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 tips organized in one neat file, each bullet point is a single method:
Quick Comfort From Household Items:
- Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz with water first and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
- Place a piece of scotch tape over top; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the area first then stick on a piece of tape.
- Hot water: Take a shower, or bath, or cover with a 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, administer directly to the area.
- Nail Polish
- Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
- Toothpaste (works for me)
- Mouthwash
- Vinegar (full strength or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar added to the tub)
- Honey
- Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on)
- Rubbing Alcohol
- Ammonia
- Bleach
- Use a tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in tea to dab on skin (make sure to have either choice as hot as you can handle without burning)
Paste Remedies
Mix these fresh with water (unless otherwise noted) then apply 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 the wound with water then administer grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in. If in tablet form, crush first before adding liquid.
- Baking Soda (works for me)
- Meat Tenderizer
- Salt
- Epsom Salt (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot affected)
- Tums Tablets
- Aspirin
- Aspirin – crush then combine with a few drops of rubbing alcohol
Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Topicals
*Direct application
- 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 product)
- After Bite
Essential Oils
Use full strength or combine with olive oil. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.
- Tea Tree
- Lavender
- Witch Hazel (astringent)
- Cedar
Leafy Antidote
*Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply
- Basil
- Plantains (Plantago)
Fruity Treatments
*Use fresh fruit & apply directly to skin
- Lemon Juice
- Lemon Slice
- Lime Juice
- Lime Slice
- Banana Peel (rub with the inside of the peel)
Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite, most effective curative, please add them below.
Notes
- If a remedy doesn’t soothe or provide quick comfort, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.
- How long does the itchiness/irritation last? Usually about 3 or 4 days but can be up to a week! If things are unbearable and none of the remedies above provide any lasting respite, taking an antihistamine can help (both adults and children).
- The itch is a reaction from the saliva of the skeeter that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species and you may react to some species bites more than others.
- Too match scratching (especially with dirty fingernails) can actually cause an infection (pus develops, redness surrounding blister, feverish). If a child can’t stop fussing with it and irritating things more, covering with a bandaid will help provide some protection.
- 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 skeeter bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling, nausea and changes to breathing. Seek professional medical treatment without delay.
Update: You’ll find tips on repelling mosquitoes here.
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. 🙂
*admin edit: magnoliasouth is referencing a comment that has since been deleted
Hi,
The ice pack worked best for me thanx!!!!!!!!!!!
I have always used Burt’s Bees chapstick and other products, and they always work, so when i saw that Burt’s Bees made “Bug Bite Relief” i tried it, and it works wonders!!! It gives you instant relief and it comes in a tube like chapstick. you just wind it up apply and wind it back down and its small, so its carry size.
Hope this helps!!!!
Thnx sooooooooo much! I will definatly try it! Im willing to try anything to get these darn bug bites off! BTW: does any1 have any more suggestions besides what they have already coverd? If u do i would really appriciate it!
ps:The hot bath does stop the releaf for a while but i suggest that u try doing the cold bath before the hot one!
thanks a bunch:
Molly Ringwald 🙂
Toothache medicine. or anything w/ lidocaine
there is a spray, solarcaine, w/ lots of lidocane in it. even though its made for sunburns it works geat on minor bites.
A friend told me to draw a circle around the bite with an ink pen and it really does work.
I would like to see some one try this…LOL
It doesnt work, but it makes a great smiley face!
omg! i did that just today 🙂 it was fun..i look like a freak though
WHY??? so u can remember where 2 scratch??
It totally worked for me, crazy. I couldn’t sleep my feet were itching so bad.
Incredibly weird, but seems to be working. A nice one if you’re stuck in an office away from a medicine cabinet.
We make a box around the bite, as soon as the itch began. With a finger nail, edge of a coin, etc. Anything that will make an indentation. Our doctor would use a circle with a pen method as a marker to see if the infected area became larger than the circle, if it did a prescription was necessary.
actually i heard to make an ex with your nail on the mosquito bite
I’m outside a lot during the summer, so I always have Mosquito bites. Right now I have 20-30 bites, so if I drew circles around them, I’d look like freaking Spongebob, haha. I’ll try this before getting in the shower. Hope it works.
