So what medical items (purchasable over the counter – I'm not going to piss or pour vinegar on myself thank you very much) actually work to stop the damn itching?

*scratch scratch scratch*

Willpower. I think it's available at chemists.

I'm not going to piss or pour vinegar on myself

– get the chemist to do it?
.
Edit: Antihistamines?

I can stop the itching by willpower alone? Man, I need to learn that skill!

antihistamines Available in non-pill form?

You can get antihistamine in cream form. Benadryl or something. But if you don't scratch, the itch goes away…

I know it's a bit late but you really want to be using a repellant in the first place (he says scratching his legs under the desk after getting bitten last Sunday 🙄 ).

piritin wirks for me.

Those pens that smell of ammonia and sting like buggery.

Those pens that smell of ammonia and sting like bugger

Marker pens?

Will look for Benadryl.

Tiger balm.

piezoelectric clicker.

Anthisan cream is good if you get some on the bite early enough. The "pens that smell of ammonia" work too and are sold in most places – try Boots. They are basically just ammonia, BTW.

+1 for Tiger Balm, works pretty well

Aftersun does a good job of soothing the itch too

I get hydrocortisone cream prescribed from the doctor but you can purchase it over the counter.

Was told not to use Anthisan for any extended period as it weakens the skin and makes it more prone to infection.

I actually find the only way to stop them itching is to scratch until they bleed… (I normally end up doing this in my sleep if I resist the urge when I'm awake)

I've yet to find an insect repellent that works 100%

I actually find the only way to stop them itching is to scratch until they bleed…

– yeah, cos an infected bite is way better than an itchy one 🙄
Itch management is the same as pain management – if you focus on it, it will become unbearable. Do something/think about something else to take your mind off it.

MTFU works quite well.

Actually, it's a serious suggestion. I get the crap bitten out of me very frequently – I swear I end up anaemic after some outings. It's a bit like dieting.. you CAN tough it out and it WILL stop when you are not thinking about/scratching it.

Also, if you absolutely must scratch, do so in a little circle around the bite, not actually on it. Your brain's fooled usually, and the bite itself doesn't get inflamed.

Well tens of thousands of bites, and I've yet to have an infected one.

But I'm not advising that's what you should do, just that's my experience, no magic cream will take the itching away 100%.

Hard to take your mind off it when you're scratching in your sleep, and thinking about not scratching is the only way I won't. If i try not to think about it I find myself absentmindedly scratching away.

+2 Strong Tiger balm. Works wonders on mozzie bites

tens of thousands of bites

– Really?
Wow – you're special.

Tea Tree oil works best for me… bloody midge bites all over from last week.

Not too expensive, readily available

tens of thousands of bites
– Really?
Wow – you're special.

Not special, just tasty!

I've had 200 bites on my legs at the same time (whilst using DEET) so tens of thousands over a life time isn't that many

I don't scratch them, do scratch around them.
Trouble is, until recently nothing would bite me. I had some kind of in-built insect repellent, but that seems to have worn off since I turn 40!
Now I get something attacking me everytime I take the dog out.
And its during the night that it bugs me.

Some useful things to try here. Apart from the bleed-em thing 🙂

Tiger balm, ammonia pen, and piritin have all worked for me int he past. I carry the ammonia pen with me when riding in the summer and use it the moment I notice (usually when I stop for a rest) works very well. Tiger balm is good a dbed time, just don't get it on yer old man, stings.

200 bites on my legs at the same time (whilst using DEET)

is that a world record?

I wouldn't have thought so

I'm sure you could have thousands of Chigger bites on one leg

Not my leg btw, mine are much less hairy 🙂

Blimey, I didn't expect this thread to get me aroused.

Ooooh, nasty.
Edit:

One commonly known remedy for chigger bites is to apply nail polish to reduce itchiness

That's a new one.

do you get MTFU over the counter, or do you need a prescription?

One commonly known remedy for chigger bites is to apply nail polish to reduce itchiness

Pretty sure that one's an old wives tale.

People used to think that the chiggers were actually still in the skin and the nail polish would suffocate them, but normally they dissolve a bit of skin, have a little feed and have already dropped off by the time they itch.

No, it stops air getting to the skin – easing the itch.

do you get MTFU over the counter, or do you need a prescription?

After seeing that pic I think I need to get some.

I've only got 3 bites! 😳

how about germolene? contains a local anaesthetic so helps stop the itching too

mrst

Eurax cream does the job for me.

dissolve some soluble aspirin into a thick paste, dab on bite, simples…

I take vitamin B6 a month before the summer seems to stop me getting bitten.

Just bought some Tiger Balm – says it's for muscle pains..
Smeared some on.. seems to be working. Smells nice anyway.

get an insect bite clicker, works a treat