Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips
It’s mosquito season and I have buffalo sized ones zipping around the backyard as I type this.
Thanks to their first feast on my ankles tonight and an earlier comment from Kim, I was inspired to dig through every tip I had regarding mosquito bites and relief from the itching. Scritch Scratch.
I haven’t tried most of the suggestions below, but I’ll note which ones have worked for me.
Here are more than 40 mosquito bite itch relief tips organized in one neat file, each bullet tip is a single method:
Household Items:
- Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory soap) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar of soap directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz bite with water and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
- Place a piece of scotch tape on the bite; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the bite first then stick on a piece of tape.
- Hot water: Take a hot shower, or a hot bath, or apply a hot compress. As hot as you can stand it without burning you.
- Ice cube, ice pack or very cold water
Dabbers: The quicker you can apply one of the remedies below, the faster the relief. These are topical suggestions, apply directly to the bite area.
- Nail Polish
- Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
- Toothpaste (works for me)
- Mouthwash
- Vinegar (apply directly to bite or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar in the water)
- Honey
- Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on) - apply directly to bite area
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Tea: Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on bite area
Pastes: Mix these fresh then apply to bite as soon as possible. The consistency should be nice and thick so it won’t run, yet will still stay in place on the affected area. You could also spritz bite with water then apply grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in.
- Baking Soda & Water (works for me)
- Meat Tenderizer & Water
- Salt & Water (works for me)
- Epsom Salt & Water (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot area affected)
- Tums Tablets: crush and add a few drops of water
- Aspirin: crush then add a few drops of water
- Aspirin - crush then apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol
Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Applications: Apply directly to bite area.
- Calamine Lotion
- Benadryl Cream
- Orajel
- Anbesol
- Caladryl
- Vicks VapoRub (works for me)
- Preparation H (works for me)
- Lucas Papaw Ointment
- Tiger Balm
- Bag Balm
- Gold Bond Medicated Cream (or the Gold Bond Medicated Powder)
- Mylanta (heartburn relief product)
- After Bite
Essential Oils: Apply full strength directly to bite area. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.
- Tea Tree Oil
- Lavender Oil
- Witch Hazel (astringent)
- Cedar Oil
Leaf Applications: Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply to bite area
- Basil
- Plantains (Plantago)
Fruity Applications: Use fresh fruit & apply directly to bite
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Slice
- Lime Juice
- Lime Slice
- Banana Peel (rub inside of peel on bite)
Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite remedy for mosquito bites, please add them below.
If a remedy doesn’t provide fast relief, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.
The itch from mosquito bites comes from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species of mosquitoes and you may react to some species bites more than others.
If large swelling occurs (like welts), contact a doctor or pharmacist for suggestions (especially if it’s a child with a strong reaction). It could be an allergy to the bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling and get treatment asap.
Tomorrow I’ll post a few different home remedies and tips on mosquito bite prevention.
*Edit: Changed picture
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Posted in Beauty and Health, Popular Tips | 
( 131 )
15 Jun 2007 at 12:21 pm
The premier mosquito bite treatment is Mitigator Sting & Bite Scrub. It can be found at:www.mitigator.net . It gets the toxins out of your skin and all symptoms disappear. It works everytime on everyone (provided that it is used right after receiving the bite and that it is scrubbed aggressively for a couple of minutes) and is used by the US military. Scrubbing with your fingertips replaces scratching with your fingernails so it prevents secondary infections as well. Mitigator works on most types of insect stings.
15 Jun 2007 at 8:03 pm
I’m not sure what Patrick Kennedy is talking about. My husband is US Army for 20 years and hasn’t ever seen or heard of that stuff (we checked out the link). He’s been in mosquito infested areas as well, and for extended lengths of time I might add. If any US military service would use it, it would not be due to how well it would work, but how low the bid was for the contract. The truth is, they do not much care if soldiers itch or not.
That said, I was going to suggest one missed in the post under commercial products. I often use Chloraseptic ®, or a generic equivalent. It works especially well just after bites, when it is most uncomfortable. You can either spray it directly onto the area, or a better way is to apply it with either a cotton ball or Q-tip. I’m a nurse myself and this is my favorite way of dealing with it. It’s great because you can carry a tiny container of the solution with you for fast and instant relief.
17 Jun 2007 at 3:03 pm
[...] boat, wreak your vengeance ahead of time on the little bloodsuckers with a DIY mosquito trap. Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips [TipNut.com [...]
17 Jun 2007 at 3:46 pm
Spit always works for me ….
17 Jun 2007 at 4:18 pm
[...] link [...]
17 Jun 2007 at 4:36 pm
You forgot about WD-40! They now have WD-40 pen you can carry with you and dab on bites. With the Choraseptic trick if needed this is a mean arsenal for a summer of fun!
17 Jun 2007 at 7:45 pm
[...] boat, wreak your vengeance ahead of time on the little bloodsuckers with a DIY mosquito trap. Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips [TipNut.com [...]
17 Jun 2007 at 8:30 pm
[...] Syndicated via RSS from del.icio.us/tag/diy Come and chat all day [...]
17 Jun 2007 at 9:15 pm
[...] boat, wreak your vengeance ahead of time on the little bloodsuckers with a DIY mosquito trap. Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips [TipNut.com [...]
17 Jun 2007 at 11:54 pm
[...] Among those useful tidbits is a way to overcome the itchiness of mosquito bites. So hop on over to TipNut for all bug bite relief details. Hope this helps, [...]
18 Jun 2007 at 11:16 am
There is some stuff called Smile’s PRID you can get at many drug stores that works great for mosquito and other insect bites. You just put some on an adhesive bandage and cover the bite with it. The itching will stop and the bite itself will go away pretty quickly.
18 Jun 2007 at 11:31 am
One thing one your list that I saw was the hot compress/shower tip. I’m going to say that this doesn’t work. When I get in the shower, I just itch more. Part of this is because the itchiness is caused by inflammation as a reaction to the bite. Heat causes more inflammation by dilating the blood vessels near the skin surface…and causing fluid accumulation. This is why you’d never put a hot pack on a freshly sprained ankle.
18 Jun 2007 at 11:41 am
Many of these sound good and worth trying, but some don’t sound very safe. Bleach and ammonia applied directly to skin?