I drew circles on mine.. Then colored them in and removed with a baby wipe. They still itch but not as much
This does not work at all.
the reason for this one is not to relieve the itch in the same way as the other ‘remedies’ listed here. circling the bite with a pen is just a way of scratching to relieve the itch of the bug bit without damaging the skin and causing possible infection. nothing about the ink is supposed to be medicinal.
now the area feels a bit numb.
that sooo doesmt work, i just waisted an hour drawing circles around my bugbites, now they look like warts!!
With your fingernail( if long enough) make an x through it. It takes some of the itch away
The lemon juice worked for me also the toothpaste
I do this all the time! Mostly to remember where NOT to scratch and keep a count of how many bites I have. After an impromptu night by the pool, ny total is 19, 13 on my toes alone. Its 336am as I’m writing this, wide awake because of the itchiness. Benadryl usually works. But with so many so close, it hasn’t done much. I tried toothpaste for the first time, the cooling sensation help, but was short lived. I then decided to wash the toothpaste off with HOT running water, and it calmed them enough to draw my circles. Most of them have remained calm, but a few are still raising hell on my toes. Another round of Benadryl, and socks to keep me from tearing my skin while I sleep.
If you get dryer sheets and rub them on your skin it keeps the mosquito off of you. its like bug spray that smells good! 😀
Tried the dryer sheets, seemed to attract more mosquito then usual, I actually had more bites then when I us bug spray.
it has to be Bounce original sheets. the Ogden Nature center uses them, and says they’re the only kind that works to keep the bugs away.
I’ve found that if I cut open the bite, and squeeze out the saliva that the mosquito leaves behind, there is instant relief. I just did that earlier today. Just make sure you use a sterile point to puncture the bite, to prevent further infection. ; )
ive tried that too. it works for me. 🙂
um… anyone else see a problem with cutting your skin open?
not a good idea could cause more infection especially if you have 20 bites!!!
Great minds think alike. I’ve been itching so much it seems that’s all I can think about is just slicing,(sterilised instrument) into the red bump and dabbing an antiseptic into it. I’ve got some Tea Tree and TCP oil so I’ll try either one and see what happens. Hope the minor surgery works for me too.
Yes, it really does work! After that, dab a bit of Tea Tree Oil on it. Almost instant relief!
By the way, I sliced the skin, very slightly, with a sewing needle. Two or three pricks into the red bump and out comes what looks like puss. Dab the Tea Tree Oil and in a few seconds no more itching. Don’t forget to sterilise whatever you use.
That would work, but I’m not comfortable with cutting myself. What if it doesn’t work for some people. I have enough problems with itching, I don’t want to add pain to it…
I put the needle point dipped in a alcohol and use it on the bite to take out the liquid. Then put a piece of surgical tape on it to protect the area. Scratching the surface and squeezing makes no pain at all but takes sometimes for the success. Or directly put the needle in the liquid area and let the liquid comes out. Either way, one pain and no more itchiness.
I don’t cut myself or poke myself with a needle, but I do squeeze the bite until the pussy stuff comes out (so it does break the skin). It sort of scabs over after, but it’s the easiest and fastest relief I’ve found.
ahaha have you tried aloe vera? you can pick it straignt from the bush, just use the moist gel and rub it on, once or twice a day, normally gets rid of iching. make sure you cut the spikes up first, as if they get in your ski the spike a bit…
ahah hope this helps!!!!XD
Aloe cactus is used all over Southern spain and locals swear by it, as do I now. Just been savaged and been driven mad so poor hubby gone cactus shopping
funyy, it dosn’t work for me!
Cutting it open relieves the itch. Then put an antibiotic to heal the cut.
Problem is, the healing process also itches. Their is an old saying, don’t scratch or you will open old sores. Just don’t scratch. It eventually goes away.
oatmeal bath, baking soda in your bath water, or a cap of bleach in your bath water (not for kids) also take the itch away. i have also found that using a scrubbing pad to bust it open then pour rubbing alcohol over a rag then pressing it firmly to the site.
I have 42 bites, 34 of them are spread out on both my feet. I have tried it all, the cold bath and hot, Cortizone lotion, right now they are covered in toothpaste with baking soda and in socks…I’m also waiting for my pain killer to kick in. I did make a salve using baking soda + warm water + lavender oil and that seemed to help. I just ran out. This is horrible. I’m also adding prayer.
