Over-the-counter medicines for insect bites may be ineffective – despite being packed with powerful pharmaceuticals, experts say today.
Creams include substances such as anti-histamines, steroids and anaesthetics.
About 3,000 people a week are thought to consult GPs abut insect bites, from creatures such as midges, fleas and bedbugs.
According to the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, there is little evidence to support their claimed benefits.
Some products have been studied in clinical trials – but none of these are licensed for use in the UK, the bulletin says.
Even worse steroid creams are sold for itching and inflammation – but they should not be used on the face or broken skin, it says.
Meanwhile pain-killing creams are only "marginally effective" and may be counterproductive by causing sensitisation – meaning the patient becomes more sensitive to future bites or to the chemicals used in the cream.
Antiseptic creams are also backed by little evidence – but a counter-irritant made from dilute ammonium may help relieve itching, according to journal deputy editor David Phizackerley.
He writes: "There is little evidence for the efficacy of treatments for simple insect bites. The symptoms are often self limiting and in many cases, no treatment may be needed."
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