What is biting me?

[u/nicoleskine]

A few weeks ago I got similar bites that popped up after gardening at a retirement village I work at. They went away after a few days. I went to my job yesterday again and similar thing has happened. At some point yesterday I had some black ants on me which I brushed off, Im thinking it was them. But when I google any bites fire ants come up and I'm sure it isn't fire ants. This is the fourth time it has happened now. Yes I wear gloves!! Only happens at this job. One time I know for sure it was ants as I had to go to the bathroom to make sure there weren't anymore under my shirt.

Has anyone else had similar experience? I went to the GP last time and she said folliculitis and gave me antibiotics but it's not that as there's no infection and they go down after a few days.

[u/rodgeramjit]

That amount of swellings suggests you might be getting poked instead of bitten. I think you may have an allergy to one of the plants you are gardening. Unless you are finding a lot of ants inside your gloves, this would be a crazy amount of bites to receive.

[u/nicoleskine → u/rodgeramjit]

Hmm okay I will have to recheck

[u/aquila-audax → u/nicoleskine]

As a very allergic person, that really does look like an allergic reaction

[u/boganiser → u/rodgeramjit]

Contact dermatitis?

[u/Pokeynono → u/rodgeramjit]

Yes . I get similar bumps if I get poked by a certain bush when gardening. I try to wear long sleeves and gloves when working around it but I still occasionally get poked between the gap of my gloves and shirt or on the back or side of my neck. It's slightly annoying but resolves within a few days.

The shrub in question has leaves that can be used to make tea but based on my reaction I doubt I'm going to make tea with it anytime soon. It has the best insect and butterfly attracting flowers so I just admire from afar and out up.with occasional welt or lumps