Barbecues, beer gardens, evening walks around Stanley Park — and the uninvited guests that come with them. Midges, mosquitoes, wasps, bees and horseflies are all out in force in a UK July. Most bites and stings are harmless but maddening; here's how to treat them properly, and how to spot the rare ones that need medical attention.
First aid for bites and stings — the basics
- Move away from the area (especially wasps — they can sting repeatedly and release a scent that attracts others).
- Remove a bee sting if visible: scrape it sideways with a fingernail or card edge. Don't pinch it — that squeezes in more venom.
- Wash the area with soap and water.
- Cool it — a cold compress or ice wrapped in a tea towel for 10 minutes reduces swelling.
- Raise the affected limb if it's swelling.
Beating the itch (without scratching)
Scratching feels great for three seconds and then makes everything worse — it inflames the bite and can let infection in. Instead:
- Calamine lotion — the classic for a reason. Care Calamine Lotion cools and calms itchy bites, prickly heat and sunburn alike.
- An antihistamine tablet — a once-daily option like Piriteze Allergy Tablets takes the edge off itching and swelling from multiple bites (and covers your hay fever too).
- Anti-itch creams — a soothing cream like Eurax Cream can relieve persistent itching; ask our pharmacist which option suits you.
- Keep skin moisturised — dry skin itches more. A gentle option like E45 helps as bites heal.
Horsefly bites — why they hurt so much
Horsefly (cleg) bites actually cut the skin rather than piercing it, which is why they're painful, slow to heal, and more likely to become infected. Clean thoroughly, cool, and keep an eye on it. Growing redness, warmth, pus or worsening pain after a couple of days can mean infection — see a pharmacist or GP.
When to get medical help
- Call 999 for signs of a severe allergic reaction: difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, dizziness or collapse.
- Seek urgent advice for stings in the mouth or throat, or multiple stings.
- See a GP or pharmacist if a bite grows increasingly red, hot and swollen after 48 hours, if you develop flu-like symptoms after a bite, or if a bite develops a spreading rash.
- Ticks: remove with fine tweezers, gripping close to the skin and pulling steadily upward. A spreading circular rash or feeling unwell in the weeks after a tick bite needs a GP visit.
Prevention beats treatment
- Insect repellent on exposed skin in the evenings, especially near water.
- Long sleeves at dusk; avoid strong perfumes at picnics.
- Cover food and drinks outdoors — check cans before sipping; wasps love a hidden swim in your drink.
Stock your summer first aid shelf at Anfield Pharmacy online — fast UK delivery or free Click & Collect from 140 Oakfield Road, Liverpool. Bitten and not sure what you're looking at? Snap a photo and ask our pharmacist; we see it all every summer.
Always read the label. Seek emergency help for any signs of severe allergic reaction.
