The occasional bite or sting from an insect is something most of us have experienced, especially during warmer weather. It's normal to experience some itching or pain when this happens, but occasionally a bite or sting can lead to an allergic reaction or an infection. Read on for some pointers on how to recognise this, and how to treat bites and stings generally.

Note that if bitten by a horsefly, you're more susceptible to infection than with other bites. This is because horsefly bites cut open your skin, rather than piercing it, meaning bites are larger and slower to heal. To help prevent bites, ensure your skin stays covered if you spend time around horses. Using hydrocortisone for many months at a time can make your skin thinner or cause stretchmarks. Stretchmarks are likely to be permanent, but they usually fade over time.

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No appointment is required, simply pop down to your local pharmacy to see if a member of our team is available to chat. During busier periods, a pharmacist may not be available and waiting times can vary.

You're more likely to have a serious side effect if you use a strong hydrocortisone treatment (such as hydrocortisone butyrate) or if you use hydrocortisone on a large patch of skin for a long time. Most native UK spiders are harmless, but a few (such as the false widow) can bite. Bites may cause pain, redness and swelling.

To reduce the risk of infection, avoid scratching and don't burst any blisters that form. If a young child has been bitten or stung, trim and clean their fingernails. For babies, you can buy anti-scratch cotton mittens Hydrocortisone is a type of medicine known as a steroid (corticosteroid). Steroids are not the same as anabolic steroids. The strength of the products range from 0.1% (1mg of hydrocortisone in each gram) to 2.5% (25mg of hydrocortisone in each gram).