Mosquito bites will cause itching and swelling and therefore any step that would offer fast relief would be welcome. Considering that it is sometimes very difficult to escape these bites, it would be very important if all of us knew how to deal with them. There are several over the counter medications as well as items readily available at home which you can turn to for fast relief. Home remedies are a good choice but it must be noted that different people will react differently to different treatment options. The following is a list of 10 recommended mosquito bites treatments.
1. Hot Towel
Soak a towel in boiling water and then apply it directly on the areas of mosquito bite. Hold it there for some time and repeat the procedure until all the itching feeling has gone away.
2. Hydrocortisone Cream
This cream has proved to be very effective in treating mosquito bites. Take a band-aid and apply a drop of hydrocortisone cream at its center. Carefully position the band-aid such that area containing the cream falls right on top of the bite. By doing so, you will be able to stop the itching as well as the swelling. In case you don’t have the band-aid, you can apply the cream directly over the bite.
3. Alcohol
Take a piece of cotton and apply a little amount of alcohol on it. Rub the wet cotton on the bitten area as well as the reddened surrounding areas. Although you might experience some stinging effect, the mosquito bites will heal very soon.
4. Aloe Vera
This is a traditional remedy that works well with mosquito bites. Simply take a little amount of aloe vera and rub it gently around the area of the bite. Aloe vera will help to get rid of the itching as well as the swelling.
5. Calamine lotion
This lotion is popularly known for its ability to relieve the symptoms of ivy rashes and chicken pox. Its usage can also be extended to treat mosquito bites. Apply a small amount of this lotion on the bite and the area around it. Calamine lotion works by drying the swelling and thereby relieving the itching.
6. Antiseptic
Using like antiseptic like Hibiclens antiseptic is a good way to treat mosquito bites. Dilute the Hibiclens with water and make sure they mix well. Then wash the area of mosquito bite with the mixture. It is a reliable treatment option.
7. Bar Soap
On top of relieving the itching, bar soap will also leave you smelling fresh. Wet the bar soap and rub it around the area of the bite and the surrounding area. The swelling will go away very rapidly.
8. Tea Tree oil
Tea tree oil is used as a remedy to various infections. Apply a little amount of this oil in the region of the mosquito bite and the surrounding area. The pain, itching and swelling will go away within a very short time.
9. Bleach
Shake the bleach well before using it. Then use a small drop on the area of mosquito bite. It help to fight the itching and the swelling very rapidly.
10. Cortizone Cream
Cortizone cream can easily be found at your local drug store as well as a local food store. Apply a little amount of the cream on the infected region and the relief will come after a very short time.
5 Easy Steps To Treat Bite Spot
It is extremely annoying when you recognized that there are several red splotches on your skin, giving you the urge to scratch them while you are focusing on your work. Itching mosquito bites are frustrating and ruins your mood instantly. To minimize the itchiness and damage that mosquito bite creates, here are the 5 simple steps of mosquito bites treatment that you should follow.
1. Wash the mosquito bite area with soap and warm water to remove any dirt and bacteria. Don’t rub too hard on your skin to avoid irritation. Use a soft towel to pat it dry. It is important to keep the infected area dry and clean throughout the treatment process.
2. Wrap some ice cubes with a wash cloth or towel and apply it on the bitten area. Icing will numb your skin and reduce swelling temporarily.
To ease your itchy skin, take an antihistamine medication which are available over the counter. Some common ones are Chlor-Trimeton, Zyrtec, and Benadryl . These medications are able to treat mosquito bite reaction by preventing the release of histamine that causes the itching and swelling. Antihistamine creams and sprays are alternatives to oral antihistamines, but they are not as effective as medication products.
4. Apply either one of them:
– Thick paste of baking soda and water
– Calamine lotion
– Hydro cortisone cream
All of them are useful to soothe itchy skin and minimize redness. You may experiment all three methods and choose the one that works best for you.
5. Lastly, apply a thin layer of aloe vera gel to protect your bite spot from infections.
Avoid scratching your skin during the treatment process. Scratching will release even more histamine which causes more pain and itching. It might also break the bitten area and causes infection.
Mosquito Bites Treatments That Are Not Recommended
– Potato
– Fingernail polish – it may cause a reaction when applied to your skin. Besides, some ingredients in fingernail polish may cause allergic to certain people.
