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Stop Itch Plus 50g

Medical Supplies

£10.88

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Stop Itch Plus is a first aid cream containing papain 12mg/g and menthol 12mg/g, for the pain, itching and swelling of insect bites and minor skin irritations. 50g tube.

What the two ingredients actually do

They work on different parts of the problem, which is why both are there.

Papain is a proteolytic enzyme originally from papaya. It breaks down proteins, which is relevant because the irritants in many insect stings are proteins.
Menthol produces a cooling sensation on the skin. That cooling gives the nerves something else to report, and a cooled patch of skin is a patch you are much less compelled to scratch.

So one addresses the cause of the irritation and the other addresses how it feels while it settles.

Breaking the scratch-itch cycle

This is the part that matters more than the product, and it is why "how do I stop the itch" is such a common question. Scratching relieves an itch for a few seconds by overriding the signal, then makes it worse: it inflames the skin further, releases more of the chemicals that cause itching, and eventually breaks the surface, which risks infection and is what turns a bite into a scar.

Apply something cooling rather than scratching. That is the practical job this cream does.
A cold pack over the bite works on the same principle and costs nothing.
Keep fingernails short, especially on children, who will scratch in their sleep regardless of instruction.
Cover a bite that is being scratched raw, so the hand has nothing to get at.

How to use it

Apply directly to the affected area as soon as possible, massage in gently, and repeat as necessary. It is also used for minor burns, rashes, cuts, scratches, sunburn and windburn.

Menthol and broken skin do not mix comfortably. On skin already scratched open, a menthol product will sting. If a bite has been opened up, clean it and cover it, and use something bland rather than cooling until the surface has closed.

Stop Itch Plus or Stingose?

Product	Active	The moment it suits
Stingose Gel	Aluminium sulfate	The first minutes, while there is still venom to inactivate
Stop Itch Plus (this one)	Papain and menthol	The hours and days afterwards, when the itch is the problem
SOOV Bite Gel	Soothing gel	General bite and sting relief

They are complementary rather than competing. A well-stocked kit carries something for the sting itself and something for the itch that follows, because those are different moments.

When a cream is the wrong tool entirely. Call your local emergency number immediately if after a bite or sting there is difficulty breathing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat, a tight chest, widespread hives, dizziness or collapse. That is anaphylaxis and it needs adrenaline. Also seek medical advice for a bite that becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen or painful over the following days, which suggests infection rather than irritation.

Specifications

Active ingredients	Papain 12mg/g, menthol 12mg/g
Relieves	Pain, itching and swelling
Used for	Insect bites, minor skin irritations, minor burns, rashes, sunburn, windburn
How to use	Apply promptly, massage in gently, repeat as necessary
Size	50g tube
Avoid	Broken or scratched-open skin, where menthol will sting

Keep it in your first aid kit, or browse the wider first aid supplies range.

Stop Itch Plus FAQs

How do I stop a bite itching?

Cool it and stop scratching, in that order. Something cooling such as a menthol cream or a cold pack gives the nerves a competing sensation, which is far more effective than willpower. Keep fingernails short, cover a bite that is being scratched raw, and accept that most bites take a few days regardless. Scratching genuinely makes it worse by releasing more of the chemicals that cause the itch.

What is papain?

A proteolytic enzyme originally derived from papaya, meaning it breaks down proteins. That is relevant for bites and stings because the irritants in many of them are proteins. It is paired here with menthol, which handles the sensation rather than the cause.

Can I use it on sunburn?

It is listed for sunburn and windburn among its uses, and the cooling is welcome. If the skin has blistered or peeled open, leave it alone and use something bland instead, because menthol on broken skin stings. Severe or widespread sunburn, especially in a child, warrants medical advice rather than a cream.

How is it different from Stingose?

Different moment, different job. Stingose contains aluminium sulfate and works on the venom itself, so it belongs in the first minutes after a sting. Stop Itch Plus handles the itch and discomfort in the hours and days that follow. Many kits carry both for that reason.

Can children use it?

Follow the pack directions and ask a pharmacist about young children, since menthol products are not always suitable for the very young. What helps most with a child is keeping their nails short and covering the bite, because they will scratch in their sleep no matter what you have applied.

Why does it sting when I put it on?

Almost always because the skin is already broken from scratching. Menthol on an open surface stings. Clean the area, cover it, and let it close before using a cooling product on it again.

When should I see a doctor about a bite?

If it becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen or painful over the following days, which suggests infection rather than ordinary irritation. Immediately, by calling your local emergency number, if there is any difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or throat, widespread hives, dizziness or collapse, because that is anaphylaxis and no cream addresses it.

Does it work on stings as well as bites?

It is used for insect bites and minor skin irritations generally, including the itching that follows stings. For the sting itself, applied immediately, a venom-inactivating product is the more targeted first response, with this one taking over for the irritation afterwards.

Always read the label and use only as directed. Avoid broken skin and contact with the eyes. If symptoms persist or a bite shows signs of infection, see your doctor. For any sign of a severe allergic reaction, call your local emergency number immediately. This information is a general guide and is not medical advice.