It could be mites, or it could be an allergic reaction to what chemicals are in the tree and it might go away on it's own.

Reading your question is interesting, as I've had itchy legs for over two years now. My wife put it down to me always being in the garden. I discounted this as I get it in the winter too. Then I thought it could be our cats, but I didn't think it was as I'm the only one in the house with the itchy legs.

Like you, I went to the doctor and I was amazed to hear that it's a common problem and they don't really have an answer as to what might cause it. He gave me ant-histamines, they didn't work, told me to try omitting certain foods for a while like cheese, coffee and alcohol to see if it they were the cause... Still itching like hell. I'm now using cortisone cream with, I'm glad to say, some relief.

Welcome to the world of getting older. LOL.

I was going to suggest anti histamine cream if the area is rather inflamed and perhaps plus the tablets too.
The worst thing you can do it to scratch the itch, even once, as I know to my cost. Doctor didn't sound very helpful - try a pharmacist!

The culprits are tiny(very tiny) little red mites are commonly known as chiggers. Their wounds are complex in that they inject enzymes which cause cells to burst under the skin which they suck up through a stylet. The mechanical cellular damage together with a complex of immune and allergic responses and as an added bonus, secondary bacterial infection within 24 to 48 hours causes intense itching. No one remedy works well because of all the aforetomentioned devils involved in this particular bite wound. In two weeks, if you stay out of the garden, it will have run out it's course and be over. I am now suffering from these bites myself, particularly on my left arm.

That's interesting Loostrife, thanks. I don't have any visible skin irritation or marks on my legs, it's just itchy, a bit like something like a fly, or flies landing on my legs and I need to scratch it a bit. No infection or anything like that, thank god.

Thinking about it, will you be my doctor? I've had a problem for ages that I need clearing up. Have you got any leeches for this? LOL.

Sorry, I have taken my shingle down (retired). Leaches, the ones raised under close pharmaceutical restrictions, are utilized in reconstructive surgery. For instance, they are used to reduce pooled blood under skin grafts and to improve circulation to graft sites. They are also used for reattachment procedures to improve circulation to a surgical site, eg reattachment of a finger lopped of in a gardening accident.

You're no help at all, and I hope that you'll return my fee... Think I'll go back to the NHS, they're more helpful ;o)

Ok! So you don't mow my lawn anymore for my services. Now go get someone else to make you say AHHH!:)!

Unlikely to be anything connected with the plant if it's taken four weeks to appear unless you changed your routine and have bared your legs when they were previously covered.
Alternately - sunburn working on a sunny(!) day in shorts or prickly heat working on a hot day in long trousers.

Chiggers aren't native to the UK.

In my opinion, and I've tried lots of things, is that Cortisone cream is the answer. My doctor prescribed it and it worked, but I think you can buy it over the counter.

hello all many thanks for your answers.Myron the stuff my doctor gave me was doublebase gel. ingredients are isopropyl myristate and liquid paraffin but this is a moisturising cream.and the tablets are cetirizine hydrochloride 10 mg.I think they might be doing a bit of good hardly had any itching today compared to yesterday.Iwill send you a pm after i have finished the course to let you know.with legs like mine i try to keep them covered. up more meat on a butchers pencil. thanks all kennyboy.

I think that cetirizine hydrochloride is an antihistamine.

I went to school with a boy whose father was an entomologist. He used crushed laurel leaves in a jar to kill butterflies - some laurels contain cyanide - others have a cocktail of chemicals. I think you are reacting to these chemicals and not insects. Leylandii does the same to me although we don't have any here.