One of the most annoying things that could happen to you in summer is mosquito bites but there is nothing to worry about since there are home remedies for mosquito bites. It is hard to notice that the mosquito is biting you. This small insect causes a continuously itching bump on the skin. The good news is that this itching bump can be cured with things that are already present in your house.

Mosquito bites can cause symptoms like swelling, skin rashes, bruising, itchiness and sometimes a skin infection as well. In some parts of the world especially third world countries mosquito bites could result in lethal disease like dengue and malaria. Immediate relief can be brought about by scratching but scratching leads to more inflammation which results in further itching. If you scratch continuously and make it bleed, an open skin could cause an infection. Fortunately, there are healthy ways to ward off the irritating itch. It is best to take precautions by wearing gloves and clothes that cover your arms and legs. If your skin is dry, it might itch even more. Applying lotion or some moisturizer can be of great help. However, if you are bitten by mosquitoes, natural remedies exist that can provide relief.

Most of the time itching stops within 24 to 48 hours but why wait when you have so many remedies available. If you are bitten by a mosquito next time, you can cancel out your trip to a pharmacy and instead check out your kitchen for some natural home remedies.

1. Ice Cubes

A cold pack or ice cube can be really good for mosquito bites. The coolness of ice will numb the affected area and can give you instant relief. It also helps to keep a check on swelling and provides relief from itching. What an ice cube basically does is it constricts the blood vessels and lowers the body’s natural release of histamine. This results in lesser itching.

What you can do is wraps some ice cubes in a towel and press it over the mosquito bites for either 15 minutes or for as long as you can bear. However, don’t keep it that way for too long because it could damage your skin. Don’t apply the ice directly. Always use a towel or some wash cloth.

2. Lime or Lemons

Lemons possess antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti-itch, anesthetic and anti-inflammatory qualities. Squeezing the lemon juice and rubbing on the affected area can minimize itchiness. Lemon juice prevents any kind of infection from developing.

• All you have to do is cut a lemon in two halves.
• Rub one of the pieces on the itchy skin. Rubbing the lime peel on your skin is also helpful.

OR

• As an alternative, you can mix lemon juice with crushed basil leaves.
• Dab this mixture on the mosquito bite.

Note: never expose yourself to the sun after applying this remedy, it could result in blisters.

3. Baking soda

Baking soda is a very versatile ingredient that is present in almost every kitchen. From cooking to cleaning, it has various benefits. It is also used to treat mosquito bite. You can use baking soda paste on the bug bite. As baking soda is alkaline in nature, it can neutralize the acidity of the affected area also minimize itching. The baking soda paste helps to alleviate swelling and itching.

• All you have to do is mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda in little water so that it becomes a paste.
• Apply it on the mosquito bite.
• Leave it for ten minutes till it dries
• Then wash it off.

4. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a plant that is commonly found in homes. It is known to have anti-inflammatory qualities and can sooth infection along with treating minor wounds. Being an antiseptic agent, it is also an excellent remedy for mosquito bites. It helps to minimize itching, swelling and pain.

• Cut open the leaf of Aloe Vera. Take off the tough skin using a knife that is sharp.
• Extract its gel. In case you don’t have this plant available you can always buy Aloe Vera gel that is there in stores.
• Let the gel cool in the refrigerator for few minutes.
• Apply this gel on the irritated area.

5. Onion or Garlic

You can use either onion or garlic over the bite. It might cause a little burning at the moment of contact but then provides relief later on. Garlic and onion assist in minimizing swelling and calms itchiness cause by mosquito bite. The odor of garlic acts as a mosquito repellant later on.

You can directly apply garlic on the mosquito bite and then leave it for some time. Then you can wash it.

A fresh slice of onion can do other things than making you cry in tears. It helps to get the sting out of the mosquito bite. You can place the fresh slice of onion until you find relief from itching. Make sure that you wash the affected area thoroughly.

6. Salt

Salt also contain anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities. Therefore, applying salt paste is a good remedy. Here is how you can use salt:

• Take a finely ground salt and add enough water that it becomes a paste. Apply this salt paste on the affected site.

OR

• If you are at the beach, you can always go for swimming in the salty water.

OR

• Another alternative is to mix water, seasoning salt and garlic salt in equal quantities. Use this paste on the affected site. Beginning with a burning sensation, it will eventually give you relief.

7. Oatmeal

Who could have thought that a remedy for mosquito bite will be present in your kitchen cabinet? Owing to special compound that oatmeal contains, it is immensely helpful in relieving swelling and itching. It contains anti-irritant qualities.

• You can make an oat meal paste by taking some water in a bowl.
• Add enough oatmeal to make a paste out of it.
• Take a wash cloth and smear some oatmeal paste on and hold it on the affected site for up to 10 minutes.
• Then wash it off.

In case you have many mosquito bites over your body, you should go for an oatmeal bath.

• Take a cup of ground oats or oat meal.
• Add it to a bathtub filled with warm water.
• Soak yourself in it for 20 minutes.
• From time to time rub the oatmeal on the affected parts of your skin.

8. Alcohol

The alcohol being talked is not beer or margarita. It is the rubbing alcohol or alcohol wipes that is found in a first aid kit to clean infected part as soon as you become a victim of mosquito bites. This will help to make the itchiness die down. As soon as you dab on the mosquito bit, it may sting a little but eventually it will provide relief from swelling and itching. Alcohol also acts as disinfectant preventing any kind of infection.

In case you don’t have alcohol, you always use soap and water as well. Hand sanitizers containing alcohol works equally well. You can also make use of mouth wash with high content of vodka or alcohol.

9. Tea Tree Essential Oil

The antiseptic quality of tea tree oil makes it effective for treating skin related problems that includes mosquito bites. It also consists of antibacterial qualities which help to keep infection away which can be caused due to continuous scratching. Tea tree oil can assist in treating bacteria infected wounds like mosquito bites and acne. It helps to minimize itchiness and swelling.

• Take a cotton swab and dab essential oil on a cotton swab.
• Rub it over the infected site.

Peppermint oil and lavender oil works equally well. Some people have very sensitive skin and cannot apply oil directly on the skin. In that case, you should either dilute the oil or look for some other remedy.

10. Toothpaste

Want to get quick itch relief? For quick relief to itching, dab peppermint tooth paste on all the mosquito bites. Your brain tends to pick on this soothing feeling more quickly than the itching sensation. You can use any toothpaste but peppermint toothpaste contains anti-inflammatory qualities and relieves itchiness. Its astringency assists in minimizing swelling. It is preferable to use toothpaste that contains menthol and baking soda. Don’t use gel based toothpaste. A small amount of tooth paste can surely give you hours of relief.

Wrap Up!

We all love summer but mosquito bite can surely kill your mood. If you have a feeling that you might scratch your mosquito bite bump in your sleep, you can always cover it with a band aid. Next time you get a mosquito bite, don’t go to the drug store right away. Instead, you can try any of the above remedies. They tend to be equally effective. Don’t get disappointed if any of these remedies don’t work instantly. Some remedies might show its effect after you apply them at least 2 to 3 times. The itch will eventually stop. Till then you can distract your attention by doing other things.

Resources

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/mosquito-bites/basics/definition/con-20032350
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/20/natural-mosquito-bite-treatment_n_1610186.html
http://www.webmd.com/first-aid/tc/insect-bites-and-stings-and-spider-bites-home-treatment