Bug Bites????

Azeeza · 12-06-2009, 11:56 PM

Has anyone ever suffered from small bug bites in the winter time?

I've had this every winter for about 12 years. I can't figure out what is causing it. It's not bed bugs because my husband doesn't get them and we sleep in the same bed.

It begins every December or January and lasts for a week or two and then disappears. I mainly find them on the backs of my legs, thighs and arms. Never on my face, neck or head.

WHAT IS THIS????

Azeeza

Azeeza · 12-07-2009, 06:50 PM

A friend of mine has the same thing happen to her in the winter time. She started taking allergy medicine and it helped. She thinks it's dust mites and I am allergic to dust mites.

I am taking an over the counter allergy medicine all year long, but it's mainly for my runny nose. I'll ask her if there is a difference in the medicines.

Luckily, I know someone who has the same problem.

Azeeza

Kharmine · 12-07-2009, 11:16 PM

If you haven't been washing your bed linens in very hot water lately, you might try doing that. Also, you might add a cup of hydrogen peroxide (non-chlorine bleach) to your washing machine. From what I remember about dust mites, they survive milder wash treatments.

alosha · 12-07-2009, 11:17 PM

To me it doesn't seem like it's bug bites, but more a reaction to the cold weather. If it were bugs, they'd be around all year. Especially dust mites.

Have you changed soaps or laundry detergents?

walladah · 12-07-2009, 11:36 PM

it is bugs and not ferum deficiency? the symptoms are same (actually, focused on legs and thighs).
and washing sheets with hot water is a must in any case.

Best wishes,
W.

Azeeza · 12-10-2009, 01:39 PM

Thanks everyone for your help.

I washed my sheets and bed padding in hot water and put them in the hot dryer and I'm not getting any new bites, thus far.

I'll check into the vitamin deficiency. I've lost about 40 pounds in the last several years, most of it since July (purposely) so I could be missing a suppliment that I need.

Also, my dog had fleas last year when I pet sat for a friend of mine who had an infected dog. Since then, I've been checking my dog constantly for fleas and I haven't found any on him, but they could be really hiding. So, that is a possiblity.

If it's not one thing, it's another for me. I generate a lot of histamine and one little scratch on my skin and I swell up. I've noticed that I haven't been taking my Zyretc either, so I took one this morning and I'll be taking it at bed time from now on.

Again, thanks so much for all of your help. I really do appreciate it very much.

Azeeza

Anala · 12-10-2009, 05:16 PM

Azeeza, your skin sounds like mine! There were two causes that me get similar bumps -- such that I thought they were bites for awhile, too. The first was Eczema: it caused little tight itchy bumps, then made the skin raw and red. On my hands it causes cracking and peeling. I manage it (my dermatologist swears there is no cure) with zyrtec, vaseline as a moisturizer, and a prescribed topical ointment when it gets really bad.

The second cause was trickier: it was a mild hive from a supplement. The Dermatologist said that hyper sensitive skin (like ours) and certain conditions (like seasonal weather changes) can make it suddenly appear, only to go away later. In my case, it was a glucosamine supplement. Identifying the cause will require removing possible contributors from your diet and then slowly reintroducing, one at a time, until the culprit is identified.

Hang in there!

Anala

Aniseteph · 12-10-2009, 11:51 PM

This could just be my personal baggage here

, but I do hate fleas...

If there was some wild thing that normally lives close by that moves out in winter - their fleas might get cold and hungry and come inside, but not being dog fleas they might not fancy the dog! Then if they can't breed without their usual host they'd just die off in a couple of weeks.

We've no pets but had fleas in the house once, and they loved me and ignored husband.

. I found the culprits pretty soon (pile of just-removed clothes in the middle of the kitchen, waiting for the little b*****s to hop across the pale floor towards me... , I know you're in there somewhere...), but it took ages to work out where they were coming from. Eventually we solved it - I'd washed out a bird house near the outside tap, and they'd been hatching out and hopping aboard whenever we went near it. Without any birds handy I guess they'd have all died off in time too, only I turned to chemical warfare first.

