Is there anything that can help stop this itching?

Try papaya slices (must be fresh) or meat-tenderizer. Enzymes breakdown the protein that cause the itch.

Scratching them makes them itch more, as they become more swollen. If you can manage to stop scratching for long enough, that takes a lot of the urge away.

Band-Aid Anti Itch gel works for me when I get a bug bite or poison ivy. An advantage is that it is a clear gel. You should be able to pick it up at any local drug store chain.

@laureth I’ve tried so hard to do that, but it really doesn’t work for me! I am too impatient.

@Tropical_Willie Now that is one I haven’t heard before! Thanks!

@Pied_Pfeffer Does it burn when it goes on?

Apply ammonia. Stinks, but works great. Anybody who has operated in the jungle knows this. and the smell goes away quickly.

@josie That sounds like it burns very badly!

I always use a 1% hydrocortisone ointment (not the cream kind) like Cortisone-10 or the store brand and it works like a charm, for me at least. Any topical anti-itch treatment that doesn’t have hydrocortisone in just doesn’t work for me.

Benadryl helped me when I had sandfly bites. I’ve never heard of ammonia or I’d have used a bottle of it. None of the creams worked and I tried a lot of them!

@KatetheGreat It is instantly cooling and the itch immediately goes away…at least for me.

White vinegar. I send a small bottle with both my boys to Scout camp and it takes care of ‘Squito, chigger and sand fly bites in a jiffy. Don’t knock it until you try it. Re-apply as the itch re-emerges. Gone in no time.

I second what @Pied_Pfeffer said about Band Aid anti-itch gel.

It doesn’t burn at all.

When I apply it to an itchy bite that I’ve scratched open, it gives me DEEP relief that lasts for at least 12-hours, and often that relief is permanent.

Thank you all so much! Since I have many bug bites, I will try a different suggestion on each one of them!

I like to turn pretty much everything into experimentation. Don’t label me as crazy ;)

Anything with ammonia.

Please let us know what you use, as well as what works and what doesn’t. You can be the test subject. :)

@Pied_Pfeffer Will do! I like these sort of experiments. I’m a walking version of Consumer Reports.

You can go in to your doctor and complain and they’ll give you Rx strength anti-itch cream. Mine is Triamcinolone acetonide cream USP 0.1%. If it wasn’t for that stuff, I’d have sooooo many more scars, because my ability to not scratch the itch is near non-existent.

Mash up some aloe vera and apply the pulp to the bites.

Yes, cortisone cream and maybe an antihistamine too.

I just got over some bad poison Oak from my cat who romps in the woods.

It broke out all over my neck and chest from cuddling her. Evil little poison pussy she is right now. lol

The bandaid anti-itch spray is very good. benadryl makes one too.

You can try some ice too.

Also use cortizone twice a day every day for three days if it is this bad, plus whatever other topical cream you buy.

This is the General Section so I’m aware I can’t suggest something like getting a tatoo on the spot that itches or something like what I really did in high-school, holding a lighted candle and letting it drip one drop on my itchy spot. Drip, drop, scream, the itch was gone.

So my General Section suggestion is Vick’s vaporub. : )

Instead of scratching, just smooth your hand over the spot, like it’s a pet and you are stroking it gently. Gives relief, I swear.

An experiment would be good – since you have so many bites, why not try a different treatment on each one? Then you’ll know which remedies are most effective. Don’t forget to leave a control one, untouched, as well as one that you are allowed to scratch willy nilly ;D. Report back!

I use Nupercainal. It contains a numbing agent similar to Novocaine. If it’s numb it doesn’t itch.

Witch Hazel combined with Aloe

I’m with @Cruiser. Vinegar works everytime. I also use my fingernail to press an X into them. Stops itching for a while.

I was out gardenin the other day, with bugspray, and got over 40 bites on my legs. Real attractive.

@Buttonstc Thanks for the heads up on Nupercainal. I’m going to give it a try. I’m a little bit of a klutz and tend to burn myself with some frequency when cooking. HOT Lilly. HOT! So, I am always looking for a good topical pain reliever that is suitable for burns; particularly anything that comes close to being called Somethingcaine :-) I googled the stuff and there seem to be a lot of people who swear by it. Maybe it will work for me on itching too though, as I mentioned I always get really good results for itching with Cortisone-10 ointment.

Not scratching at all seems to work best.

Soaking may help. Salt water may help.

A little bit of your own saliva also seems to help, if you haven’t scratched them. If you do scratch, you may break the skin, in which case saliva is not good, because it’s full of bacteria and will infect the wound.

When I was a kid, I often could resist and would scratch them. Made them worse, though eventually you can make them into wounds which hurt more than they itch, and may leave a mark, but when being driven insane by itching, may seem better.

If they are chigger bites a combination of Chigarid and an antihystamine seemed to have the best results for me. Both are commonly available at most drug stores.

My mother also always made us bathe in a ¼ cup of bleach in a tub of water.