18 Jun 2007 at 1:18 pm
[...] has a post about treatment of mosquito bites, and one about prevention. I can definitely eat more lemon and garlic, and I do [...]
18 Jun 2007 at 1:30 pm
I find the piezo-electric bite zappers like this http://www.travelwithcare.com/browse.asp?catID=931&prodID=HJ078 work fine for me — even long after the bite happened.
(The Mitigator’s website talking about toxins leaving the skin through the pores sounds very dubious science.)
18 Jun 2007 at 6:27 pm
Hi Ahd Child, I had the same hesitations with ammonia and bleach. I discovered that the commercial products one buys contain ammonia: epinions: After Bite.
For bleach I found references such as eMedicine eMedicine and a book mention The Doctors Book of Home Remedies. These two examples have a bleach/water flush, not a dab of bleach but you can do some more research online with “bleach mosquito” or something like that.
Thanks for adding to the list everyone, great tips!
ETA: Reminder that it’s Ammonia OR Bleach, they’re not applied together.
19 Jun 2007 at 2:26 am
[...] Posted in How To, Animals at 7:26 am by snag LINK [...]
19 Jun 2007 at 3:02 pm
[...] Tips for mosquito bite relief [...]
23 Jun 2007 at 9:58 am
How about taking cyanide? It works faster that slowly poisoning yourself with acetone (nail polish) or any of the other many harmful chemicals that are listed as ‘remedies’ on this page. Deodorant! WTF? Increase your chances of getting Parkinson’s disease just so that you don’t have to put up with itching for a little while. You guys should do some research before shooting your mouths off about coating yourself in dangerous chemicals.
BTW, Tea Tree oil and Lavender oil are proven to cause breast growth in young children (boys too), so really, are the potential risks worth the short term benefits being sought here?
23 Jun 2007 at 4:10 pm
Hi John, this is simply a collection of home remedies I’ve collected.
nail polish (pdf file) is a suggested application for tick removal.
Deodorant hasn’t been removed from the market due to causing Parkinsons Disease, that’s why most of us wear it and apply it daily (if not more). If your research shows otherwise, I suggest you inform the FDA because they haven’t found that evidence yet.
Lavender Oil is a common application for insect bites, however there are questions found on that page, not established, that repeated use (such as using shampoos and lotions with lavender oil) may cause boys to develop breasts. A single application for a mosquito bite is something different entirely.
I’ll make a note above regarding the essential oils. I’ll keep cynide off the list though ;).
Edit to Add: (these have already been addressed above, but here again so they’re all in one place)
Ammonia is in commercial mosquito bite treatments such as After Bite
Bleach is mentioned in eMedicine and The Doctors Book of Home Remedies as well as others (do a search for “Bleach Mosquito Bites”
I think those items are what was causing concern? Everything else is either consumed, applied to skin naturally or put in our mouth for oral hygiene purposes.
Also, Rubbing Alcohol is a wound cleaner.
No one is suggesting that anyone has to use any treatment they’re not comfortable with or question, but I hope by showing the above information it is easier to understand why they were included on this list.
Thank you :).
24 Jun 2007 at 2:44 am
That picture at the top of the page is not a mosquito it is a mosquito eater.
25 Jun 2007 at 7:50 am
It’s not a mosquito eater, or skeeter hawk or whatever. it’s a Crane fly. They don’t eat mosquitoes, but their larvae sometimes feed on mosquito larva. Sometimes.
25 Jun 2007 at 7:53 am
You guys are amazing, it looks like a mosquito to me and I have no idea what those other bugs are that you’re mentioning, and not sure I wanna know, lol!
Thanks for the correction, now the hard part: to find a big enough pic of a real mosquito!
26 Jun 2007 at 5:37 pm
Toothpaste works great
27 Jun 2007 at 6:58 am
ok, well, is it ok if I do phsical remedues as well? Because I find that putting an x in your mosquito bite with your fingernails really helps. I learned that from a friend, and, initially, I thought it was a myth.
27 Jun 2007 at 8:15 pm
I am very allergic to mosquito bite saliva. This is what I’ve tried.
I am sitting here with tooth paste on a dozen bites!! Not getting the job done.
I tried the scotch tape thing earlier this evening. Still itching!! :- ( I also tried the dry and also the wet soap theory, the after-bite bleach stuff, Cortizone cream, aloe vera gell, Benadryl anti itch spray, etc. . .
Surely wish I had some of that Metigator to try right now. But it takes a few days to arrive after you order it.
I am miserable. The only thing that seems to ease it for a while is taking two Benadryl (pink & white) capsules. But by the time the 3rd hour rolls around, it’s wearing off. Then itch like crazy and wait till the 4 hours have elapsed to take another dose.
If I had it to do over, I’d have stayed home from Monday evening’s cook-out/bon fire entertainment. For sure and for certain!!
27 Jun 2007 at 8:19 pm
P.S.
John Lancia…….lighten up a little!
(and I mean that in a nice way :- )
28 Jun 2007 at 6:00 pm
I can not keep the dang things away from me, They LOVE my BLOOD I guess.
I have tried a lot of different things the anit histimines (Or however you spell it) Seem to work the best for me, But I have to wait for them to take effect. So in the mean time clear nail polish works alright. I just have to sray myself head to toe everytime I walk outside even for a few minutes.
I heard that eating bananas attracts them. But I do not know how true that is. Because I stopped eating bananas for a long time and I STILL get chewed all to heck. My mom always wipes rubbing alcohol all over her arms and legs and that works for me.. YEAH RIGHT! I WISH!
I remember once I was out of clear nail polish and uped red. I looked like I had a bad case of the mumps But at least I was not as itchy!
28 Jun 2007 at 6:02 pm
PS…Sorry for spelling errors…I type between itching.
–Diann…
04 Jul 2007 at 7:15 pm
my 2 cents…
i slathered my bitten swollen ankles with body shop peppermint foot mask, and i had instant relief, which has lasted for more than an hour now.
06 Jul 2007 at 11:31 pm
I was doubtful about some of these remedies but I was absolutely miserable and scratching until the bites bled so I decided to chance it and try one or two. This morning I tried the baking soda/water paste.. It helped a little.. but the releif was short. Even with benedryl gel I wasn’t getting much releif for very long. As luck would have it I have an extra tube of deoderant and so I tried that .. Thank you Thank you Thank you.. It worked for me! and my feet smell pretty too..:).
