Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Sand Flea/fly

Sand Flea, Sand Fly, I'm not sure which one is correct. I got this sand flea bite a few days ago. I'm not sure if everyone reacts the same way to them but but for me, after I am bitten (which I dont think I feel at all), for 12-24 hours, I have this red spot. It doesnt hurt or itch or anything but I know that when I wake up the next day, there will be an itchy raised bump with a little blister that will itch for a day or two. I'm not a fan.

I dont get too many of these bites but try to avoid the sand in the beach as much as I can and spray down my legs everytime I leave the house. I dont like to spray my arms with the off because it seems so toxic so sometimes I get a bite on my hand.

The best thing that I have found for itchy bites is a cream that has menthol in it. I got a tube at a pharmacy in Belize and it just ran out. It turns out that its not so easy to find. The menthol makes it feel really cool and instantly stops the itching for sand fleas and mosquito bits.

Posted by Picasa

2 comments:

VagabondQuest said...

Wow! I just posted my epic story about sand flies in Lake Taupo the same day as yours! I definitely realized the bites right away - there were hundreds of them biting me, and I let them for the sake of watching sunset! The itch didn't go away for a very very long time. Check this out:
http://www.vagabondquest.com/travel-tips/itchy-and-scratchy-bed-bugs-sand-flies-and-other-travel-hazards/

Aaron said...

If there are sand-flies be careful. They can carry Leishmaniasis, a nasty infection that can leave permanantly disfiguring skin ulcers and also make you quite ill a few weeks later.

Sand-fleas, if I recall, are essentially tiny jellyfish larvae that actually sting and cause itchy rashes that are otherwise harmless.

OFF isn't so bad (just don't eat it). It could protect you from some serious infections.

Enjoy the beach!