How to Treat Mosquito Bites
Most of us have experienced mosquito bites at some point in our lives. If you treat them correctly, they can heal in just a few days. To heal mosquito bites, take the following steps:
- Wash bites well with soap and warm water.
- To ease itching and stop swelling, apply an ice pack in ten minute intervals.
- Use anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to make bites less itchy.
- Try not to scratch the bites.
How to Make Mosquito Bites Less Itchy
After getting a mosquito bite, symptoms can take anywhere from an hour to around a day to appear. Typically, you will start to feel the itchiness soon after you are bitten. At first, the bite will look like a raised white welt, but it will lower into a small red bump shortly after. To alleviate the itching feeling, apply ice packs and OTC creams for quick relief. You might also want to use anti-inflammatories or antihistamines to reduce itchiness. Most importantly, resist the urge to scratch the bites. Itching your bites will lengthen and worsen your symptoms.
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Best Homemade Solutions for Mosquito Bites
You might already have a few things in your home that can help treat mosquito bites. Always be sure to perform a skin patch test before trying any of these homemade or natural remedies. A few of the most helpful homemade remedies include:
- Baking soda and water. Make a paste using 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with water. Rub it onto the mosquito bite, let sit for ten minutes, and then rinse it away.
- Oatmeal. A paste made of equal parts water and oatmeal can be applied to the skin with a washcloth to soothe mosquito bites. You can also try sprinkling a cup of ground oats into a bath of warm water.
- Honey. Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, which makes it a popular ingredient in home remedies. Putting a drop on a mosquito bite can decrease inflammation and limit the desire to scratch.
- Aloe vera. Some people limit their use of aloe vera to healing sunburns, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties and can help to soothe the symptoms the come with mosquito bites.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Mosquito Bites
If you start to experience more severe symptoms, you should reach out to a medical professional. More serious symptoms can be nausea, rashes, fevers, and allergic reactions. Thankfully, most mosquito bites will recede and stop itching in less than a week.
If you’re dealing with frequent mosquito bites on your property, consider professional mosquito control.
How To Treat Mosquito Bites
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