One of the most irritating parts about trying to enjoy the summers is the presence of mosquitoes, if you live in an area that is conducive to mosquito populations. Even in areas that don’t have hoards of mosquitoes, you can often get a small number of mosquitoes that are quite aggressive when they find you.
The best way to prevent a mosquito bite, of course, is to prevent mosquitoes. However, that sometimes is not feasible if you are in a mosquito-prone area. Still, take steps to keep mosquitoes off of your skin. The most common way to do that is to use mosquito repellent. Another method we like is to wear mosquito-resistant attire, such as a good bug or mosquito shirt.
The bites can be downright unacceptable and the chances of getting bitten by a mosquito are extremely high. It can hardly be helped. Once a mosquito bites you, the itching is bound to drive you insane, and it is for this reason that we have developed a list of twelve great ways to treat those pesky mosquito bites.
Treating Mosquito Bites
- Vinegar
If you notice a single bite on your body, you can apply a tiny amount of vinegar on it to feel relief. We recommend making use of apple cider vinegar. If you notice a multitude of bites, you can take a hot bath with 2.5 cups of vinegar added to the tub. - Aloe Vera
The gel from a fresh aloe leaf will help provide instant relief once it is applied to a mosquito bite. It also helps in easing the
George’s is among our top choices for aloe gel for treating mosquito bites.
swelling. The cooling sensation you will feel after applying the gel o r even organic aloe juice will prevent you from wanting to constantly itch your bite. Our favorite is George’s, which works well on mosquito bites.
- Toothpaste
The menthol in toothpaste is a cooling agent, and when you apply toothpaste directly to your mosquito bite, your mind is distracted from the itching, and the cool feeling that is created replaces the itchiness from the bite. The astringency element that toothpaste has will also help in reducing the swelling by preventing the build up of fluids. - Vapor Rub
The camphor oil and menthol based ingredients found in vapor rub – that’s right, good old Vick’s — make it quite efficient in treating mosquito bites. All you have to do is apply it directly to the bites, and you will feel a cooling sensation which will suppress your urge to itch. - Honey
Honey is a natural antibiotic, and if you use fresh honey to apply to your mosquito bite, you will feel the swelling and itching go down. Honey is very effective in treating mosquito bites which have opened as well and thus; it also helps prevent a wound forming. - Make an X
You can use your fingernails to make an X on your mosquito bite. This helps to make the itching finish while also ensuring that you do not have to constantly itch your mosquito bite to relieve the pain and create the risk of infection. Remember not to press too hard as that will pierce your skin. - A Dry Bar of Soap
You can rub a dry bar of soap on the mosquito bite. However, this only provides temporary relief from the itching, and it takes a while to show effect. Also, you need to remember to wash that area thoroughly once the itching sensation fades away. - Baking Soda and Water
You can also make a thick paste using baking soda and water, and once you apply this generously on the mosquito bite, you will notice the itching sensation and swelling go away. However, make sure that you create a thick paste. Otherwise, it will not work as effectively. - Lime and Lemon
Rubbing lime or lemon juice directly on the mosquito bite helps a lot. You can even run the peel of the lime or lemon. Either way, you will be gaining relief from the itching sensation while also preventing your wound from becoming infected with all the itching and exposure to your nails. - Salt Paste
Take finely ground salt and mix it in a tiny amount of water until you have created a thick paste. Rub the paste directly on the mosquito bite. You can use any salt, but it is important to ensure that the salt is finely grounded so that you can create the paste easily. - Essential Oils
Tea tree, rosemary, lavender, witch hazel and cedar oils are only some of the essential oils which have been proven to be affective against mosquito bites. Take a small amount of any essential oil, dilute it with water and rub it on the mosquito bite; you are bound to feel instant relief. - Garlic
Rub a clove of raw garlic on the mosquito bite as a way to relieve the itching. This remedy will cause a short burning sensation, but it will bring instant relief once the burning is over. It has been advised to avoid using this remedy with children.
These remedies have been proven to be quite effective in curing mosquito bites according to popular opinion, and if you make use of any one of these, you will find it to be quite sufficient in tackling your mosquito bites, itches, and swelling. Note that these are only intended to treat the irritating part of the mosquito bite – itching, etc. They do not treat diseases transmitted by mosquitoes such as West Nile or Zika. For those, the best cure is prevention, and if you are worried that you have contracted a serious mosquito-spread disease, by all means see a doctor!
