I will spare you all the photos, but the one thing I have been suffering from since arriving in the Caribbean are bug bites.  Though I’ve seen mosquitos about, I think these are the results of no-see-ums that come out at dusk and dawn.

THEY ITCH.  I don’t care how many people tell me not to itch, it’ll scar, blah blah blah – my legs looked like raw hamburger until yesterday.  I finally posted to the Women Who Sail Face Book page figuring someone else had already figured this out and could shed some light.   I desperately need relief from the bites I already have and a means of preventing new ones.  I’m at 102 comments and growing.  Though most are recommending things that I need to buy via Amazon (not really an option right now), I’ve gotten some solid replies:

  • Anything with DEET or picardin (each of which have their own issues)
  • Essential oils
  • Coconut oil
  • Benadryl (gel & pills)
  • Calamine lotion
  • Lanocaine
  • Hot water/hot spoons (a new one that I had never heard of)
  • Long pants & sleeves (good luck managing that in 95 degrees on a daily basis)

 

I took a shower last night and scrubbed well, then applied Benadryl by spray, as well as popping a pill.   Since the sun had gone down I did put on long sleeves (linen is fabulous and lightweight and airy) and scrubs (thank you Dr. Steve Voss!) and socks (nearly killed me but my feet are really exposed).  It was a pretty comfortable night.  I sprayed myself with Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Oil this morning which seems to both repel anything further and manage the sting of the current bites.  I also picked up some coconut oil as it’s also supposed to be a good hair conditioner, which I’m sure I’ll need as the sun takes its effect on me down here.

 

More to come…..