08 Jul 2007 at 7:58 pm
About the hot shower… A relative told me that the heat drew histamines to the surface of the skin and reduced itching for several hours at a time. I googled for a while and did find some research articles that seem to support this. The trick is that the heat actually has to hurt a little. I have used this for chiggers on my ankles, but I can’t just take a hot shower because I can’t stand the water hot enough. I just use the sprayer and keep a stream of HOT water on for 2-3 minutes. It has to actually hurt a little, I think. Then it’s sort of instant, as soon as the heat is gone they don’t itch again for me for several hours.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/557283_4
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
*admin edit: fixed link
09 Jul 2007 at 4:10 pm
We have the only 100% botanical disinfectant, Benefect. It’s EPA-hospital grade, but the FDA considers every ingredient food. We take Benefect to the beach for general cleaning purposes. We had heard it worked as an insect repellant, and it did seem to work for us. What we discovered was that it is amazing after the bite. On the first night, 15 nieces and nephews were playing together on the beach. They came running in with multiple mosquito bites. I sprayed it on them to keep the mosquitoes from biting any more. Within 10 minutes they were all saying they had no itch, pain, or sting. It worked completely on 35 of us from 2 to 82. One spray, or just a dab, and the pain and itch are gone in about 10 minutes. Check the blogs on the website. Absolutely freaky stuff. Benefect is so safe that if you get it in your eyes or ingest it, there is no effect. Check the Safety Sheet (MSDS)at the product info page.
09 Jul 2007 at 8:33 pm
I am seriously allergic to mosquito bites and get bitten even after spraying with repellant.
Having spent a fortune on conventional itch removers I found a first nations website which recommends rubbing the inside of a banana skin onto bites - wow! within 10 seconds all signs of itching is gone. You need to rub fairly hard but it works so well. Good Luck
13 Jul 2007 at 11:42 pm
i dig them untill they bleed. pain is better than itching. losing my mind here…..ahhh scabs!
15 Jul 2007 at 3:22 pm
Just wanted to address Mr. John Lancia’s scathing comment on the merits of applying chemicals to ourselves “just so that you don’t have to put up with itching for a little while.” If it were only a little bit of itching for a little while, I would not give mosquito bites a second thought. They turn into huge welts and are sometimes incredibly painful. During the height of the season, I lose weeks of sleep, which is not healthy. My lymph nodes get swollen, which is quite painful, and a bit scary. I become unpleasant to be around, due to annoyance at constantly being itchy, pain in lymph nodes, and lack of sleep.
I agree that slathering ourselves with chemicals may not be the best idea, but sometimes it is what maintains my sanity!
23 Jul 2007 at 4:53 am
ITA with the comments by MARY…. I’m moderately to severely allergic to mosquito bites, with similar symptoms as MARY. (I also usually deveop bruises around the bite sites once the bites begin to “heal.” Any hints for that problem… anybody?) *** I try to use all sorts of repellants - to avoid them in the first place - but nothing seems to work…. they just seem to love my blood more. *** This past Saturday, i got over 12 bites on EACH of my ankles/lower legs. on the following day, my left foot/ankle became very swollen (due to several bites in the same area.) I wasn’t unable to wear my regular shoes and walking is painful due to the swelling. - I’m currently using ice packs and oral Benadryl. Sometimes that works… sometimes it doesn’t. I just found this site and am thankful for the additional tips. I”m considering trying some Cloraseptic, next.
23 Jul 2007 at 7:00 am
I’ve found that a hot compress draws the saliva out of the body. Much like you would put a hot compress on a pimple or going into a sauna to draw out the impurities from your body. As a matter of fact I’ve gone into a sauna with mosquito bites and after I came out found immediate relief from a mosquito bite and at times the bites were gone.
26 Jul 2007 at 2:55 am
[...] Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on bite area Pastes: Mix source: Over 40 Mosquito Bite Itch Relief Tips, [...]
26 Jul 2007 at 7:40 pm
Uhh. the picture of the “mosquito” above is actually not a Mosquito.
the correct name of that insect is actually a Crane fly
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly
AKA mosquito hawks, mosquito eaters (or skeeter eaters), gallinippers, gollywhoppers, Jellyhoppers and jimmy spinners.
contrary to popular belief, crane flies do not prey on mosquitoes as adults, nor do they bite humans.
28 Jul 2007 at 5:41 am
Has anyone heard of tabbing a slice of fresh gingerroot to the bite?
28 Jul 2007 at 8:42 am
I have become allergic to the buzzing evil ones over the last couple years and have tried all the over the counter stuff to little avail. The first thing I can verify here is that NOT ITCHING is far and away the most beneficial first line of defense regardless of what follows. I unkowingly got 3 bites on the hand yesterday, itched them a few times thinking it was something else (duh) and lost sleep last night due to them. After researching a bit more I had to try the hot water thing and it worked. The swelling has abated (the back of my hand was huge) and the itch has been totally gone for nearly 4 hours now. I used a wetted hand towel folded 4 times and warmed in the microwave. You unfold the towel as it cools unvieling a new, still warm side each time. I think the key is that it needs to be quite hot. Well, there’s my 2 cents and even John should be pleased with this one.
All the best!
29 Jul 2007 at 7:04 pm
You would think that all of the remedies for mosquito bites that are manufactured for sale over the counter would work. Supposedly, these products are the result of extensive, expensive research conducted by large companies with the monitary and scientific resources to succeed in finding the magic formula. Wow, am I naive! Well, if any of you out there really does have the answer, don’t post it on this web site…just email it to me. I could use a million dollars!!!
30 Jul 2007 at 8:33 pm
most of the stuff like afterbite and calamine lotion doesnt work, but when i get bitten i scratch really hard untill it bleeds, then put afterbite on it, it stings like hell but it works for a few seconds then i forget about it and it goes away for 10 hours or so, also when i scratch them and they bleed the dry out a bit, and then i usually take water and just try to soak it in and let it dry out. it might work, i havent tryed the other stuff ut im not sure bout that
31 Jul 2007 at 6:23 am
Pour vodka into a shot glass, dip a finger into it and lightly rub over the bite a few times. Always works for me. Chilled vodka works best.
Doesn’t work for other liquors — tried once.
