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never mind horse flies eating my horse they are eating ME!

3K views 11 replies 7 participants last post by  Darrin 
#1 ·
The horse flies in my area are in abundance right now as the weather has been warm but wet. My mare usually gets one bad case of bites then she is fine for the rest of the summer but what about ME. I have a massive horse fly bite on my cheek right now which has swollen and gone all hard. I am taking allergy pills daily and putting antiseptic cream on but they take around a week to clear up. Last year i was eaten so badly I had an allergic reaction to them. I don't wear scented body sprays or perfume but i still get eaten alive and they even manage to bite me through my clothes!!!!!! Anyone got any creams or preventative measures they take?

Very miserable and itchy right now:-(
 
#4 ·
yep there the ones! it's not usually so bad but this year has been awful. My horses are on a farm with other livestock and it makes it worse. I have only just started coming out in a reaction to them but it's making me pretty miserable.

I put somer germoline on toay and that has taken the heat of the bite but my jaw is looking like a boxer's jaw lol
 
#7 ·
the initial bite hurts but then it just gets really hot and turns to a hard lump that is extremely itchy and then turns sore but you just can't stop itching. I suppose it's quite like someone having skin problems you know you shouldn't scratch but you just can't help it aaaarrrrgggghhh!!!!:lol:
 
#9 ·
Use neosporin on the bites, does wonders. Now here's the hard part, DONT ITCH!!! The more you itch a bite the worse it gets, sit on your hands if you have to. If that don't work, I'm sure there's a family member or friend around that would willingly tie your hands behind your back. I'm lucky/unlucky in that poison oak really loves me so I've learned to ignore itches from all sources.
 
#10 ·
neosporin? Forgive my ignorance is that a human product do I get it from a chemist? You are stronger than me itching is what i can't stop doing! I'll try source it and give it a try anything is worth trying right now.
 
#11 ·
Neosporin is an antibiotic ointment. Probably has a different name in the UK. We can get it over-the-counter in the US (do not require a prescription) from the drugstore/pharmacy.

The reaction you're talking about is one that I have to fire ant bites (you don't have invicta in the UK...don't ask, they are hellish). I find that benadryl (antihistamine) cream is a little helpful, but what helps me the most is putting ice on the lump. The ice deadens the itching for a bit and also helps the inflammation. Don't put it right on the skin - use a tea towel between the ice and your skin. Can do this for 5 minutes every hour or so. It won't cure it, but it does help!
 
#12 ·
Neosporin is sold here in the US but I'm sure you have an equivalent over there. It is made for humans, generally sold wth the rest of medicines (pain relievers, decongestants, etc) in a store. It has anti inflammatory, pain reliever and antibiotics in it. Makes it a good combination for bites, cuts, scrapes, burns and lots of other skin ailments. Always have a tube of it sitting in the bathroom drawer.

For the horses, I use Bag Balm but it works on humans too.
 
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