How to Treat Mosquito Bites and Stop the Itch

Mosquito bites are one of the things we all try to avoid when holidaying or living in hotter climes and we go to great lengths, trying to ensure they don’t get to nibble on our flesh!

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

When the greedy little “Mozzies” take a bite, they release a substance, which makes our skin react. This is usually in the form of inflammation, redness, warmth, swelling and then of course comes that intolerable itching! The itching is caused by the body's natural reaction to release histamine, a product that shows an allergic reaction has taken place. We all know that pharmacies and some leading supermarkets stock anti-histamine creams and that these can and do reduce irritations caused by the bites.

How to Stop the Itch Fast

The fastest way to calm a bite is to wash it, apply a cool compress or ice pack, and use a pharmacy anti-itch cream (for example one containing hydrocortisone or an antihistamine). If you react badly or have several bites, an oral antihistamine tablet can help. Above all, try not to scratch — scratching makes the itch worse and raises the risk of infection.

If conventional treatments aren’t for you, many natural remedies are also available to help ease the swelling and itching. Below are just ten of these remedies that most of us will find in the home.

10 Natural Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites

1. One solution is something that many of us have in our fruit bowls, a banana! Yes, rubbing the inside surface of the banana skin onto the bite will help to ease the itching. 
2. A mixture of Lavender and tea tree oils - mix in equal quantities and apply with a cotton swab. 
3. Mix Baking Powder with water to form a paste and apply directly to the bite.
4. Applying an ice pack to a bite will also help to soothe the itching and reduce the heat and swelling at the same time.
5. Rub freshly cut onion onto a bite. Onions have anti-inflammatory properties, which will reduce the heat, itch and swelling.
6. Apply toothpaste to bites. Allow the toothpaste to dry and flake away by itself. This is better when left on overnight. Toothpaste that contains Peppermint is said to be the most effective.
7. Rub the bite with a bar of dry soap. This will help provide temporary relief to the itching. Just remember to wash it off thoroughly when the itching fades away.
8. Another excellent remedy for mosquito bites is Aloe Vera. Not only does it help to ease the itching and swelling from the bite but it will also help in healing the wound. You can use the sap from inside an aloe plant, aloe vera gels or organic aloe juice, all work equally as well.
9. Honey has anti-microbial properties that can help prevent infection. Just take a small amount of honey and apply it directly to the bite.
10. A small amount of lime or lemon juice applied directly to the bites also works well. As does rubbing the bite with the inside of a lemon or lime peel. 

So the next time a mosquito decides to take a nibble of your bare flesh, remember that there are many different natural treatments that you can find around the home which will alleviate the irritation and save you a trip to your local pharmacy.

When to Worry About a Mosquito Bite

Most mosquito bites are harmless and settle within a few days. Occasionally a bite becomes infected, especially if it has been scratched. Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you notice:

• Redness that spreads outwards or feels hot – a possible sign of infection or cellulitis
• Increasing pain, pus or weeping from the bite
• A fever, or red streaks running from the bite
• A large allergic swelling, or many bites in someone who reacts badly

These are usually easy to treat when caught early, so it is better to get a spreading or infected bite checked than to leave it.

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You may also want to check out our other articles How To Prevent Mosquito Bites , 7 Plants To Naturally Repel Mosquitos and Tiger Mosquitos: How To Avoid Them And Build A Trap

Getting through the Spanish summer? Read our guide to summer health risks in Spain in the Health Library.