Ive me told theres itching cream from AVON that works, after u put the cream on it takes 15 mins or less 2 work!!!!
LOL! I know it sucks my face looks like someone bashed me up!
My eye is purple because of a mosquito.
Where I got my bites? I got it because my friend forgotten
To close the door at night.
Anyways, I got a mosquito bite on my ear too, it’s soooo red
You might not read this but I’m doing it for others
Avons Skin so Soft is a good deterrent and it smells good
I am in Maine and not only do I have a bijillion mosquito bites but I have benn stung and bitten by horseflys bed bugs (yes they exist) bees black flys and a lot more…
yes bedbugs do exist and they are one of the worst things ever to exist there up there with fleas (hate those things) they are nearly impossible to get rid of i thought dont let the bed bugs bite was just a saying i learned the hard way
this totally worked
Mosquitos find me wherever I go, so I Used Off! this morning on most of my body. Wouldn’t you know it, they found the nape of my neck to bite me! So I tried toothpaste…didn’t really work for me. Then I looked on my desk and saw hand sanitizer. It worked like a charm to stop the itching!
I think I will try this one!! I have some nasty big bites and they are driving me crazy!!
My grand father worked with off in its earlier years
this is for those who can stand the short amount of pain and that smoke.take a lit cigarette and hold it as close as you can with out touching the skin,when it starts burning you take it away and the itch should be gone.been doing this for years and it works.
You can use the doroterent ( brand and I think that’s how you spell it)
Cortizone 10 Plus works REALLY good, INSTANT reief..
Blah! I’m sitting here in misery after Cortizone 10
The hot bath can be upgraded with the addition of an oatmeal addition. Run the oatmeal through a coffee grinder to turn it to dust and add about 1/2 cup to a tub of hot water. Sit for about 20 minutes and your done with the itch.
Also try adding effervescent lesstablets into your cool bath.I use the less expensivtyp
Aloe Vera works. It just wears of in like 30 minutes.
So use it before bed and hope you fall asleep really fast.
I heard the same thing about making an x on the bug bite that goes right through the center. You must do t right and hard enough though so press down with your nail until it feels like you want to cry. If you have no nails, like me, just use a non- sharp and smooth lined object. I usually use the smooth edges on tweezers. If you don’t do it hard enough though, the itchiness will only get 10x worse. If you do it hard enough it will completely go away!
Try orajel…or the store brand
Yeah, I have that burts bees bug bite relief, it’s amazing. But, my dog ate it… *sighs** So the toothpaste worked for me. ha
hahahaha this is hilarious! 😀
I just got back from the cottage with loads of mosquito bites on my feet! I tried the toothpaste remedy and got a nice cooling relief! Thanks for the posts!
Thanks guys, the toothpaste work. First I cleaned my legs with alcohol, let it dry when I put the toothpaste on. It works thanks again.
Omg the tooth paste worked 4 me 2! It was so funny. As soon as i put it on instant relif!+
OMG!!!! the soap didnt work and the toothpaste kinda did but toothpaste works best for burns
i feel better just knowing I am not only one with over 50 bites but the burn remark made me think of the best home remedy tip I was ever given. Tea bag. REALLY u don’t want to apply it hot but u do want to have it seeped so I keep a used one handy and run it under cold water then press to burn. If used not available quickly run one under hottest sink water squeeze n run under cold water b4 applying.unbelievable how instantly pain disappears.9 of 10 times if caught early snuff won’t even blister. Grandma told me that at 9 I am 53 n I swear by it. Now my Skeeter bites aren’t itching as much cuz my mind was off it. Oops scratch that
I have that and it does not work AT ALL for me. All it does is make it itch more because you have to rub it in. Waste of money!
I return to this website yearly to catch up on the latest mosquito relief tips. I have a new one for you this year. In desperation this year I tried an Antibiotic Cream WITH PAIN RELIEF. To my amazment it worked with in 30 seconds. And the bites I had scratched bloody, well they healed quickly. It seems to work for about 12 hours and them I just apply a dab again. It really works well for no-see-ums also. Almost all of the pharmacies have their own brand of this product.
One more Powerful remedy you may want to consider:
Natural Mineral Water is the best, if you are fortunate enough to live near them. The higher the silica content, the better it will work.
Hot mineral water (springs) works just as good as cold mineral water.
