dogs? Have they been fed? Or have they assumed that wild credo and gone on a hunger frenzy spree looking to all garbage as gourmet? Me--Misquito bites--I itch em till they bleed -- kinda scabby but they don't itch anymore--bad bad jeanyu.
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jeanyu
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posted on July 23, 2000 04:34:07 PM new
Bunni--don't itch till they bleed--I've got scars that make vets whimper
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bunnicula
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posted on July 23, 2000 05:57:47 PM new
Hi, all! The antihistimine helped a little, and I have been trying the ice cubes. The mosquito bites are frozen, which cuts down on the itching quite a bit
I will toddle out when it is cooler (read after dark) & buy some calamine ltion or some such. And some MOSQUITO REPELLENT!!!!
Jeanyu: I have washed off the baking soda, vinegar and hot pepper sauce. The dogs seem to have lost interest 
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bunnicula
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posted on July 23, 2000 06:00:00 PM new
Barrybarris: Thanks for the offer, but my sole alcoholic intake is limted to an amaretto or Bailey's perhaps once per year...
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fineperiod
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posted on July 23, 2000 06:02:47 PM new
Try Gold Bond Medicated Powder...it's great!
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bunnicula
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posted on July 23, 2000 06:17:14 PM new
I discovered today that I am sadly undersupplied when it comes to medicaments 
When I go out tonight for the calamine & insect repellent, I believe I will stock up my medicine chest...
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jada
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posted on July 23, 2000 06:18:05 PM new
Bunnicula - I don't know if this would work on mosquito bites, but when my sister got stung by jellow jackets, the doctor told her to use Adolph's Meat Tenderizer - it did help the pain and the itch.
He explained why it worked, but I don't remember that part.
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newguy
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posted on July 23, 2000 09:21:36 PM new
Meya
Please tell your husband to be very very careful with using heat to treat Poison Ivy as if he is sensitive to poison ivy he could have a very bad reaction even though it does feel good.
Miscreant  -and proud of it!
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calamity49
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posted on July 23, 2000 09:42:22 PM new
Bunnicula,
I've heard that tooth paste works.
Well, well,
Kcat,
I found Barry(Barry)Barris! We can cancel the APB.
Calamity
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barrybarris
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posted on July 23, 2000 10:04:30 PM new
calamity49,
You had an APB out on me? Thank you...
I've been a little busy with real life and other things. What we need is a good party in the Round Table.
Barry (drinks for all) Barris
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kiheicat
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posted on July 23, 2000 11:42:28 PM new
Do you have any meat tenderizer? Works on jellyfish stings but I don't know about mosquito bites...
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bunnicula
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posted on July 24, 2000 07:04:33 AM new
No, not tenderizer in the house either...
Ended up going out to Rite-Aide when it got cooler--which was going on midnight Bought anti-itch gel and a spray bottle of "Off."
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katiep921
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posted on July 24, 2000 06:06:46 PM new
Chigarid, if you can find it.
It smells of camphor but works great on all kinds of insect bites, not just chiggers.
(For those of you who live in the Great Northland, chiggers are tiny red mites that burrow under your skin [literally] and you will itch insanely until you dig them out with your fingernails or until they die - which takes weeks. And you swell up with hives if you are allergic to them. Ask me how I know.)
katie
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katie p: vintage treasures, contemporary pleasures
http://www.katiep.com
[email protected]
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calamity49
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posted on July 24, 2000 10:43:27 PM new
Bunnicula,
How are the mosquito bites tonight? Better, I hope.
Barry(APB)Barris, yes we did. Happy to see you have just been busy with RL.
Calamity
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mauimoods
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posted on July 24, 2000 10:50:05 PM new
I have a meat tenderizer, but I dont think you wanna use it...its a big ol wood mallet with pointy things on the end
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bunnicula
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posted on July 24, 2000 11:19:56 PM new
Mauimoods: Thanks--but no thanks!
Calamity: much better, thank you. I keep slathering the anti-itch gel on & have sprayed myself with Off to prevent further depredations. There is stilla faint urge to scratch, but I force myself to slap instead of scratch. Looked strange at work sometimes today--passing patrons must have thought I was into masochism as I slapped away.
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Linda_K
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posted on July 24, 2000 11:35:51 PM new
LOL @ all of you.
Meat tenderizer? That'll make the dogs want to eat your leg for sure.
Katiep has mentioned what works best for me, here in Arkansas. I was bitten badly and was scratching myself to death. Asked the locals what they do for the itching and they gave me those 'deer in headlight' looks. They don't do anything, "they quit bothering you after a while" they shared. Well....not this California girl.
Tried many home remedies, every anti-itch item Walmart sold, things like 'After Bite' (which did help some, just seemed to be applying it constantly). But Chigarid did the job. Got relief for most of the day.
Bunnicula - hope you're comfortable by now.
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bunnicula
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posted on July 24, 2000 11:48:30 PM new
Linda_K: Right now all is calm except for a single bite that will *not* stop itching! What storescarry this Chigarid stuff?
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Linda_K
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posted on July 25, 2000 12:08:23 AM new
It wasn't at WalMart. Just a little local drug store here called Ponders Drugs.
Might try calling around....it really did bring much needed relief. It coats the skin, almost the same way clear fingernail polish would if you 'painted' your bites. Think that's what helped me most because if anything touched them, they'd start itching all over again. Or if I scratched, then they'd swell and really drive me up the wall.
Looked at the bottle and it's for all insect bites, not just Chiggers. Trying to read the super small print....even with my glasses it's hard to make out. LOL
The Colgin Company is the maker and they are in Dallas, TX. Bottle states the ingredients are: Camphor 2.8%, Phenol 1.5%, Menthol .0% and says it also contains Collodion, oil of Eucalyplus.
It'd be worth calling around your local drug stores to see if they have it. Best thing I've found.
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katiep921
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posted on July 25, 2000 04:02:06 AM new
Actually, you can order Chigarid from the manufacturer. The stores near me quit carrying it, so I hit the Internet.
www.colgin.com
I think it was like $2.99 a bottle plus a small amount for shipping. You can order just one, if you want, and it was delivered very quickly.
katie
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katie p: vintage treasures, contemporary pleasures
http://www.katiep.com
[email protected]
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bunnicula
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posted on July 25, 2000 07:03:24 AM new
KatieP: thank you, thank you, thank you!
Edited to say: just tried the link you gave & it goes nowhere...did you spell it right?
I am cursed
[ edited by bunnicula on Jul 25, 2000 07:04 AM ]
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bunnicula
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posted on July 25, 2000 07:14:10 AM new
I bring a tale of woe...
Tried a Net search for Chigarid. Every single hyperlink that is *for* Chigarid leads to....nothing. I think the product has been discontinued.
I was able to get onto the Colgin site (and KatieP's addy *was* right, so why didn't it work?), but there is NO mention of Chigarid on it--they only talk about their vegetable wash & liquid smoke....
The Fates are against me
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