A nasty and unpleasant thing to deal with is mosquito bites. Mosquito bites are itchy, painful, and look bad. There are many ways to prevent mosquito bites nowadays.
Things like bug spray and special wristbands are designed to fend off mosquitos and prevent them from coming around you. While these techniques may work for some people, others will find no results. If you are someone who finds no relief from products like this, you will probably get bit.
To see an informational video as to how a mosquito bite works, click here. Mosquito bites can last for a while and can cause you great discomfort. In this article, we will discuss ways to naturally get rid
of mosquito bites in a timely fashion.
Don’t scratch the bite
The first thing that you need to do if you want your mosquito bite to heal as quick as possible is not scratch it. Scratching is the absolute worst thing that you can do to your bite.
One reason why scratching your bite is bad is because it irritates it even further. For your skin to heal, your bite needs to be left alone so that the inflammation can go down.
Another reason why scratching your bite is bad is because it can cause infection. If you want relief from the itchiness and pain, you should avoid infection at all costs. Infection can lead to further issues that will require special treatment.
With all that being said, the only issue with not scratching your bite is that it is hard to do. The bites become very itchy because according to Terminix, your skin has an allergic reaction to the saliva that the mosquito pumps in. This brings us to our next point.
Calamine Lotion
Calamine lotion is an important part of treating mosquito bites because it helps to relieve the itching. Calamine lotion also helps to relieve some of the other symptoms that result from a mosquito bite.
For some people, calamine lotion is the go-to cream for relieving the itch of mosquito bites. For others, the cream is rather ineffective. The Food and Drug Administration actually announced that calamine lotion is not effective for treating itch in the early 90’s.
However, it definitely works for some people. If your itching is severe and calamine lotion doesn’t help you, consider trying other over-the-counter options.
Oatmeal Bath
An oatmeal bath is a great option for anyone with bites all over their body. Instead of worrying about treating each bite individually, treat them all at once.
An oatmeal bath can be accomplished by simply taking a bath that has been filled with oatmeal. Sprinkling about a cup of the oats into your bath and soaking will be great for reducing the nasty effects from a mosquito bite.
Also, making a paste out of the oatmeal can be beneficial for your bites as well. Oatmeal is great for bites because of its anti-irritant effects.
Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack
A cold press is a great way to quickly get rid of a mosquito bite. Cold compress works so effectively because it forces the blood vessels around the affected area to constrict.
When something in your body or on your skin is inflamed, it means that there is excess blood in the area. A cold or ice compress will effectively force the blood to leave the area.
If you put ice on your mosquito bite, it will have many benefits. The bump itself will go down and the inflammation and itching will be relieved as well. Be sure to never put ice directly on the skin and use a towel or napkin to protect yourself.
Take an Antihistamine
Antihistamines are great for relieving itchiness and inflammation. Antihistamines are often recommended to those suffering from mosquito bites as well.
The reason that they work so well is that they prevent certain particles in your blood from going to the affected area. Antihistamines work by dilating the blood vessels which is the opposite effect of using a cold press.
However, it is still effective for the same issue. Be aware of the fact that antihistamines like Benadryl will not work immediately for your bite. It will take some time but it can provide long-lasting relief.
It may also cause you to be drowsy so this option may be better for late night relief.
Dab on Some Baking Soda Paste
Not everything that provides relief has a scientific reason. Sometimes, people just happened to stumble upon a technique that actually works. That is what this method is.
For whatever reason, a lot of people find relief from their mosquito bite symptoms if they dab on a little bit of baking soda mixed with water on it. If none of these methods have worked for you, try this. No one is really sure why it works, it just does.
Heat Up A Spoon
You may be wondering how a hot spoon could help get rid of your mosquito bite. However, it works quite effectively. Simply take a normal spoon and heat it up.
DO NOT put the spoon in the microwave to heat it up. Simply let the spoon sit in a hot cup of water to get hot. After the spoon is hot but not dangerously hot, apply it to the bite.
This technique works by killing the proteins that cause the bite to flare up. It may be a little painful, but this is another great method for quickly relieving your bite.
Banana Peel
Surprisingly enough, a banana could be the solution to your mosquito bite. Banana peels are a great way for relieving the itch from things like mosquito bites and poison ivy. This is another technique that isn’t backed by much science. It just seems to work without any real purpose.
Unlike other methods, this will not treat your bite. It will simply help to relieve the itch and therefore help you to stop scratching. If all you have is a banana peel, try it out and rub the inside of the peel on your mosquito bite.
Toothpaste
Toothpaste is another cheap and quick option for getting rid of mosquito bites. Everyone has toothpaste whereas some people might not have the other products discussed in this article.
When it comes to using toothpaste to treat your bites, it is very easy to do. Toothpaste is rather effective because it has a few certain ingredients. First of all, toothpaste has properties which give off a cooling effect. This allows the pain and the itching to be relieved.
Another thing about toothpaste is that it has astringent effects which make it useful for drawing the swelling out of the bite. To use this method, simply take a little bit of toothpaste on your finger and rub it onto your bite(s).
Allow the toothpaste to dry and leave it there for a while. When you shower or it gets washed off, your bite will be less noticeable and less painful.
Hydro-cortisone Cream
Hydro-cortisone cream can be a more effective option for those who do not see results from using calamine lotion. Hydro-cortisone is great for relieving itch and does so rather effectively.
While calamine lotion will mostly only treat the itch, hydrocortisone has been proved to relieve the inflammation. Due to this, it is probably a good idea to use this cream on mosquito bites.
It can help you fight the urge to scratch on top of working to heal the skin. You should only use this cream once or twice a day unless prescribed otherwise. All in all, this is another great product to use if you need quick relief from mosquito bites.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this article has provided you with some insight as to how you can naturally and effectively get rid of mosquito bites. Before going through all of the trouble to treat your bites, try preventing them.
Although some of the expensive products don’t work very well, there are a few things you can do to naturally prevent bites. One tip is to cover as much skin as possible.
Exposed skin is much easier and more likely to be bitten by mosquitos. Wear a light long-sleeve shirt if you are going to be somewhere with mosquitos. Another good tip is to go inside when the bugs come out.
Mosquitos are more likely to bite you in wet or cool conditions.
When it gets late and the mosquitos come out, simply go inside. Also be sure to keep your house safe from bugs. Make sure that you have screens on your windows and doors if you are going to leave them open.
Make sure that these screens are replaced periodically or if they are damaged to ensure proper functionality.
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