Go to the nearest mineral baths and get in, all the way, head and face included. (Warning: may cause changes to artificially colored hair).
The mineral water opens up the pours, draws toxins out through the pours and exfoliates at the same time. Not to mention how good you feel and look after a day at the mineral baths.
Bring a few empty gallon jugs to fill up while you are there so you can treat yourself at home, where you can either pour the water into a container to soak a body part, or pour it into a bowl and use a clean cloth to keep pouring it over your bites.
Hot Epsom Salt baths and other packaged mineral bath salts are a good alternative but pale in comparison to the real thing. It is true, the water should be as hot as you can bear it, for best results, if you don’t have access to mineral springs.
I have been suffering from mosquito and flea bite allergies all of my life. It totally sucks. The older you get, the worse it affects you. The itching never stops, sometimes for weeks. The itching can make you a bit psychotic. The psychosis itself causes more (imaginary) itching.
Then there are the infections: Staph and Impetigo (a close relative of leprosy, I am told), which doesn’t mean you have to be living in a tropical or subtropical climate, it’s just in the dirt, everywhere, the weather needs to be warm, that’s all. Once you have a Staph infection, it lives on your skin, forever, so you will always be prone to get it again.
Then there are the scars, which can take weeks, months, even years to go away, some never do.
Most of you who have visited this site realize, you cannot put some triple antibiotic cream on a band-aide and call it good. For me, after an attack, it would take hundreds of band-aides, changing them twice a day, until they are gone. We don’t just get one or two bites, do we? Once they find us, we are attacked! Everywhere and anywhere!
Then, the adhesive on the band aides, after prolonged use, adds insult to injury, because the adhesive can cause a skin reaction. Just perfect!
Mosquito bite allergies are horrible, high maintenance, expensive and feared, during the time of the year you should be having fun.
The best place to spend your summer vacation, if you suffer from this, is at a Natural Mineral Bath or Springs, Spa or Resort. Most of them cost money but the good ones usually have a sauna and a place to jump into cold water after the sauna to close the pours. Then go back to the mineral water, sauna and cold water again, do 2 more rounds. If you are at a spring with a bathtub, you don’t have to empty and refill it between rounds, because the power of the minerals doesn’t disappear.
If you can find a local, they usually know how to access areas of the mineral waters for free. Get ready to do some walking though. There are natural mineral springs all over the world. Remember, the higher the Silica content in the water, the better it will work. Not all mineral water has to stink. In fact, the best mineral waters don’t. Still, if stinky (sulfur smelling) is all you can access, do it! It’s all good.
You won’t regret it, even if you don’t suffer from this disturbing condition. The mineral baths can make you look and feel 10 years younger!
There are books that contain the locations of all the known natural mineral springs around the world. Most mineral springs, open to the public or known, usually have the water evaluated each year and post the results, showing the amounts of what natural minerals are in the water, at that particular spring.
Also, keep your fingernails cut as short as possible, at all times and wash your hands, scrub with a nail brush, every time you have an itch. Before you scratch, look down at those dirty fingernails first.
If you can’t resist the itch, use a vegetable dry brush (get one at your local health food store). Never get it wet and don’t let anyone else use it. That way, you get to scratch the itch, in a healthy way, without doing damage to your skin.
Mineral Baths and Dry Brushing works for all ailments, all bug bites, all skin problems and anything else that may be wrong with your health.
And… this is the best remedy you will find for mosquito bites on this link!
Yeah, mosquito’s really suck and DEET rocks! I don’t care what the purists say. You do what you need to do.
Too long to read the whole thing.
I just got a couple whopper bites on my wrist. Buggin’ the heak outa me. I do appreciate those who say this worked or that worked. I’m thinking of trying the toothpaste shortly. If it works I won’t be back. Why come back? Got what I wanted. NO?
I’m also suffering with a bad mozzie allergy. Unfortunately I got bitten two nights ago only three times, twice on my left foot and once on my right. But right now at this point in time I feel lie u am going INSANE from the intense itching that covers both my feet. My right foot is almost twice it’s size…. The left is the same. I can hardly walk at all – I am laid up with my feet up with ice packs. I have never found anything that relieves it. I actually just applied some hydrocortisone cream… And then put Paraderm plus over the top of that to see what would happen. But still pure itchiness that’s actually starting to burn and feel very stingy. I won’t be doing that one again.
