Mosquito Bite Treatment
No matter how careful you are, if you live where there are mosquitos chances
are you'll be bitten eventually and suffer the unpleasant consequences
- redness, swelling and that miserable itching that lasts for days! Fortunately,
there are a number of things you can try, home remedies and over-the-counter
products, to tame the itch and help heal mosquito bites.
Mosquito bite home remedies
- Never scratch a mosquito bite - it will make it itch worse!
- Wash the bite with soap and water as soon as possible. Rubbing soap directly onto the bite may help reduce the itching.
- Baking soda and water - make a past and apply it to the bites.
- Hold an ice cube or ice pack on the bite.
- Rubbing alcohol often relieves the itch and swelling..
Drugstore mosquito bite treatments
- Calamine lotion
- Topical Anesthetics intended to relieve bug bites
- 1% Hydrocortisone cream - this may not be appropriate for everyone, read the label directions and warnings carefully.
- Herbal remedies which may contain Tea Tree Oil or Lavendar Oil - again, read the label carefully and follow the directions.
For some popular herbal, homeopathic and cortisone-based products which soothe and heal itchy mosquito bites, see insect bite remedies >>
Tips for parents
We adults know (or quickly discover) that scratching a mosquito bite is one of the worst things to do. Try telling that to your kids! If it itches they're going to scratch at it, not only further irritating the bite but increasing the risk of infection. If you don't have any itch-relief remedies on hand (see above) what you can do is teach your children to slap the bite instead of scratching it. Slapping the mosquito bite area won't irritate it and the sting will take their mind off the itch for a little while - hopefully long enough to stop the viscious itching-scratching cycle until you can apply something more effective.
Related: Mosquito Bite Prevention , Mosquito repellents , insect bite products