SOOV Bite (Gel) - 25g

SOOV Bite is a cooling anaesthetic gel that stops the urge to scratch. It combines lignocaine hydrochloride 3% with cetrimide 0.5%, so it numbs the itch and pain of an insect bite or plant sting while also acting against bacteria on the skin. Made in Australia by Ego Pharmaceuticals, in a 25g tube.

Why choose SOOV Bite over a plain antiseptic?

Scratching is the actual problem with a bite, not the bite itself. Broken skin from scratching is what turns a mosquito bite into an infected sore, and it is why a product that numbs rather than merely soothes is more useful than a plain antiseptic or a cold pack. The lignocaine takes the itch away directly, which breaks the cycle.

The cetrimide is the second half of the design. It is an antibacterial, so the same dab that stops the itch also reduces the bacterial load on skin that has probably already been scratched. That pairing - local anaesthetic plus antibacterial - is what the label means by "anaesthetic antibacterial", and it is more than most bite products do.

It is a gel rather than a cream, so it cools on contact and does not leave a greasy film - useful on a hot night, which is exactly when bites tend to keep people awake. Dab it onto the affected skin up to four times daily. It is a Schedule 2 pharmacy medicine, available without prescription.

Key features

• Lignocaine hydrochloride 3% - local anaesthetic that numbs the itch
• Cetrimide 0.5% - antibacterial on skin that has been scratched
• Cooling gel base, not greasy
• For insect bites, stings and plant stings
• Dab on up to 4 times daily
• 25g tube - fits a first aid kit, camping bag or handbag
• Not for children under 2 years

Specifications

Common uses

Mosquito and midge bites are the everyday use, and it earns its place in a camping, boating or caravan kit for exactly that reason - bites are worst at dusk and worst when you are away from a pharmacy. It also covers ant and march fly bites and plant stings such as nettle. Households with children keep it for the same reason adults do: the itch is what causes the damage. Prevention is better than treatment, so pair it with Aerogard Tropical Strength if you are somewhere mosquitoes are a real problem. For sunburn and minor burns, SOOV Burn Spray is the companion product, and SOOV Cream covers broader skin irritation. Browse the wider Ego Pharmaceuticals range.