Very topical at the moment.
I haven't googled it, googling is a bit of a spoiler now. Having unproven theories is far more fun.
Discussion yesterday and an email chat with Cynthia this morning confirms that Takapuna is still bad (Cynthia bitten yesterday), everyone that swam on Friday and last week also bitten. I am not sure about the other Long Bay to Mairangi swimmers from yesterday but I am bitten, and it was yesterday.
Not necessarily proven suggestions after our swim yesterday and from Cynthia:
Vitamin B1 - can't remember who suggested it but we also wondered how the sea lice would realise that you were full of B1 and decide not to bite you. We were trying to get into the minds of sea lice!
Calamine lotion - an oldie but a goodie - not very attractive when visible.
Coconut oil - maybe effective but messy, greasy and would leave a revolting oily stain?
Harvest Wholefoods: they sold Cynthia a malcolm harker product 988-shingles and itch-chronic itch relief balm (cinnamon/pepper base). it relieves the itch for about 2 hrs.
Tea tree oil - refer coconut oil
Tiger balm - interesting, maybe the burning from the balm changes the irritation from an itch to a burn?
Antihistamine cream - traditional
Pinetarsol - Pinetarsol relieves the itching and inflamed skin associated with dermatitis, Anal and genital itching, Chicken Pox, Napkin rash, Sunburn, prickly heat, Hives, Insect Bites and other skin irritations. Covers off a multitude of sins!
I like the idea of Pintarsol. It's great for dermatitis and anal itching. Ok, so I haven't used it for the latter. Or you could all switch to stand up paddling. Didn't get bitten at all.
ReplyDeleteMaryanne says no wetsuit , bikini only and topless is best... if you dare....
ReplyDeleteLice then dont get trapped against the skin.
I can guarantee that they were still there on Sunday! My bites from Thursday got a big top-up yesterday, and they are on my back, face, neck and even my lip now, so it looks like the topless bikini trick would not have worked for me! I tried Pinetarsol last night - if it can relieve anal itching it must be able to deal to a sea lice bite! But no good for me. I may have to resort to googling, or going to the pharmacy for scabies cream - something a pharmacist in Sydney gave me in the past and seemed to help.
ReplyDeleteThey are driving me mad!
I resorted to Google. After checking several pages they all seemed to concur that Hydrocortisone Cream is by far the best treatment. Not sure if it's available without prescription in NZ (it was in Spain). Reduces redness, itchiness and swelling.
ReplyDeleteThere was an article about the this very problem 5 January on Stuff. I've copied some of it below....
Nurse Linda Maguire from the Oneroa Medical Centre says the water has warmed up earlier this year.
"We could see more sea lice because of this," she says.
But staff at the centre also warned of a more serious condition called seabather's eruption.
Dr Dermot Hurly says seabather's eruption is often mistaken for sea lice bites.
"It is a large painful red rash which swimmers discover under their bathing suits after leaving the water.
"It is caused by microscopic larvae of stinging jellyfish and sea anemones which get caught under clothing.
"When the swimmers move around or leave the water, the pressure causes the larvae to release stinging cells called nematocysts," he says.
.... I'm fairly sure we're not suffering seabathers eruption's (although we did at The Mount one year). The sea lice look set to continue for some time so a Rx for Cortisone Cream appears the best option for treatment since prevention is unlikely.
check tv3 website on this , 6 oclock news thursday
ReplyDelete