For most of us, the bite will look angry for a day or two. It might get bigger before it gets smaller. That’s normal. By day three, it should start calming down.
But here’s the thing: horseflies can carry nasty bacteria. They love hanging out near water and livestock. Their bite can get infected more easily than a mosquito bite. If the redness spreads in a scary, streaky line, see a doctor. That’s called cellulitis, and it’s not a spa treatment.
Horse Fly Bite Red Line at Rachel Vance blog
Also, if you start having trouble breathing, your lips or eyes swell up, or you feel dizzy, that’s an allergic reaction. Drop the coffee and get to a hospital, friend. This is serious. Don’t mess with that.
The Grocery List (What To Do About It)
Don’t just suffer in silence. Get revenge. Wash the bite with soap and water. Then, slap on some ice. Slap might be too gentle. Press the ice firmly. Let it numb the rage.
Next, you need an anti-itch cream. Hydrocortisone is your new best friend. Or an antihistamine cream. Oral Benadryl can help if the swelling is out of control and you want to take a long nap.
Whatever you do, do not scratch it. I know. It’s impossible. But scratching breaks that broken skin even more. You’ll introduce more bacteria and turn a bite into a weeping wound. You don’t want a weeping wound. You want to go to the beach.