31 Jul 2007 at 7:51 am
A tip I learned a few years ago and have sworn by ever since:
1) Put a mug of water in the microwave for a minute. It should be very hot, maybe a little steaming, but not boiling.
2) Remove the mug. Stick a metal spoon in the water for about 10-15 seconds. The metal on the spoon end will get hot.
3) Take a deep breath, and place the hot end of the spoon onto the bite. It will sting like hell for about 5 seconds, but after that, no more itch forever.
It’s a little masochistic, but it works.
From what I understand, it just burns the saliva of the mosquito away. Poof! No more itch.
Warning: if you do it too long, or too hot, you will burn yourself a little, and have a pink mark instead of a bite. I however, much prefer to not itch. Due to the sharp pain for a brief moment, I wouldn’t recommend this one for kids. But if you can stand it, you’ll never need another semi-quack remedy, or $8 anti-histamine. Good luck!
31 Jul 2007 at 10:11 am
I grew up in Africa and can attest to the effectiveness of a product manufactured by Rhone Poulenc pharmacuetical named Anthisan (Active ingredient Mepyramine Maleate). Provided you get to the bite quickly, this is 100% effective. This product is not available in the US but can be bought online from UK pharmacies. I am never without it and do not fear the mosquitos in the Georgia woods
31 Jul 2007 at 10:16 am
Bleach. Always works for me.
This also works with wasp & bee stings!
Apply directly ASAP with a q-tip or cotton ball. I usually let it dry, then wash it off.
I wouldn’t do this if you have scratched it and broken the skin first though, or on a child too young to understand not to taste it.
31 Jul 2007 at 2:16 pm
I finally found an acceptable public domain picture of a real mosquito (via wikipedia), who knew that stock photo sites would have false mosquito pics to download? ;).
Thanks to those who pointed out the error, you weren’t ignored and I appreciate the feedback :).
31 Jul 2007 at 7:25 pm
Sea Breeze. Works every time.
31 Jul 2007 at 8:56 pm
[...] 40 Relief Tips [...]
01 Aug 2007 at 7:46 am
We’ve rid our area of mosquitoes but no-see-um are even worse!!!!!
Do these remedies work for those miserable pests also? I’m starting with the deodorant cure. How about the machine with the mild electric current?
01 Aug 2007 at 9:37 am
Me again. The deodorant cure has partially worked. It muted the itch enough that I am not scratching like a flea bitten dog. I don’t know if it would work at night when my itch response is the strongest. I’ll let you know.
01 Aug 2007 at 2:31 pm
I especially like aloe vera gel with lidocaine. The aloe cools and sooths and the lidocaine numbs the skin to stop itching. I usually take benadryl at night (sleepy, sleepy!) I also wear seamless (or inside-out), close-fitting, knit (stretchy) cotton clothing. The layer of cotton prevents irritation when the arm/leg/etc comes brushes against anything and doesn’t brush against the bites, as it generally stays put. I do the same for hives.
01 Aug 2007 at 2:39 pm
I also reccommend elevating the bitten area to reduce swelling. Reducing the swelling should help the bites to dissappear faster.
03 Aug 2007 at 5:26 pm
Vicks is a lifesaver!!
04 Aug 2007 at 11:37 am
Apparently the mosquitoes are attracted in the first place by the smell of our feet so I find a peppermint or lavender foot rub liberally applied on feet and lower legs BEFORE going outside really does deters the little blanks!
My doctor suggested taking Vitamin B tablets to change the smell of ones sweat but that didn’t work for me.
Regards from England.
04 Aug 2007 at 2:48 pm
I’ve heard of taking a garlic pill everyday works to keep them from biting you but I have never tried it so I dont know I think it will be the next thing I try though.
05 Aug 2007 at 3:36 pm
I am moderately allergic to those skeeter bites, but have good results by taking one B1 vitamin a day helps to deter those little pests. It does seems to keep them away, and the vitamin is probably good for you too!
07 Aug 2007 at 10:09 am
I have found that if I cut a postage stamp size piece of a Salon Pas (pain relieving) patch and place it on the bite, the itch goes away in a few minutes and the bite is gone in a few hours. I don’t know why it works, but I think it is the anti-inflamatory action of the patch. I have heard good things about Vick Vaporub too, and they share (most) common ingredients.
08 Aug 2007 at 1:26 pm
My pharmacist recommended Campho-Phenique, which is a painreliever you rub on the bite. The first time I tried it immediately after I got the bite, the bite virtually disappeared. The second time I tried it an hour or two after I was bitten and it didn’t do much. Benadryl works temporarily too. For ant bites I usually rub in a water and baking powder paste - its a bit abrasive, but it usually takes care of the bite. These all work best if applied immediately.
10 Aug 2007 at 2:06 am
The hot hot methods (like the spoon mentioned above) work for me - living in China, I pour always-available boiling water into a Nalgene bottle and hold the bottle against my mosquito bites until it feels prickly. I discovered this out of sheer desperation, but it’s working like a charm.
After Bite works really well for me (although I think it’s just overpriced ammonia in a little tube), but I never seem to have it on hand when I need it. I think I’ll try the soap method, and I’ll see if I can get my hands on some vitamin B pills. Thanks, all, for the tips!
10 Aug 2007 at 1:34 pm
I tried the deodorant treatment and it actually worked…for about 4 hours. And then the itching started again. I made the mistake of scratching the deodorant covered bug bite. The deodorant ended up under my fingernails and since it has a waterproof quality to it, it wouldn’t readily wash off my hands. It was a bit of a mess.
I’m thinking of trying OraJel. Any thoughts?
12 Aug 2007 at 1:48 pm
ALL YOU nEED IS YOUR OWN SALIVA. DAB THE BITE WITH YOUR FINGER. ANOTHER KNOWN CURE 4 ITCHING IS CIGARRETE ASHES.
13 Aug 2007 at 12:34 pm
Mosquitos always bite me and in the past the only thing which has helped in using anthisan after being bitten. However, in the Danish fens a chemist told me that if you take enough vitamin B to excrete a tiny amount through sweat they will not bite.Apparently they hate the smell of vitamin B on the skin. Amazingly it seems to work. I know some people are funny about taking more than the recopmmended amount of a vitamin but I’d rather do than than inhale DEET!