Azeeza · 12-11-2009, 01:24 AM

Anala:

Ewww, I know about Ecezma, it can be terrible. My hands and feet cracked and bled while I was on vacation. I had blood stains inside my shoes, yuck. I had no idea what was going on until I saw a Dermatologist and she diagnosed the Eczema. Food allergies contributed to the Eczema and since I eliminated a lot of foods from my diet, my Eczema has gotten better. I only have a little spot on my chin and on the corner of my nose now, thank heaven. Staying away from wet work and keeping moisturized helps a lot too, just like you mentioned.

Aniseteph:

YUCKY!! Oh heavens, I cringed when I read your post! Creepy crawly!!! After my animal "guest" left, I noticed my dog was scratching. He never did that before, so I combed him out and I found a flea! I panicked and called the vet and got my dog flea medicine. A day later, I combed my dog out again and I found two more! I FREAKED OUT!!! I contacted the lady whom I adopted my dog from and she said I shouldn't worry because the fleas would be on the dog, if we had a dog, which we did, and not go on humans. If we didn't have a warm blooded pet in the house and we found fleas, that's the time to freak out. Luckily for me, my dog no longer has fleas. Believe me, I checked him out when I first got the bites. I don't like blood sucking insects. YUCK.

Azeeza

jenc · 12-13-2009, 10:18 AM

I had flea bites all over when I moved into a neglected flat where there had once been a kitten. Doctor said that 1) fleas live for ages without eating then go mad when you appear. 2)they wre probably also biting my partner, but I was the only one allergic and producing positive reaction of the red lumps

12-06-2009, 11:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
Azeeza V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,287	Bug Bites???? Has anyone ever suffered from small bug bites in the winter time? I've had this every winter for about 12 years. I can't figure out what is causing it. It's not bed bugs because my husband doesn't get them and we sleep in the same bed. It begins every December or January and lasts for a week or two and then disappears. I mainly find them on the backs of my legs, thighs and arms. Never on my face, neck or head. WHAT IS THIS???? Azeeza

12-07-2009, 11:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
Kharmine V.I.P. Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Foot of the Rocky Mountains Posts: 1,972	If you haven't been washing your bed linens in very hot water lately, you might try doing that. Also, you might add a cup of hydrogen peroxide (non-chlorine bleach) to your washing machine. From what I remember about dust mites, they survive milder wash treatments. __________________ What if the hokey pokey is really what it's all about?

12-07-2009, 11:17 PM	#4 (permalink)
alosha V.I.P. Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: The Dalles, Oregon Posts: 2,193	To me it doesn't seem like it's bug bites, but more a reaction to the cold weather. If it were bugs, they'd be around all year. Especially dust mites. Have you changed soaps or laundry detergents? __________________ Nothing moves like silk ~ gentle and rippling ~ leaving the ethereal image of the dancer in its wake Work Of Art Creations

12-07-2009, 11:36 PM	#5 (permalink)
walladah Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greece Posts: 118	Are you sure it is bugs and not ferum deficiency? the symptoms are same (actually, focused on legs and thighs). and washing sheets with hot water is a must in any case. Best wishes, W.

12-10-2009, 05:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
Anala Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Mid Atlantic, USA Posts: 704	Azeeza, your skin sounds like mine! There were two causes that me get similar bumps -- such that I thought they were bites for awhile, too. The first was Eczema: it caused little tight itchy bumps, then made the skin raw and red. On my hands it causes cracking and peeling. I manage it (my dermatologist swears there is no cure) with zyrtec, vaseline as a moisturizer, and a prescribed topical ointment when it gets really bad. The second cause was trickier: it was a mild hive from a supplement. The Dermatologist said that hyper sensitive skin (like ours) and certain conditions (like seasonal weather changes) can make it suddenly appear, only to go away later. In my case, it was a glucosamine supplement. Identifying the cause will require removing possible contributors from your diet and then slowly reintroducing, one at a time, until the culprit is identified. Hang in there! Anala __________________ The Practical Dancer