I think that if you have a tel allergic reaction, then the only thing that relieves it us time unfortunately.
If you have swollen legs, you should get a prescription from your doctor for Prednisone. That will relieve the swelling and itching.
Benedryl helps if there’s allergic reaction… no prescription needed.
Hi Ruthie. I know just how you feel. Since moving to the States, I’ve become allergic to mosquito bites too. The bites swell up flat but large and a big blotchy red/pink area surrounds each bite. The itch covers a big area around the bite.
Hydro Cortisone does almost nothing to relieve the pesty itch. Neither does Ammonia stick, witch hazel, alcohol rub, lemon, vinegar, etc. The only things that seem to work for at least several hours are taking a regular hot shower, and then rubbing some Aloe Vera after sun Gel (like the green Solarcaine gel, found in Walmart) on it lightly and lots of it with a cotton ball. Try not to use your finger to rub it on, I’ve found that I itch less quicker when using a cotton ball instead. Walk less. It seems that walking increases bloodflow into the bite area which makes the itch flare up again.
The section on Staph is incorrect. EVERYONE has staph living on their skin. That includes me, you & every other person on earth. The risk of getting it again is no more than anyone else. That being said, anyone with an open “wound” should be careful that it’s kept clean & appropriately “dressed”.
i got a huge infection from a mosquito bites and the baking soda water thing was awesome
I’m trying Ivory soap & so far it’s working,it just takes mins to work.:)
the hot bath/shower works
as well as the orajel, as long as it is on a small area; numbing occurs almost instantly
Skin So Soft from Avon is supposed to help keep them off of you. I don’t know if that works but I do know it does help the itch for about 8 hrs per application
I use to use skin so soft from avon and it does keep them off of you. I know this, cause when I was using it, never got bit by anything. But once I stopped using it, I got bit like crazy. Now I make sure I have a good supply of skin so soft on hand at all times!!!
SSS from AVON works wonders. The OFF WILDERNESS Stuff does not. I tried OFF for the first time because I was out of the AVON… and was ate up after a hike. I never have that with the SSS. So go with the AVON. As an added bonus the AVON even comes with sunscreen in it. So if you have little ones, and need to double up… it is good to use.
Regular off doesn’t do anything but the deep woods off works wonder when you’re hiking!
…yes and skin so soft has a pleasant smell too.
that stuff works soo good just your skin is oily but if you can get over that its the best bug spray out their
COOL!! I’m SOOOOOOO trying that!
omg!! my mother told me tht 2 haha, i dont think it works to prevent them either
Haha, we used to use Skin So Soft on our dogs to prevent ticks. It worked great!
Mosquito tencture
Don’t do chemicals? Four tips and a wilderness solution
So what if your camping or outdoors and you don’t have the benefit of these chemicals. Try the milk sap from Dandelions, pulverized evergreen cones and boiled pine sap, Dandelion sap is natural latex (with out the properties of rubber tree latex) it protects the skin and prevents the skin from releasing CO2, pine irritates Mosquitoes, and disinfects skin. Ratio: 1:20 1 part saps by 20 water,oil, or alcohol (vodka included or not).
Mosquitoes are attracted to exhaled breathe or CO2 and (octenol),body heat, moisture, movement, and dark colors. Mosquitoes show a preference for Nonanal a chemical they detect through smell and other odors they find attractive. Mosquitos land on the body and begin probing for (rarely lucky with the first attempt) a vein, cappullary, or artery approx. 10secs ea. attempt. As blood goes in the mosquito, Histamines and other biological agents are released from the mosquito.This is what causes pain, swelling, and disease.
Why so many things work for different people is because they do one or a combination of these four things:
Obstruction of the this process means prevention and relief.
Tip 1 protect the skin
Tip 2 irritate or block Mosquitos stinger
Tip 3 disguise odor
Tip 4 disinfect, use anti histamine
Hello,
i get eatin alive by mosqutoes all the time yr around.if i spray evrywer but forget my face theyll bite my face its horrible.
when i was reading the tips i saw the one that said nail polish and i thought it said nail polish REMOVER ha so i tried that and actly that works as well. at the moment i hav around 10 tiny bits all over my anckles and 3 er 4 wipes of the remover relieved the itch in a matter of minutes. 🙂 thanks for the tips ur a life savor to ppl with sweet blood lik me xD!!!
