Deerflies are tenacious pests that feed on the blood of living animals, including humans. These flies are most common in wooded areas near bodies of water, and find potential prey by seeing moving silhouettes or by detecting the carbon dioxide you give off when you breathe. A deerfly bite often leaves you with a small, very itchy bump.
Instructions
1. Prepare a cold compress by wrapping ice cubes or a frozen ice pack in a thin cloth. It is important to wrap the ice and not apply it directly to your skin, as prolonged direct contact can damage your skin.
2. Apply the cold compress to the bite for 15 to 20 minutes. The cold will help to numb the nerves in the bitten area, dulling the itch.
3. Elevate the area that was bitten to reduce swelling and itching.
4. Take an over-the-counter antihistamine medicine. Antihistamines alleviate the discomfort of an insect bite, which causes an itchy allergic reaction in your body.
5. Apply a direct swab or spray of a local anesthetic. This may come in a small plastic vial with gauze at one end. Squeeze the vial to break an inner chamber and fill the gauze with anesthetic, then apply to the deerfly bite.
6. Rub the bite with calamine lotion to soothe the itch.
Tags: cold compress, deerfly bite, your skin