Cycling UK Forum

This-evening I seem to have a load of insect bites close on my knuckles but slightly side of fingers on both hands, multiple knuckles (on 6 knuckles/base of finger). I assume that some insect must have been wandering around to chose its spot to bite but I never felt any bites. No other bites anywhere on body. Small swelling but not particularly red. Might have got 1st one yesterday (or all yesterday and they've taken a day to react). Itchy, feels like pins stuck in skin. Not really had any contact with vegetation so unlikely to be such a plant reaction.

I've assumes it would have happened on todays's ride with fists on bars exposed. Maybe recent warmer weather encouraged whatever to emerge ...

Any ideas what seems to have a strong preference for biting base of fingers/knuckles?

Ian

Scabies mites are the only thing that I know that targets the areas between the fingers.

I think you would have noticed a wasp having a go, although one stung my hand while it was operating the mouse while I sat in my armchair which was an unpleasant surprise.

I get those. I don't know what they are, but I don't think they're insect bites.

If you have cycled with bare hands exposed to the sun, it could be heat rash/ prickly heat. Google for some photos, and see if it’s that.

How are they this morning?

Photos, please.

Had you worn gloves or mitts to do anything recently before they appeared?

Jonathan

Had similar, ie mystery nibbling, a few weeks ago, on face. Bites, if such they were, as just now healing up, with occasional tingling of skin at sites. I blame global warming...

Jdsk wrote: ↑28 Mar 2022, 8:55am How are they this morning?

Photos, please.

Had you worn gloves or mitts to do anything recently before they appeared?

Jonathan

They won't really show on photos as they are not red, just bumps that I'd only notice as they are slightly itchy.

Not a major health concern, more just that I'm facinated that whatever it was clearly didn't happen to land on skin and bite but seemed to have a really strong preference for knuckles by finger - to the extent that there are bites on 3 on each hand.

Last time I wore gardening gloves was over a week ago. One bump appeared day before yesterday eve, the rest yesterday eve. so I'd not think from the gloves as that would be a very slow reaction but each bite taking the same time to react.

Ian

Thanks.

I can't think of anything with a predilection for biting knuckles.

Hope it's better soon.

Jonathan

Psamathe wrote: ↑28 Mar 2022, 10:23amThey won't really show on photos as they are not red, just bumps that I'd only notice as they are slightly itchy.

Mine are nigh on impossible to see because they're the same colour as the surrounding skin, and only about 1-1.5mm diameter with flat tops unlike most spots, which are round topped. I've just discovered that they're there all the time, I wouldn't have been looking for them whilst they're not itching if I hadn't been reading this thread. When they're itchy they're slightly raised a few thou above the surrounding skin, but they're flush now whilst they're not itching. The only way I can find them at the moment is by getting the light to reflect off my finger so that I can see the difference in skin texture: the spots are smoother and shinier than the surrounding area.

axel_knutt wrote: ↑28 Mar 2022, 11:57am

Psamathe wrote: ↑28 Mar 2022, 10:23amThey won't really show on photos as they are not red, just bumps that I'd only notice as they are slightly itchy.

Mine are nigh on impossible to see because they're the same colour as the surrounding skin, and only about 1-1.5mm diameter with flat tops unlike most spots, which are round topped. I've just discovered that they're there all the time, I wouldn't have been looking for them whilst they're not itching if I hadn't been reading this thread. When they're itchy they're slightly raised a few thou above the surrounding skin, but they're flush now whilst they're not itching. The only way I can find them at the moment is by getting the light to reflect off my finger so that I can see the difference in skin texture: the spots are smoother and shinier than the surrounding area.

2 of mine sound very similar. Flat topped (largest7 mm diam) bit shiney, smooth bit like a blister not "inflated" and normal skin coloured. Put Hydrocortisone cream on them last night which didn't do much through the evening but today they look the same but without the feeling on "needles".

Reason I'd assumed insects was out yesterday I did have a couple of flies (not on my hands) and it only taks a day or two of warm weather for loads of flied and inserts to appear and these have appeared after being outside (countryside) during the last couple of days of warm sunny weather.

Ian

Chilblains?

I'm wondering if is a reaction to something I've touched. Tried Hydrocortisone cream and that made the stinging worse but persisted for a couple of days. Bumps are still there in the morning but don't feel stingy but by eve they are like a bad stinging nettle sting, worse after a ride in the recent sun which makes me wonde about something photochemical?

Went into pharmacy yesterday to ask them and they had no idea but purchased some anti-histamine cream to try. To early to tell if it help but it doesn't sting like the hydrocortisone.

Ian

Psamathe wrote: ↑30 Mar 2022, 9:50am I'm wondering if is a reaction to something I've touched.

Could be. That's why I asked about the gloves.

I don't know anything that's causing particular problems at the moment, but it was unusual weather and something might have emerged,

Jonathan

Jdsk wrote: ↑30 Mar 2022, 11:56am

Psamathe wrote: ↑30 Mar 2022, 9:50am I'm wondering if is a reaction to something I've touched.

Could be. That's why I asked about the gloves.

I don't know anything that's causing particular problems at the moment, but it was unusual weather and something might have emerged,

Jonathan

I'm not allergic to any of the common allergies (I had an allergy test earlier this year, the NHS one where they do 14? pin-pricks on the arm with +ve and -ve controls, etc. and all non-controls were negative).

But I have had a rash what used to be caller "strimmers rash" (or something like that) from a few days of strimming an area with lots of Umbelliferae and I ended up with a rash round my neck (which was exposed and would likely happen to anybody) but a bit early for any of that to be growing yet.

Ian