12-07-2009, 06:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Azeeza V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,287	A friend of mine has the same thing happen to her in the winter time. She started taking allergy medicine and it helped. She thinks it's dust mites and I am allergic to dust mites. I am taking an over the counter allergy medicine all year long, but it's mainly for my runny nose. I'll ask her if there is a difference in the medicines. Luckily, I know someone who has the same problem. Azeeza

12-10-2009, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Azeeza V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,287	Thanks everyone for your help. I washed my sheets and bed padding in hot water and put them in the hot dryer and I'm not getting any new bites, thus far. I'll check into the vitamin deficiency. I've lost about 40 pounds in the last several years, most of it since July (purposely) so I could be missing a suppliment that I need. Also, my dog had fleas last year when I pet sat for a friend of mine who had an infected dog. Since then, I've been checking my dog constantly for fleas and I haven't found any on him, but they could be really hiding. So, that is a possiblity. If it's not one thing, it's another for me. I generate a lot of histamine and one little scratch on my skin and I swell up. I've noticed that I haven't been taking my Zyretc either, so I took one this morning and I'll be taking it at bed time from now on. Again, thanks so much for all of your help. I really do appreciate it very much. Azeeza

12-10-2009, 11:51 PM	#8 (permalink)
Aniseteph V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 3,231	This could just be my personal baggage here , but I do hate fleas... If there was some wild thing that normally lives close by that moves out in winter - their fleas might get cold and hungry and come inside, but not being dog fleas they might not fancy the dog! Then if they can't breed without their usual host they'd just die off in a couple of weeks. We've no pets but had fleas in the house once, and they loved me and ignored husband. . I found the culprits pretty soon (pile of just-removed clothes in the middle of the kitchen, waiting for the little b****s to hop across the pale floor towards me... , I know you're in there somewhere...*), but it took ages to work out where they were coming from. Eventually we solved it - I'd washed out a bird house near the outside tap, and they'd been hatching out and hopping aboard whenever we went near it. Without any birds handy I guess they'd have all died off in time too, only I turned to chemical warfare first.

12-11-2009, 01:24 AM	#9 (permalink)
Azeeza V.I.P. Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 1,287	Anala: Ewww, I know about Ecezma, it can be terrible. My hands and feet cracked and bled while I was on vacation. I had blood stains inside my shoes, yuck. I had no idea what was going on until I saw a Dermatologist and she diagnosed the Eczema. Food allergies contributed to the Eczema and since I eliminated a lot of foods from my diet, my Eczema has gotten better. I only have a little spot on my chin and on the corner of my nose now, thank heaven. Staying away from wet work and keeping moisturized helps a lot too, just like you mentioned. Aniseteph: YUCKY!! Oh heavens, I cringed when I read your post! Creepy crawly!!! After my animal "guest" left, I noticed my dog was scratching. He never did that before, so I combed him out and I found a flea! I panicked and called the vet and got my dog flea medicine. A day later, I combed my dog out again and I found two more! I FREAKED OUT!!! I contacted the lady whom I adopted my dog from and she said I shouldn't worry because the fleas would be on the dog, if we had a dog, which we did, and not go on humans. If we didn't have a warm blooded pet in the house and we found fleas, that's the time to freak out. Luckily for me, my dog no longer has fleas. Believe me, I checked him out when I first got the bites. I don't like blood sucking insects. YUCK. Azeeza

12-13-2009, 10:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
jenc V.I.P. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colchester UK Posts: 1,793	I had flea bites all over when I moved into a neglected flat where there had once been a kitten. Doctor said that 1) fleas live for ages without eating then go mad when you appear. 2)they wre probably also biting my partner, but I was the only one allergic and producing positive reaction of the red lumps