THANK YOU (im allergic and this work soo good)
lol wen i was in second grade. my teacher said wen u use the nail polish, its best to apply the clear one for some reason. and it will work best if applied b4 u scratch it :).its only spring and there r mosquitos EVERYWHERE!
I have always been an outdoor person but, those stupid pesky mosquitos….anywayssss the dry bar of soap worked 4 me. i also drew a circle around the bite with a black pen and it works awesomely!
I just got a mosquito bite on really bad sunburn and it hurts so much!!! Do you know anything that can help this? Will aloe vera gel work?
Yes it will aloe on mosquito bite dose help and on your sunburn will help both
Slap some vinegar on the sunburn. It will help, and might even help the itching of the bite. Vinegar is also good for jellyfish bites. The smell will go away shortly but be sure to apply vinegar liberally and the burn will ease.
OMG i ried thi WOW! i would never have guessed! we bought the stuff fot the sore throats and it didnt wrk for that, so its not completely worthles!!!
The best is obvioulsly to avoid bites. I was a camp counselor in college. We used to get the fire going in the evenings then throw some wet wood or leaves on it to get things smoky. We’d stand in the smoke. We were rarely bitten. You could throw the same smoky sweatshirt on for a few nights and do okay. But when you do get bitten, why is it always the ankles?
Ankles have softer skin as well as the top of the foot. They prefer to jab you there. (:
Deodarant worked for me
Just curious…
Preparation H ?!?
Is there anything you haven’t tried? Talk about thinking outside the box…
LOL, Trey, Preparation H (CREAM) also works for dark circles & bags under the eyes! I heard about it & tried it during a pagent I was in. It really works! It reduces swelling & puffiness. Gotta use the cream though, not the ointment!
Thank you soo much. I am deffinatly going to try these. You have lots of good ideas here. I hope they work. I have 19 mosquito bites just on my knees, then on my feet, and 2 on my neck area and a lil on my hands. It is craazy and thanks for giving me treatment ideas 🙂
For anyone with bites this will help you next time before you get bites bath with skin so soft regularly and nothing will bite you not even flees for pet owners trust me
Clay This is the common substance that comes out of the ground. Add water, enough to make into a past, then smear it on. If it dries out, repeat the process throwing away the old. It really works with some relief almost immediately. (Also works for burns)
This rubbing alchohal and tape worked in about 2 minutes, how did these people find out about these ways. thanks
I tried tea tree oil, cortisone 10, rubbing Alcohol, deodorant, aloe, soap and iced tap water, none of these worked for me. I got so desperate I took a bar of ivory soap down to the lake and was my legs in ice cold lake water and it worked. Something to do with lakes, streams, any natural water that does wonders for healing.
thank you sooo much!! my bite on my arm was like 4 inchs long and wide! it was so itchy i couldnt help but to itch it .( till it was red.) i used bendryl cream and it NEVER WORKED! but then i looked it up on google and found your 4o mosquito bite, itch relief tips.lemon juice,baking soda and water, green tea bag, salt and water, and rubbing aochol. it worked! that was one relief! It stings for like 10 seconds, but hey, it works! thanks for the cure! p.s right now it is really hard to type because i have an ice pack on my itchy arm:)
i tried the toothpaste and it really works. i was all like “that is NEVA GONNA WORK”. But i tried it because the misquiteo bite was driven me crazy. “IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!
i found that circling the bite with a pen helps with swelling i went on a nature trip a couple days ago and i got 2 bites on my right arm and like 18 on my legs for me if i don’t start scratching them in the first place they don’t itch i also just try not to think about them you know distract myself but when that don’t work i circle it with pen and for some reason if i wait it makes it stop itching and swelling
My 7 year old was playing outside and had 20 bites on her legs. I looked at may suggestions and thought I would try the baking soda..when I heard her say Ahhhh I knew I had a winner she said it felt so much better I noticed she was not itching. I am so glad it worked. Nothing is worse then seeing your daughter uncomfortable. All natural and always avail.
Goodies headache powder mixed with a bit of water to make a paste, place of bite and let dry! its amazing!
I did not have any over-the-counter remedies on hand when I got bitten about 18 times, but what did work for ME (after reading this article) was to apply rubbing alcohol and then toothpaste. I also showered twice a day to re-apply because they lost their effectiveness after about 8 to 10 hours.
