WHAT the heck is biting me?? (Phoenix: dermatologist, home, camping)

[jmsca]

Let me start by saying it's NOT bedbugs - we've been checked and are clean! And it's not fleas - I know flea bites and these are not them, and I have flea-combed the cat and she's clean.

For the past month, I have been getting these insanely itchy bites from...something, and I have NO idea what. I moved out here from Boston about a year ago, and this didn't happen last July!

The bites: they look like giant mosquito bites - raised welts with a little dot in the center that sometimes oozes pus when the skin is scratched off. Each welt is maybe slightly smaller than dime sized. And they are CRAZY itchy for at least 2-3 days before they start to subside.

Where: everywhere - I've gotten them on my thighs, upper and lower arms, hands (including right below the nail on my index finger!), my FOREHEAD (thank goodness for bangs!), back, and as of yesterday, butt!

When: seems to usually be in the evening, but sometimes the morning and occasionally the afternoon. I swear one happened at work, as well.

Where: I notice them inside, but it's possible they happen outside, I guess? Only once have I felt it happening - usually I notice the itchiness and then the welt, but never the bite. Yesterday, though, I got home from work, walked into the kitchen, and DEFINITELY felt something bite my butt cheek! :O I think it got trapped under my skirt as I got three bites - before that, it's always been just one bite maybe every other day or so.

I hadn't gotten one for like 5 days, and then over the last 3 days, I got like SEVEN. Which is making me wonder if whatever it is is rain related? Which is why I keep thinking mosquitos, but I never SEE any, and I have never gotten such HUGE bites from mosquitos back in MA.

Any ideas? I feel silly going to the doc to ask - it's not like she can do anything about them other than tell me to use cortisone for the itch, which I have been doing!

Thanks!

And edited to add that it's JUST me getting bitten - boyfriend is not! Neither is the cat!

[cobolt]

Originally Posted by jmsca

Let me start by saying it's NOT bedbugs - we've been checked and are clean! And it's not fleas - I know flea bites and these are not them, and I have flea-combed the cat and she's clean.

For the past month, I have been getting these insanely itchy bites from...something, and I have NO idea what. I moved out here from Boston about a year ago, and this didn't happen last July!

The bites: they look like giant mosquito bites - raised welts with a little dot in the center that sometimes oozes pus when the skin is scratched off. Each welt is maybe slightly smaller than dime sized. And they are CRAZY itchy for at least 2-3 days before they start to subside.

Where: everywhere - I've gotten them on my thighs, upper and lower arms, hands (including right below the nail on my index finger!), my FOREHEAD (thank goodness for bangs!), back, and as of yesterday, butt!

When: seems to usually be in the evening, but sometimes the morning and occasionally the afternoon. I swear one happened at work, as well.

Where: I notice them inside, but it's possible they happen outside, I guess? Only once have I felt it happening - usually I notice the itchiness and then the welt, but never the bite. Yesterday, though, I got home from work, walked into the kitchen, and DEFINITELY felt something bite my butt cheek! :O I think it got trapped under my skirt as I got three bites - before that, it's always been just one bite maybe every other day or so.

I hadn't gotten one for like 5 days, and then over the last 3 days, I got like SEVEN. Which is making me wonder if whatever it is is rain related? Which is why I keep thinking mosquitos, but I never SEE any, and I have never gotten such HUGE bites from mosquitos back in MA.

Any ideas? I feel silly going to the doc to ask - it's not like she can do anything about them other than tell me to use cortisone for the itch, which I have been doing!

Thanks!

Fire ants? The raised welt and puss are classic signs.

[jmsca]

Maybe? The welts don't really look like the pics I'm seeing of fire ant bites - the blister isn't that raised or pus-filled. Mine look less like red pimples and more really big mosquito bites with a small dent in the middle that's still flat. It's only if I scratch that layer of skin off the center that it oozes - and it's clear, not foamy white! Ewww, I know. But maybe! I haven't seen any ants anywhere, though.

[Williamhbonney]

Go to a dermatologist.

You're probably both getting bit, but you're the only one having a reaction.how exactly did you check to rule out bed bugs?

[jmsca]

Originally Posted by Williamhbonney

Go to a dermatologist.

You're probably both getting bit, but you're the only one having a reaction.how exactly did you check to rule out bed bugs?

Pest person came to look - no sign of any infestation of them anywhere!

[Star691]

More than likely mites. They are especially active this time of year. They’re so tiny, you can’t even see them without a magnification lense. Could be chiggers if you have been camping or walking in tall grass, and unknowingly brought some back with you.
Clean and vacuum often, as this may help.

[jmsca]

Originally Posted by Star691

More than likely mites. They are especially active this time of year. They’re so tiny, you can’t even see them without a magnification lense. Could be chiggers if you have been camping or walking in tall grass, and unknowingly brought some back with you.
Clean and vacuum often, as this may help.

Ahh, mites didn't even occur to me - I'll double-down on the vaccuuming an see if that helps! Thanks!

[Star691]

Originally Posted by jmsca

Ahh, mites didn't even occur to me - I'll double-down on the vaccuuming an see if that helps! Thanks!

Definitely vacuum often, and wash bedsheets/other linens frequently.

[Zoisite]

Originally Posted by jmsca

Maybe? The welts don't really look like the pics I'm seeing of fire ant bites - the blister isn't that raised or pus-filled. Mine look less like red pimples and more really big mosquito bites with a small dent in the middle that's still flat. It's only if I scratch that layer of skin off the center that it oozes - and it's clear, not foamy white! Ewww, I know. But maybe! I haven't seen any ants anywhere, though.

That sounds like mites / spider bites. Maybe a nest of tiny baby spiders hatched inside your house. Like mites, they're so small they're hard to spot. Mites are a species in the spider family too.

.

[pathrunner]

I went through this last year. Thought I was going to lose my mind. I finally figured out that it was chiggers (likely because of all the rain and the tallish grass).

I did live in the Phoenix area for several years and I didn't have a problem, but I have relatives in Arizona and they seem to be having problems with no see um's.

What worked for me was putting a paste of baking soda directly on the bite, and I also bought a little stick at CVS called "Bite and Sting Relief Stick." It was fairly cheap.

This year I'm having trouble with mites and I found a tick on my neck while I was in my bedroom. Sigh. At least it's not as bad as last year. My dogs are on Simparica Trio about 8-9 months a year. They need to make something like that for humans.

Hope you find relief soon.