try to wear loose cotton clothing, which can help prevent you overheating and making the itch worse - avoid fabrics which irritate your skin, like wool or scratchy fabrics.a cool bath or shower may help to soothe the itching - gently pat yourself dry with a clean towel, but do not rub or use the towel to scratch yourself.try not to scratch the area - keep your nails short to prevent breaking the skin if you do scratch.To relieve itching, take the following steps: If itching persists for more than 48 hours, see your doctor. This can be painful and can sometimes lead to an infection if the skin is broken. It is quite common to find that after you’ve scratched an itch, that the itch becomes more persistent (itchier) and you get into a cycle of itching and scratching. Sometimes spots or rashes may be present around the area that is itchy, or they may cause the itchiness itself. Itching may occur on a small part of the body, for example around the area of an insect bite or sting, or it can affect the whole body, such as with an allergic reaction. It can occur anywhere on the body, and can be very frustrating and uncomfortable. Itching is a common irritation of the skin that makes a person want to scratch the itchy area. Stings generally clear up within two days (48 hours) although the area may be tender for a few days after this.ĬHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS - Use the bites and stings Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help. See this stingers infographic about the most common stinging insects and how to prevent being stung. Learn more about first aid treatment for severe allergic reactions in the anaphylaxis section below. It’s important to be aware that bites or stings from insects can cause a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) in some people. This article explains the best first aid treatment depending on the type of insect involved.

It can be difficult to know if a bite or a sting from an insect is dangerous or not.

Related information on Australian websites.

How to treat caterpillar stings to the skin.

How to treat scorpion and centipede stings.Go here for a list of anaphylaxis symptoms. If you think someone is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis), call triple zero (000) immediately.

Fire ant bites images