Thank goodness it was a Friday night so I could spend the weekend not worrying about the toothpaste getting through or on my good clothes.
Thank you SO MUCH to tipnut for posting this. I was desperate & my local pharmacy was closed!!! Thank you Thank you Thank you.
* (C A M P H O-P H E N I Q U E) * is what you all need to get PERIOD… Mom used it on us kids some 50 years ago and I still use it. It comes in a green bottle, cheep and really works, takes about 5 minutes tho but itch goes away. But until you go buy it, put toothpaste on bite, my husband just did and he says its working somewhat. I used the campho and – NO MORE ITCH at all, YEA
We used this on bites when we were kids too. It does work.
Aluminium Sulfate – as the main ingredient in ‘Stingose’ best I have found so far for Mosquitos!! Once dry it works almost instantly, however I did apply to an itchy bee sting the next day and did not work as fast or effectively, but for Mosquitos!! FANTASTIC!!! 🙂
I didn’t know where to post this but it’s not the Mosquitos siliva it’s just your imuune system reacting to the “bite”
I use hairspray, I spray the bite and let it dry, works, when you bathe reapply to bites after a day or two the itch and bite are gone! I am a horrible scratcher, if I start itching I scratch until I bleed the I have open sores, the hairspray really helps me.
Don’t know if it’s just mental or what but I swear the x-ing it out with fingernail works for me everytime
Spit always works for me ….
Mike,
I use a little table salt with the spit, bite goes away real fast. Rub it in.
After reading nearly half of the responses I decided to try the table salt idea. I poured about 2 tbsp of salt in a small dish and add just enough water to soak the salt. I applied it like a paste on my bites (about 50 on each foot and ankle). It stung a bit but if you can resist scratching in the first minute, it seems to work.
You are correct when stating you need to resist scratching for the first minute, I posted what worked for me above.
Does it have to be your spit Mike? 😉 lol
For me, i spit on it then draw a circle around it with pen, works wonders,
that is extremely disgusting, and it didn’t work.
how is your spit discuting its in YOUR mouth!!!!
I was reading through the list and swore I would see saliva also. I dab a little spit on my mosquito bites and this always seems to work. It’s not instant but if you can refrain from scratching the bite for about a minute after applying, the itching goes away.
OMG same here
There’s been a few times for me that I’ve had a mosquito bite that’s itched so bad I’ve bit it (don’t ask why, haha) and in the process getting a bit of saliva on it, which seemed to help. But I think I’ll stick with Benadryl or something, ha.
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!
DO NOT RUB WD-40 ON YOUR SKIN. It is a poisonous petroleum product!
WD-40 is actually fish oil based!
lol because thats not a bad idea.
OMG poison will get into your bloodstream!!! that is SO not a good idea if you want to live. lol
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.
if I used bandaides to cover all my mosquito bites, I would look like The Mummy.
LOL…The MUMMY…lol
LOOL your funny 😀
Many of these sound good and worth trying, but some don’t sound very safe. Bleach and ammonia applied directly to skin?
If chemistry class serves me right amonia and bleach will create mustard gas. Please, DO NOT EVER MIX BLEACH WITH ANYTHING! I can not stress this enough. Even items such as vinegar can be dangerous with bleach. This mixture creates chlorine gas. Bleach is bad news: just don’t mix it!
I don’t think they mean MIX bleach with something and apply it.
I think they listed it as just ONE solution for itching.
I haven’t tried it for itch but, for other purposes, I have used bleach directly ON my skin and also in my bath water. Been doing it for about 10 years with NO problem.
It’s not like I use it on a daily schedule but maybe once or twice a week.
I wouldn’t use bleach on my skin. Look how it destroys your tub. It takes the finish right off. For those people who are allergic to natural remedies that have sulfites in them I use benadryl or purell.
I agree with jean(MY name too)…common sense tells u not 2 use bleach and amonia TOGETHER but used individually they DO work. I put a little bleach n my bath water and i also have used it straight and i still have skin….hasn’t eaten me raw YET…
What the what? You put bleach in your bathwater!? Whoa… Just spilling a small amount of bleach on my skin causes a mild rash. The idea of sitting naked in a tub full of bleach water is a terrifying thought.
ur not supposed to FILL up your bath water with bleach, just pour alittle and it shouldnt do any harm
Actually the popular product AFTER BITE is nothing more than Ammonia and an oil mixture. That is why Ammonia and Bleach are on the list. I have used After Bite and it causes no adverse side affects when applied directly to skin, however this product doesn’t work that well (for me anyway).