13 Aug 2007 at 5:57 pm
I have a teenager that has over 200 bites from last night. We tried the nail polish, um, no. the tea tree oil, no, toothpaste, no, cortisone cream, rectogel(with lidocane) and hydrocortizone cream, no, no and no. We are running out of ideas and she wont try the deodorent, any other suggestions? We also tried preparation H wipes, and it will cool her arms down, but she still itches bad, some are welts the size of a quarter and bigger, HELP!!!!!
14 Aug 2007 at 3:09 am
I’m not a doctor, but I think the science behind applying heat to zits or other infections is that the heat draws blood to the site to which the heat is applied. Your body does this to cool the site - cooler blood flows through the site and carries the heat away. This intended benefit is not the cooling effect but the additional white blood cells that are brought more quickly to the heated/infected area via the fresh/cooler blood flowing through it. The fact that heating applying heat to an area of your body draws blood to the site to cool it is also why you don’t apply heat to a sprained ankle, which can cause swelling as the additional blood leaks out of broken blood vessels associated with the sprain and stays there.
I’ve also heard that if you make an “X”-shaped cut over the bite and suck out the blood…oh, wait, that’s for snake bites. The cyanide suggestion, above, sounds like too permanent a cure for me. In that regard, I’ve found that a lot of the other “cures” just don’t work very well (if at all) or for very long. I’m curious about John’s Antihisan suggestion (above) since I live in the U.S. and have never heard of the product, and I like Joel’s idea about the vodka - two or three shots of ice-cold Stoly will make most people forget about itching…!
14 Aug 2007 at 4:05 am
P.S. Regarding applying heat to a mosquito bite, I’m not sure how bring additional blood to the site would help, as white blood cells wouldn’t have any effect on the allregic reaction to the mosquito’s saliva. “Drawing impurities to the surface” sounds like some New Age hooey to me rather than hard science, but, hey, if it works, why not?
14 Aug 2007 at 4:14 am
P.P.S. (For Toni, above my original post) Apologies - my posts were not in response to your post, my comments were in response to other postings. My daughter is suffering with only about 20 bites right now, I feel badly for your daughter with so many more. My daughter and I just tried wiping vodka on her bites just now but that didn’t work, so I mixed some bakin soda in the vodka, and she said that seemed to help. I also gave her a benadryl. I told her that our next option is the deodorant, and she seemed okay with that. I’ll use Ban unscented liquid (which goes on clear) if the vodka and baking soda doesn’t work, and I’ll make a post if either of them work. If they don’t, I won’t. Best of luck to you, I hope your daughter feels better soon.
14 Aug 2007 at 6:35 am
Mosquitos constantly attack me, even with repellents. I wore pants and long sleeves to a cabin at a lake this last weekend, (in 85 degree heat!!) but also wore sandals and that was my mistake. I have about 50 bites on each foot, including some very painful ones on my toes. I have found that making a paste of Bentonite clay works wonders. I mix equal parts bentonite powder and apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of lavender essential oil. Spread the paste on, and leave it for about a half hour or more, and rinse with warm water. Bentonite has toxin-absorbing properties and usually two applications drys up the bites enough that they do not bother you anymore- plus the lavender helps for immediate relief. Good luck.
15 Aug 2007 at 1:38 pm
for the girl with 200 bites…. i feel for ya, im sorry. me, i just have 26 on my feet, but i never used to get bitten til i got pregnant.
so ive been doing the rubbing alcohol and honestly, it doesnt work at all after a few days. reading some of these things, i think everything works well as soon as you get the bite… but then if it’s stagnant you’re just f***ed.
next, im going to burn the hell out of my skin. pain is soooooo much better than itch.
Sept 6th Note From Admin: This comment was moderated by Tipnut (two words removed)
20 Aug 2007 at 10:40 pm
I know this might seem a little crazy, but people have been doing it in my family for generations and it has worked. Take a match or lighter and while they are lit put it near the bite, dont put the fire directly on the skin, but close enough so that you can feel the heat. Keep it there for a minute or two and it should stop itching. Supposedly the heat kills the posion or whatever it is that the mosquito puts into you when it bites so it can stop itching. Any other heat source should work, my mom was smoking a cig yesterday and i used that and it worked.
21 Aug 2007 at 2:07 pm
My dad believed in two things: That Greeks should educate non Greeks about being Greek and every ailment from psoriasis to poison ivy can be cured with Windex.
22 Aug 2007 at 12:44 am
Dr Bronner’s Pepperment Oil Castile Soap. It is liquid, so either a wash and rinse, or having a full shower [and repeat for 7 days] works to keep itch in check. Sure makes it possible for me to sit at the keyboard. Nasty bubbling reaction to a few bites, into the crooks of my fingers, not one, but five bites in a narrow patch x3 [oh joy] Recent holiday in evilville Ohio has left its marks. But, not as bad as North Carolina coast and dripping blood from the suckers whilst running from the hot tub to the back door (15 ft-ish.)
Dr Bronner’s products are usually sold in/on health store sites. Psst…The list of remedies on each bottle will amaze you and makes great potty time reading.
((Which state is the worse??))
Chemical junkies can use Hydrogen Peroxide and sizzle away mosquit’r bite’s itch…for a time…. Always Rinse ^!^
Experiment by ignoring an itch. Distraction can be a wonderful thing.
God Bless the Doc’s memory =)
23 Aug 2007 at 2:18 pm
I smack my mosquito bites and it does wonders! I highly recommend it!
23 Aug 2007 at 7:09 pm
Scratch and X in the mosquito bite, it helps relieve the itching and swelling
24 Aug 2007 at 9:48 pm
Yah, what Maggi says. I was just recently visiting in Ohio too. And I have bites that are too many to count. My feet, ankles, and the back of my legs are the worst. Iv’e taken Benedryl, used the cream, hydrocortisone cream and nothing is working. Right now, I am wishing I had some bleach because I absolutely agree that the burn beats the itch any day. It seems as if once you are bit, then expect the itch. Not to still itch like a fresh bite days after. From now on, the family can come visit ME. It almost turns me against going back to Ohio, lol. I will keep on reading to see if i can see any other interesting but helpful remedies. THanks, just needed to vent. ARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!