– Glass Cleaner
Top 10 Most Convenient Home Mosquito Bites Treatment
You hate to see those red spots itching all in sudden and can’t stop yourself from scratching your swollen skin again and again until it is inflamed. There are plenty of natural home remedies available, but you are just too lazy to try them. No worries, I have listed 10 home mosquito bites treatment that actually works and takes less than 3 minutes to apply. All of the remedies are really convenient and most of the ingredients are available in your house. I have sorted the treatments according to the required time to apply them, ranging from merely 10 seconds to 3 minutes. You can try to combine a few methods to get better results. Remember to wash your hand and swelling area before you begin!
1. X Marks The Bitten Area (~10 s)
The fastest and most convenient method to stop the itching in seconds. It disperses the protein left by mosquito and the instant pain will distract you from the itching feeling. It is indeed the best way to treat mosquito bites when you are outside or simply too lazy to move.
2. Saliva (~15 s)
What you need is your finger and saliva. Wet your finger with saliva and apply it on the bite. Reapply 2 or 3 times if you are still itching. One of the easiest and fastest natural remedies that works instantly!
3. Listerine ( ~15 s)
The menthol in Listerine helps to cool your skin and relieve itching. If you are so sweet that female mosquitoes can’t stop “kissing” you, spray Listerine all over your body to stop mosquito bites.
4. Scotch Tape (~30 s)
Scotch tape relieves the pain and the swelling by keeping the bitten area more stable, thus healing it faster. Most importantly, it stops you from scratching the itchy part to avoid infection.
5. Deodorant/Antiperspirant (~30 s)
Roll-on and stick antiperspirant are more recommended because they can get into the skin faster, compare to a spray. Aluminium chloride in the deodorant helps to absorb the fluids left by mosquito, which stops the swelling and the pain.
6. Honey (~40 s)
Raw honey works best to cure mosquito bites. Honey has antibacterial and anti-microbial properties that prevent infection. Dip adequate amount of honey and rub it on the bitten area. It is sticky and sweet so make sure the treated parts will not touch your clothing or furnitures.
7. Toothpaste (~45 s)
Toothpaste contains fluoride which acts as an antihistamine that relieves itching within minutes. Apply suitable amount of toothpaste on the bite and spread it evenly around the red spot. Let it dry naturally and the dried toothpaste will eventually fall off by itself.
8. Lemon/Lime (~2 min)
There are two ways to use them: either apply the juice directly or rub with lemon/lime peel. Mosquitoes hate the scent of lemons & limes and they also help to prevent infection on your skin.
9. Salt Paste (~2 min)
Firstly, add some table salt and water into a bowl. Be careful and don’t add too much water to make sure the salt paste will stick to your skin. Dab it onto the swollen area to alleviate the itchiness instantly.
10. Ice Cube (~3 min)
Ice is very useful to numb your nerves and reduce swelling. You can use an ice pack or wrap some ice with a cloth, then put it on the red spot. If ice is not available, cold water or cold tap water works too.
Mosquito Bites Treatment For Babies
Young babies are also at the risk of receiving mosquito bite. Unlike adults, babies will not be able to communicate about the itching and the discomfort they may be suffering. It is also important to note that some of the treatment options available for adults may be unsafe for young children. If you notice reddened areas in the exposed parts of the kid for example hands, neck and legs and you suspect that they are as a result of mosquito bites, the following steps would help to relieve the discomfort as well as the itching.
1. Use warm water and soap to wash the baby in the region of the mosquito bites. This will help to relieve the itching and remove blood stains that could have been left behind by the mosquito.
2. Apply a cold piece of clean wash cloth on this region for some time. This will help to get rid of the swelling.
3. Apply baby lotion on this region of mosquito bite to stop the itching.
4. Cut the baby’s fingernails so that they do not injure themselves when scratching.
5. Monitor the progress and if the swelling and itching do not go away, continue applying cold cloth and calamine lotion until the bites have healed completely.
Mosquito Bites Treatment for Dogs
Dogs are more susceptible to mosquito bites due to the fact that they spend so much time outdoors. Mosquito bites will cause as much discomfort to the dogs as they do to humans. There are several practices which you can carry out to restore a normal comfortable state in your dog.
