Q. I suffer from unusually severe reactions to mosquito bites. Each bite causes a red swollen area the size of a quarter. I’ve learned to never scratch, as the red area will grow to several inches and take weeks to clear up.

Last summer, about 20 bites gotten while I was gardening caused an immune system reaction, triggering eczema that lasted for months. After I’d suffered for years, a dermatologist prescribed triamcinolone. It’s been life-changing. Just the smallest dab on a mosquito bite makes it disappear within 24 hours. Why isn’t this medicine mentioned as a treatment for extreme mosquito bite reactions?

A. There is a medical term for your exaggerated reaction to mosquito bites. It’s called skeeter syndrome (American Family Physician, Dec. 15, 2013). The intense redness and itching are caused by allergens in the saliva of mosquitoes. Symptoms can persist far longer than a typical bite response. Why some people are hypersensitive remains a mystery.

The best way to overcome such reactions is with topical prescription-strength corticosteroids, like triamcinolone. The sooner they are applied after a bite, the better. Oral prednisone is sometimes warranted in the case of an extreme bite reaction.

?

Q. I have never understood why exposure to the sun is supposed to be the major cause of skin cancers. My husband never went out without a shirt on his body and never sunbathed. He probably didn’t spend more than two weeks total in his life at any beach or pool.

So why did he get a melanoma under his left clavicle?

A. Your husband’s experience is not unique. Other people have developed melanomas in sites that were not drenched in sun. However, researchers have affirmed that a substantial proportion of melanomas can be attributed to ultraviolet exposure (Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, October 2018).

?

Q. I have large breasts and have had an unpleasant rash under them for about a week now. I have tried a bunch of home remedies that I found on your website. Coconut oil was too greasy. Paper towels get stuck to my skin, and baby powder leaves tiny clumps under my breasts. Do you have any other advice for me?

A. This is an exceptionally common problem at this time of year. Heat and humidity encourage the growth of fungus that can cause a rash. It is the same type of organism that causes jock itch.

Some men have found that using Cetaphil cleanser for the affected area can help control the rash. The propylene glycol it contains has antifungal activity. Another popular remedy is using dandruff shampoo to wash the skin that has the rash. Be gentle: Fungal infections should not be scrubbed or irritated.

Other people have utilized the antifungal activity of old-fashioned amber Listerine for jock itch or under-breast rash. Some people like to use a lotion containing tea tree oil, which also fights fungus. Be careful, though. Tea tree oil can trigger an allergic reaction similar to contact dermatitis.

?

Q. For some reason, the past two years my knees have been aching terribly when I lie down in bed. I have no pain at all when I’m standing, walking or sitting, just when I’m lying down. I figure it’s some kind of arthritis.

Your soap remedy kept popping up in your newsletter, so six months ago I finally decided to try it for my knees. It was amazing! In one night, the pain was totally gone.

A. We have heard from several other readers that soap can help ease arthritis pain temporarily. We don’t know how or why this works, although we suspect it has something to do with transient receptor potential (TRP) channels in the nerves that transmit pain.

That might explain why capsaicin cream and other arthritis rubs can be helpful as well. Activating TRP channels seems to be able to temporarily “scramble” the pain signal these nerves are sending.

In their column, Joe and Teresa Graedon answer letters from readers. Send questions to them via www.peoplespharmacy.com.