25 Aug 2007 at 2:39 am
I might be twisting the current discussion, but thought could be helpfult too. Is there any body lotion or something which we can apply so that the mosquitoes will never come to you. Something that is alergic to mosquitoes. I cannot sleep at my home due to mosquitoes. If I start using these then there will only be time for that. Gals help!!
25 Aug 2007 at 8:17 pm
Bob I have listed home remedies for that too, see: How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Hope this helps :).
26 Aug 2007 at 10:00 am
Ammonia and bleach on skin ?!?!?
30 Aug 2007 at 9:22 am
i was in the USMC we used AVONS skin so soft as a repellent now its all i use. you still may get a few but its better than a ton.
30 Aug 2007 at 5:02 pm
Hot water, heat causes the cells of the body in that location to release all the histamine they have at the moment. It takes around four hours for them to produce more histamine. That’s why the pain, itching will increase for a moment or two then totally stop. If the pain, itching returns in four hours just apply hot water to the area for a couple moments again. I found that out when searching for relief from poison ivy, poison oak, etc.
31 Aug 2007 at 11:17 am
We have this cream that we use and it stops the itch for a couple hours. It’s called Calmoseptine and it relieves the itch for a while.
31 Aug 2007 at 10:37 pm
Anyone find that blood type has anything to do with it? My A+ daughter and I (also, A+) really suffer through mosquito season, while my AB- son and B+ hubby rarely get bit. It is the exact opposite with fleas.
Just curious whether it’s simply coincidence or not.
02 Sep 2007 at 6:17 pm
VERY hot water in a mug. Spoon dipped for 10-15 seconds. Applied back of spoon directly to bite. Just about as hot as I could stand it without actually burning the skin.
Worked like a charm!
I even put the bottom of the mug over one area of several bites and that helped as well. I think heat was indeed the trick for me.
I will reply again if the bites begin to itch soon. But I think I’ve found the relief I needed.
03 Sep 2007 at 3:41 pm
This has been one of the best reads ever. I am REALLY grateful. I am A positive blood group. I take Vitty B and garlic pills every day. I think it has probably helped a LITTLE as I don’t think I get bitten as much as I used to.
I had to laugh at the scratch and bleed and scab entries. Sometimes one does all the right things and then just succumbs to the demented bloodletting!
04 Sep 2007 at 3:32 pm
Placing an ice pack on the affected area for about 10 minutes then applying hydrocortisone right after helps subside the iching for a fairly long time. The key is to using a lot of cream, not rubbing it in, the bite has to be completely covered and the cream should not be wiped or rubbed off all day (tough to accomplish I know). I have well over 80 bites on my legs, ankles, ect. and this morning I applied the ice, then cream and here it is over 8 hours later - still have visable bites but no sign of iching. Best of luck to you all in your quest for misquito relief!!
04 Sep 2007 at 11:11 pm
Thanks for the great tips. I have done the Vit B thing in the past and it’s worked great. I think I’ll do it again. I just applied Vicks Vapo-rub and so far it’s working really well. Hopefully it’ll last through the night.
A message for Miriam that posted on 8/15: If you don’t want your “stupid baby”, can I have her? I’ve been trying to get pregnant for over 3 years and honestly…if you really think your baby is stupid, please let me take her off your hands!
Sept 6th Note: Audrey is referencing a previous comment that has since been moderated (by Tipnut).
05 Sep 2007 at 11:15 am
I drink Korbel…before you know it, they stop itching!
05 Sep 2007 at 4:23 pm
The best remmedy for moscito bites is a capsule of vitamin E . prick the vitamin E capsule and squeeze the liquid from the vitamin unto the moscito bite. works every time. also works great for scratches and minor cut, and skin irrictations.
06 Sep 2007 at 6:58 am
I just tried the spoon dipped in hot water. The pain is bad for a second and after a few seconds it works, it really works!!!!
ps
The bite with scotch tape on it is still itching.
06 Sep 2007 at 5:18 pm
Three comment moderation steps were taken today in this discussion, the affected comments are noted (and one comment removed).
I think the feedback here has been awesome (THANK YOU!) and I’d like to keep the discussion focused on helping each other fight those pesky mosquitoes and relief from their dastardly itch.
06 Sep 2007 at 5:29 pm
I tried the preparationH and it worked on my feet/legs but it made my arms sting….oh wait, nope it meade my feet/ legs sting too! maybe I came accross this website way too late and done scratched my skin off eh? sting!!ARGHHH!!
ok im trying the deodorant or toothpaste now…thanks for all the great tips
08 Sep 2007 at 5:49 am
Just a warning to people
NEVER SCRATCH A BITE TILL IT BLEEDS OR UNTIL THE SKIN OPENS
This increase the risk on infection, PLUS it really stings and is really gross.
just dont scratch ur skin off
10 Sep 2007 at 8:23 pm
I think I’ve probably been bit 8 times in the last 10 years but I have a 6 year old who gets welts the size of silver dollars from mosquito bites… the fingernail X has most of them gone or manageable by the next day.
Of course my grandma always said “put a potato on it” as a cure whether it was for a mosquito bite or a decapitation! (Your mileage may vary)
11 Sep 2007 at 6:16 pm
I have A+ blood type too and I am a magnet for mosquitos!!! I am very intrigued to know if that really has something to do with it. Thanks for the tips I will be trying them all!
16 Sep 2007 at 10:30 am
my grandma always uses preporation H not just for its use. I use it on mosquitos and flea bites it relieves the swelling and itching.
22 Sep 2007 at 5:53 pm
Try antibacterial Wet Ones!
27 Sep 2007 at 2:51 pm
I always used to use alcohol but it never helped. Theres this creme I got from the pharmacy and it got wasted, and I need your help to tell me what its called. It started with a C. It was gelly and clear. Ergh, it worked so quick.
28 Sep 2007 at 5:28 pm
I have found that a little dab of gasoline on a baby wipe does the trick. First pour on the gas, then grind the wipe on the bite. It sounds scary, but the relief is extraordinary.
Also, peanut butter and honey works, due to the anticeptic properties of the honey and something in the peanut butter, but I have found through experimenting that it works best if you crush up a pickle in it.
Enjoy the relief!
