[Trigirl]

yesterday i ran a 10k trail race out in the hutt valley. beautiful weather and a lovely course, round parkland, through a small forest area and out along a river. but while it was a great day and i loved every minute of it i am not now enjoying the sandfly bites. i've just counted 26 of them on my legs and they have been driving me nuts all day. any thoughts on how to make them less painful and itchy would be gratefully received :wah

[Moorf]

God they HURT don't they... take days to go too :wah - wish I had a cure, I use our peizo-electric zapper on my bites, which works to some extent, but I have no idea where you'd get one here as we bought it in Scotland (for midgie bites!!)..

[Cardy]

Hi we use something called SOOV from the pharmacy works for us.

I think they like the taste of me too

Cardy:uhoh

[Sam B]

We're both covered too, from our trip to Abel Tasman. J's are itching like hell, I don't seem to have reacted as much. There we were, thinking we'd found heaven on the perfect beach, and after 5 minutes we were leaping around and slapping our legs. There's no such thing as perfection! Aloe vera gel (as pure as poss) has helped us with most things like this.

[Helsandfamily]

Hi,

Try hydrocortisone cream from the chemist. It is a steroid cream but works a treat on bites - don't know if you can get it over there but it is the only thing that has helped me in the past - I suffer quite badly with midges! - you will probably have to ask the chemist for it though.

hels

[Moorf]

There we were, thinking we'd found heaven on the perfect beach, and after 5 minutes we were leaping around and slapping our legs.Ain't THAT the truth - that's where I had my first experience with the bleeders - Abel Tasman! Spent most of my time staring at bare patches of skin waiting for them bite - and you can FEEL them bite! :exit

[Trigirl]

sam - 97% pure aloe vera gel is what i'm using at the moment. its definitely better than nothing but not good :(

thanks everyone for the suggestions i shall go to the pharmacy tomorrow.

off to bed now - hopefully sleep will help!

[nippa&pippa]

ha ha, I just asked about it two months ago...
here:
http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10030&highlight=sandfly

Yes, lavender oil does work......................managed to not get infection this time!!!:raebanana :raebanana :raebanana

[aberdian]

We used some ammonia based thing when we were in Oz many years ago - worked like a dream. You can buy it in the UK too, comes in an orange pen shaped applicator.....can't help w NZ tho!

I have the best repellent in the world tho - I just stay close to my wife and they bite her instead of me :)

Ian

[Nathan]

I bought one of the ammonia things in NZ years ago. I also have used antihistamines to releive the itch of sand flies or mosquitos. Otherwise, amputation is the only effective releif as far as I know!

[sarahw]

I use 'Scratchy & Itchy' a natural product that stops itching of bites - the pharmacist recommended it when I got sandfly bites when we first arrived.

[zardell]

The doctor prescribed Eurax cream for me when I was quite badly bitten and you can buy it over the counter.....costs about $12 I think.

That and lavender oil made it bearable........

Julie

xx

[K&CS]

Same thing happened to me in the Abel Tasman in February. It was really hot and unbearably warm in our lodge at night. I found two mixing bowls and had to sit with both feel in cold water in the bowls just to keep comfortable. Thankfully, they did all start to go within a couple of days of getting home. I must make sure I get some of that 'Scratchy & Itchy' - sounds good!

Kate x

[Jezza]

Tiger Balm is good for most insect bites. You can get it in Asian shops. Doesn't contain anything to do with tigers :)

[Jules]

Otherwise, amputation is the only effective releif as far as I know!

Good suggestion Nathan, I feel like that when I get bitten. We went down to Wanganui Easter Weekend, went down by the river and could feel the Sandflies biting me!!! Over the next few days both my ankles started to swell and the dredded itch started :wah , the worst thing is they dont bother my other half!!!

Jules (with still afew bites from Easter Weekend!!)

[katandbob]

I bought one of the ammonia things in NZ years ago. I also have used antihistamines to releive the itch of sand flies or mosquitos. Otherwise, amputation is the only effective releif as far as I know!

Funny how amputation feels like a good form of pain relief at 3am in the morning..
I have currently got bites on my toes??? I can only asume that it was when I was feeding the chooks last night in my slipons!!:roll

I find that if I take an antihistamine tablet at night I can usually sleep, and I try to ignore them and not itch them in the day - the more you itch them - the more they seem to itch:mad:

unfortunately you find them anywhere there is water, beaches, forests! anywhere nice you'd want to have a nice picnic etc, basically!:laugh

I live a five minute walk to the sea, and I have to keep any standing water to a minimum, otherwise I get bit walking out to hang the washing out.

Oh and I have a can of Mosi repellant - jungle strength outside the door on the porch windowsill:laugh

Hope you stop itching soon

Kat

[DSC]

If I can offer a suggestion;
Chrysanthium (sp) salve works very well. Had problems with the little sods in Malaysia and that is what the locals recommended.

[Moorf]

I heard a new one the other day - baby oil and Dettol - rub on skin.