Best home remedies for mosquito bites

Mosquitoes are perhaps one of the most irritating insects out there. Small and easy to miss, these bloodsuckers like to literally leave their mark on anyone they can get at, taking some of your blood and leaving you with an irritating red bump.

Some bites do seem to be worse than others, however. Whether an individual allergy or just a particularly potent mosquito, some bites will drive you crazy with the desire to scratch. There are some things that you can try out to relieve the uncomfortable feelings, however. Here are a few.

1. Oatmeal

Oatmeal – good for you both inside and out

Not only is oatmeal full of fiber and good for your inside, but it can also help relieve those irritating bites on your outside. You can create an oatmeal paste to act as a topical treatment by mixing equal parts oatmeal and water. Put some of the paste on a wash rag and place the paste against the bites for about 10 minutes. The oatmeal naturally contains qualities that will reduce the irritation.

If you have several bites, an oatmeal bath may be a better solution. You could add the oatmeal directly to a warm bath, but there is a risk of clogging your drain. Instead, make a fabric bag full of oatmeal, tied closed and run it under hot water in your bath to cook it down. Wait until the bath has cooled before stepping in; hot water will make the irritation worse.

2. Baking soda

Using the same concept as the oatmeal above, you can make a baking soda paste by adding a little water to a small bowl of baking soda. You will only need a small amount of water to create the paste. Once ready, place the paste on the bites and let it sit for 10 minutes. It will actually dry by then and the soda should just brush off your skin.

3. Tea bags

 

Tea bags are a cheap and effective home remedy

Using green tea specifically, tea can help reduce the inflammation caused by a mosquito bite. It also acts as an astringent, so will help the bite to heal faster. Place a used, wet, chilled tea bag directly on the bite in question and leave it there for 10 minutes. The coolness will also help reduce your desire to scratch the bite, while the natural elements of tea will take the bite itself down. Chamomile also contains natural healing qualities that can aid you in finding relief.

4. Aloe vera

The Aloe plant has many healing properties that can help in all kinds of ailments, from sunburns to cuts to our annoying mosquito bite. Acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, aloe can help to reduce the swelling of the bite as well as the itchiness. You should also keep aloe in the refrigerator as it is even more soothing when it is used cold.

5. Hydrocortisone cream

Hydrocortisone cream for itch relief

When all else fails, go with science. Hydrocortisone is especially designed to help reduce the swelling while combating the desire to scratch. While it is not a miracle cure and the bite will not go away instantly, the cream is known to help reduce the amount of time it takes to heal a mosquito bite.

If a bite has got out of control and you are not finding any relief from anything at home or over the counter, consider making a call to your doctor. There are some prescription medicines out there that can reduce the amount of time it takes for a bite to heal. You can also prevent mosquito bites by wearing long pants and long sleeves while outdoors in mosquito prone areas and making use of quality mosquito repellent. Why suffer if you don’t have to, and being prepared is one way to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes.

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