02 Oct 2007 at 10:20 am
I am suffering with about 9 bites right now. I am at work and am using the scotch tape on the ones that I can easily get to. It is only kind of working. I cannot wait to get home and try some of the others. I am miserable with this! I am A- blood type by the way and have ALWAYS has the mosquitos drawn to me leaving HUGE welts that itch like CRAZY. My husband is O+ and doesn’t get tormented like I do. P.S. It is October in Maryland and they are still here! I am ready for the cold weather so I can have some relief for a few months!!!
09 Oct 2007 at 3:42 am
I just woke up itching like crazy thinking it was some allergic reaction I was having. I turned on the lights and I had tons of mosquito bites everywhere! They are huge!
The worst ones are on my face! one huge one on my forehead and the other one right under my eye. I do not have a lot of the things that have been mentioned in this article however I did try the toothpaste.. it was the gel and it actually worked! although not on my face.. It burnt so very bad on my face… maybe because the skin is so much more sensitive there.
I also took a high dose of benedryl.
I can’t seem to get them to stop biting though and I can hear them lurking around! I can’t sleep.. every time I am close to falling asleep I can hear them buzzing near my ears and they bite again! I live in NYC and never usually have a problem but I did leave my window cracked last night.
any body that can help it would be appreciated! I know I have Vicks somewhere around here but can’t seem to find it.. I am about to use the heat on spoon thing!!! I think pain is better than this itch! But does anyone have a good home remedy for a repellent?
Thanks so much!
15 Oct 2007 at 12:24 am
I don’t think blood type has anything to do with it. My mom and I are both A+, and she don’t get bit. I tell her the mosquito’s don’t like old meat,..usually followed with a response I can’t repreat. And eating garlic don’t help. I’m in San Antonio, where almost all the food sold has garlic and, or onions. I keep a can of OFF on my padio table.
17 Oct 2007 at 8:26 am
Dip the corner of a cloth into boiling water and dab it on the bite, make it as hot as you can stand. It hurts a bit but will stop the itching completely. It works by drawing histamines out or something like that.
17 Oct 2007 at 2:20 pm
My friend is a lifeguard, w she told me about these tips. THEY REALLY WORK!
1. Go swimming.
2. Baking Soda & Water
3. Make and x with your fingernail over thebite site or around it. It actually stpus the itching. DO NOT do it if you have a scab there.
18 Oct 2007 at 8:07 pm
Well, this was great reading! I just moved from California to Florida to be closer to my sister and am being eaten alive by these darn things! I am also allergic so they get pretty bad. I itch until they bleed. I tried the Vitamin B and Garlic… didn’t work. I tried the Sea Breeze, only temporary relief. What does work after a bit occurs is the X with finger nails. It brings the “poison” to the surface of the bite and the itching is relieved. I have been using the Avon Skin So Soft after every shower and it seems to help. I still get some though! I am going to try the Vicks Vapor Rub, the Chlorseptic and the Body Works Peppermint foot mask. I will let you know how these work.
20 Oct 2007 at 5:22 am
I have been going crazy with giant welts on my arms and leg. I tried everything the chemist had to offer with no relief.
HOT WATER is GOLD!
Only others who have experienced the torture of extreme bites could understand the desperation you feel.
I think I must be allergic to these mozzies. For the record my blood is O- and I get about the same amount of bites as my family, but they don’t seem to react as severly.
My sympathies to all who suffer with them.
20 Oct 2007 at 5:53 pm
I JUST came home from Jekyll Island(off the coast of Georgia) THERE WERE SO MANY MOSQUITOS!!!!! i 4got to put bugspray on 2 go 2 sleep(who would remember!!!!????) and i got 68 just on my legs…(yea i counted) the hot spoon thing works temperarly and the X fingernail thing does 2… but i wake up cryin’ cuz they hurt soooo bad!!!!
02 Nov 2007 at 2:10 am
thanks heaps i couldnt remember whether the bite was an acid or an alkali thankx
15 Nov 2007 at 6:24 pm
The no see ums are the worst. Got over 50 bites and thought I’d go crazy. After trying over the counter stuff, I decided to make my own. Mix 2 parts ammonia to one part rubbing alcohol. Use a cotton ball to apply. Worked for me.
19 Nov 2007 at 12:10 am
Hi All,
Great Blog… I went fishing over the weekend and came back with a sprained foot (oowww) and in excess of 400 mozzie bites on my body. The reality, you could cut off both of my feet and I would not notice as I am itching like mad and this is day 3. I have around 50 bites on each foot and the rest of the bites are on my back and the back of my arms. I am in Australia and these mozzies bite you through your clothes. I have tried ‘Stop Itch’ nothing. However a hot shower as wierd as it sounds provided a little relief (10 mins)I am itchy and bruised and am hoping for a sure fire fix, hope u can help. Bourbon helps also when ingested in large quatities, lol :o)
19 Nov 2007 at 4:55 am
i’ve got hugely swolen mosquiro bites, owie! pharmacist gave me hydrocortisone, but that sucked! it seems that half of the things in here are placebos however (both acids and bases recomended, both cold and hot recomended, etc. etc.)
i reckon going legit will be just as good, perhaps using antiseptic to prevent any infection potential.
p.s if someone with 40 bites could use them all, and say what is beat, that will be GODLY.
cheers
22 Nov 2007 at 7:10 pm
I’ve woken up with 20 massive bites. I think I might be allergic. Theyre itching like crazy. I went to the chemist and got a product called stingose that i used to use when I was young and it seems to work on most of my bites. There is still a few giving me trouble that I tried the spoon and x on but the relief was very temporary.
30 Nov 2007 at 5:47 am
i have so many bites on my legs and ive tried nearly everything its driving me insane.
there so big and ugly and tomorrow night im going out and wearing a dress that will be revealing my legs. what can i do to make them go away FAST !?
30 Nov 2007 at 3:44 pm
I feel for you Kelly! Not sure if there’s anything you can do to make the welts and bumps disappear overnight but you can try keeping your feet up and applying ice packs.
Check at the pharmacy too, they may have something that will help.
06 Jan 2008 at 7:43 pm
Hi Guys I have read all your comments wow some great read there!
If you have exprienced Aussie mozzies then you know what itch is! Please no disrespect to any other victims off these blood thirsty little suckers. We have and I’m not sure if other countries have is but we have an all natural hypo-allergenic stick deodorant which is natural minerals, works so far . I reackon give them all a go what have you got to lose except …. your itch.