1. Apply a mixture of baking soda and water on the infected region. This will help to relieve the itching.
2. Give your dog an oatmeal bath in the case of extensive bites.
3. Apply Hydrocortisone ointments on the affected region. These ointments will relieve the itching in a short time. However, these ointments are toxic and therefore you should monitor your dog to ensure it does no lick the ointment from the skin.
Best Treatments for Mosquito Bites
The Tender After Bite
The Tender After Bite is a tube sized itch eraser which is about the diameter of a lip balm, but slightly longer. It works like a lip balm where you just have to unscrew the cap and rub it on the swelling area. The itch eraser contains mostly dilute ammonia and mixed with a little oil. It has little ammonia odour after applying it on your skin. If you are allergic to mosquito bites, this product works too. It neutralizes the acidic venom that mosquitoes left over and provide the immediate relief from itching.
Compare to some other home remedies such as alcohol and baking soda, After Bite is much more effective in relieving the itch and reducing the swelling in a short time. The home treatments work too, but they will take longer time and some of their effects are temporary. I strongly recommend you to keep one tube in your vehicle or bag, especially for those who love camping or outdoor activities.
If you want to see better results, you can apply table salt over the red area after rubbing the Tender After Bite, as a healer and anti-infective agent. It is definitely one of the best combination that heals bites instantly!
Tender has another insect bites treatment that is designed specifically for children – Tender After Bite Treatment-Kids. It has no sting cream formula with vitamin E, baking soda, aloe vera, and tea tree oil.
Burt’s Bees Bug Bite Relief – It works similar to After Bite, but the ingredients are totally different. It is made with a 100% natural blend of essential oils, this balm quickly relieves pesky mosquito bites. Menthol and camphor reduce pain, whereas lavender, thyme, lemongrass, and orange oils soothes discomfort.
Hydrocortisone Cream
Hydrocortisone Creams are known to treat eczema and contact dermatitis ( poison oaks & ivy rashes). Hydrocortisone cream is also a great topical medication for insect bites to relieve itching. It reduces the symptoms of mosquito bites effectively, by reducing the response of your immune system.
The 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream from Aveeno relieves itching due to rashes and inflammation from eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, etc. I have bought this cream two weeks ago because my 5-year old kid has eczema on his arms for months, and the 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream really helps to cure eczema within 3 days, after continuous applying it for 3 times per day. After that, I have used it often to treat mosquito bites as summer is approaching. It really works well to soothes itches and to avoid my son from scratching the bitten areas.
You just have to apply a thin layer of cream on the swelling area and let it dry. It will form a protective layer on your skin and it may sting a little bit, but it stops the itching instantly after applying. The cream is smooth, non-greasy, and odourless.
I would recommend you to keep at least one tube of cortisone cream at home, so that you can use it when your skin is bitten by insect, dry, or itchy. You could also buy 4 packs of Aveeno 1% Hydrocortisone Anti-Itch Cream which comes with cheaper price compare to 2 packs.
Tiger Balm
Tiger Balm is world-famous, so you probably already know about it. It is good for mosquito bites too, but the label says it can be used to relieve: dizziness, a stuffy nose, insect bites, itchiness, muscular aches and pains, sprains and flatulence. I only use it for a blocked nose when I have a cold or to put on my temples when I have a headache, but it is good for bites too.
It comes in two colours. Red is the traditional Tiger Balm, but it will stain white clothing, so they brought out a white Tiger Balm for white collar wearers. Please note that the red and white Tiger balms do not have exactly the same ingredients, but they are used interchangeably. You will have to see which is best for you.
Zam Buk
Zam Buk is widely used in Thailand to soothe any insect bite or sting, but is excellent for other skin problems too. I have used it with success on a bee sting, pimples, cuts, bruises, dermatitis and mosquito bites. I have been using zam buk for five years and recommend it highly. In desperation last year, I used it on a small patch of dematitis I’d picked up and to my surprise it cleared up after a week’s daily application.
However, it really excels as a mosquito bite cream. It stops me itching almost immediately and the problem has completely disappeared within an hour or two. It is supposed to be really good for muscle pain, bruising and arthritis too, but I cannot attest to that.
Zam Buk is my personal favourite. It is simply the best mosquito bite swelling cream that I know of in the world.