Have a sensational day to you all!
22 Jan 2008 at 4:01 pm
Hello
We only use natural solution when we go out or for indoor, we dont use DEET as a example, it works, but I dont trust it.
We found skeeterpatch on mosquitorepellent.EU its a patch you place on yourself, then the mosquitoes can not smell you and it works.
just a tip, have a great day.
30 Jan 2008 at 1:17 pm
I am allergic to those nasty things too and have really sensitive skin so a lot of the remedies are worse than the symptoms for me.
I did find out years ago that wet chewing tobacco does wonders. Put a small amount of chewing tobacco into a bowl or cup and add a small amount of water. Smush it around with your fingers or a spoon until you start seeing the tobacco juice. Apply a small amount of the tobacco to each bite.
This is also great for bee stings and such.
31 Jan 2008 at 12:00 am
I heard that the milky substance from a dandelion stem is suppose to help relieve the itchy from mosquito bites. I haven’t tried it yet though because our mosquito season was over when I found out.
03 Feb 2008 at 7:49 pm
Wayne is TOTALLY right!! The hot water treatment is amazing. I usually get 8 to 10 bites on my feet…..once a year or so if I was careless.
I run the hottest water I can stand on the bites…..on and of for a total of a minute. The itch seems worse for a few seconds….then it disapears. It lasts for four hours. Then I repeat. I also use benedryl (oral) and ibuprofen. I carry benedryl spray if I will not be near my tub for a while….
04 Feb 2008 at 6:22 am
Why me? Six of us sat out the other night for a few hours. Two of us got eaten alive by “no-see-ums” and the other four were not bothered. Unfortunately, with no-see-ums you get to find out that you’ve been bitten the next day when they really start itching. The other person who got bit was using “skin-so-soft” by Avon…to no avail. I have approximately 60 bite welts all over my legs, arms and neck. Have tried Benadryl liquid, calamine lotion, Aloe Vera, and now the Ban Roll-on. Actually the Ban seems to alleviate the itch that was driving me crazy some….some relief is not all bad. I would really like to know what it is that mosquitos, gnats, no-see-ums like about me….and why they don’t bother other people in my group at all….I think that’s the key. I don’t think it’s blood type either. I appreciate all the suggestions out there. Thanks.
05 Feb 2008 at 3:46 am
Hi Bruce, I don’t think anybody knows for sure *why* some people are magnets for mosquitoes and others aren’t, but I wrote a bit about it here: How to Prevent Mosquito Bites.
I’ve also come across some theories that people with higher than normal cholesterol levels are tastier treats to mosquitoes.
05 Feb 2008 at 3:19 pm
I have a real problem with mosquito bites. One bite will keep me up half the night. A few are absolute misery. I must be super sensitive.
So thank you for putting together this list. I’ll try some out when the skitters come back and let you know.
But I really enjoyed the banter in the comments. What a riot! What was to be serious turned out humorous to me. Sorry you got attacked.
Blessings,
Robin
07 Feb 2008 at 4:20 am
I too am very allergic to mosquito bites as well as DEET. My bites will swell as large as the palm of my hand and turn a purple bruise color.
What has worked very successfully for me is the Benadryl Dye-Free Allergy Relief, Liqui-gels.
I will open the gel capsule and apply it directly to the bite. Since it is more concentrated than the spray or gel it works better. It knocks the itch out after a few minutes and I reapply every time the itch starts back up. If I have a lot of bites then I will also ingest a dose of benadryl.
I have found that this prevents my bites from swelling up like they did before as well as shortens the healing time of the bite down to about 3 days. (It use to take more than a week for bites to heal, probably because I kept scratching them.)
I now ALWAYS carry some of the gel caps with me and use them for all types of insect bites. It works for fire ants, chiggers, no seeums, etc.
Good luck to all.
23 Feb 2008 at 6:35 pm
Fascinating reading! I’m in England and struggle with Harvest Mite each summer.Misery!In USA you call them chiggers? But a consumer test report for mosquito bites said that ‘Avon Skin-So-Soft Dry Oil Body Spray’ surprisingly worked better than all the mosquito repellants like Jungle Formula etc, even tho it wasn’t designed as one. Worth a try as a repellant? It has worked for many. WD40 supposed to be good for bites too. The manufacters claim there is nothing in WD40 that can harm you.
Good luck everyone! xxx
Admin Edit: Linda I removed your email address from the URL field so it wouldn’t be public
19 Mar 2008 at 9:35 am
honey just makes them eat you more!!
and if you do use honey anyway shae yourlegs first!!
06 Apr 2008 at 8:16 pm
does anyones mosquito bites form a bubble in the middle of the bite?
05 May 2008 at 3:55 am
Yep, that just means that you’re even more allergic to those mosquito bites. I’m hugely allergic to them but with mosquitos in America, I just get a big, swollen, red welt. With Asian mosquitos, my bites actually blister (the bubble you’re talking about) right at the bite. Whatever you do, don’t pop them or it’ll scar. Just continue with whatever treatment you choose (I stick with heat treatment) and let it drain on its own.
07 May 2008 at 10:30 pm
my wife gets a really bad reaction( welts in the center of a large red circle). Right now we are icing them down, maybe later i will try th Hot spoon trick or soap
08 May 2008 at 8:17 pm
After 4 days with a couple hundred mosquito bites, I found your great blog. I had on hand a baking soda based deodorant. It is working for me. I live in South Florida, and you can imagine the mosquitoes we have down here…
The itching was driving me wild until I put the deodorant on the bites. THANK YOU so much for that tip !! If they start to itch again, I will apply some more. I plan to buy extra tomorrow.
10 May 2008 at 9:23 am
Garlic tablets…
My auntie has always had a large number of cats and dogs, and to prevent them from getting fleas and ticks, she feeds them garlic tablets with their food. Garlic has well known health benefits to the bloods, and so I guess this is how it works on blood-sucking creatures…her dogs have never had fleas or ticks (nor do they smell of garlic!). Before I wen on a recent trip to Malaysia, she suggested to start taking the supplement a month or so before travelling, to get int into the system, and I have to say I very rarely got bitten, even in infested areas. Even if it doesn’t work for everyone, the garlic’s good for you anyway! (and p.s. you can use the odourless type, so you don’t have garlic breath, though it might be handy for vampires?)