I find that it just makes it sting as opposed to itch for a second and then itches again….
Dichlorin (Bleach) and trisulfer (amonia) are the only components in mustard gas….so that oil is not amonia.
Bleach is not “dichlorin”, it is sodium hypochlorite (NaCLO). Ammonia is not “trisulfer”, it is nitrogen compound (NH3).
While mixing household bleach and ammonia together will produce a toxic gas (chloramine NH2CL), it is not mustard gas (1,5-dichloro-3-thiapentane). Mustard gas is an extremely potent blister agent, causing large fluid filled blisters 12-24 hours after exposure. Mixing bleach and ammonia will not produce mustard gas, but it can be dangerous.
Directed to Mobetter…
1. Chlorine is abbreviated as Cl, not CL.
2. House hold ammonia is ammonium hydroxide, it’s vapor pressure is substantially weak so it does emit NH3(g) vapors.
3. The production of chloramine isn’t always 100% guaranteed- the reaction leaves the system with amine and chloro radicals… based on its reaction conditions pends what your products will be.
You’re absolutely correct that the components do not synthesis mustard gas by any close means.
-Just wanted to clarify some things.
Also, I personally use any topical anesthetics that use lidocaine or benzocaine. I’m sure individuals can find something of the sort in their medicine cabnits.
Thanks for posting this!
only if you wash it off with cool water because then your skin will have a bleach spot permanently.
please dont do that
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.
Hot water like in a shower is the only thing that has help me. When I try an icepak, the bites swell more and I end up with extreme itching and then a big blister. Heat (hot water ) is the way to go!
Hmmm I dunno but ice works perfectly on me i always use an ice pack and put it on the bite and it always works ^_^ it never swells or give me blisters =D
I used ice on a bite and all it did was make it worse and I had to call “ask a nurse” and she said it freezes the venom in that spot and I should put heat packs on it and that worked.
You may be allergic to the ice. A separate problem altogether. My daughter gets hives from the cold. She even struggles with itchy tounge when she eats a popsicle. May not be related to the insect bite at all.
i think it’s different for people, as long as it works for you than use it cause it might not work on you, but may work for someone else 🙂
Localised heat is the only thing that works for me.
I’m allergic to mosquito bites, so I get extensive swelling – with a bad bite I can get a swelling that’s three inches across. The skin becomes hot and tight and the itch is unbearable – but the more I scratch, the worse the swelling will be. These bites are not infected, just terribly swollen (I’ve had them so bad I’ve been sent to the A&E department by a friend who’s a nurse and was very concerned by the site of my swollen foot!)
I tried literally everything – oral antihistamines, topical creams, home remedies – I’ve walked around with bananaskins clingfilmed onto my feet, baking soda paste on my hands and various over the counter remedies on other parts of me, and they just do not work. The itch persists, I scratch (willpower only goes so far – and I have been known to scratch in my sleep) and the bite swells up.
Topical application of localised heat dissipates the histamine all at once and stops the itching. A whole hot shower is a bit excessive – try just tipping a clean flannel into water that’s as hot as you can stand it, and applying it as a compress to the bite site. Hold it against the bite – I try to do it for 10 seconds. It takes the itch out of the bites for anything up to eight hours. No itch, no scratching. No scratching, and while I still get an allergic reaction, the bumps are more like an inch of swelling, not huge lumps. They also heal far more quickly.
My personal combination now is an oral antihistamine (for good luck more than anything else), hot compresses followed by antiseptic cream, and then an oral anti-inflammatory to help bring the swelling down. It usually puts paid to my bites in two or three days, whereas before I could suffer for a week or ten days with a bad bite.
Oh – and of course never underestimate the efficacy of just not getting bitten, which is sometimes easier said than done!
Yea I think im allergic too. Not as bad as your bites but the hot shower made me itch like crazy and itch in my sleep too (not my fault) lol. I have them all the way up my back and all over my waist line and a few on my arms and legs. Theres 3 of them that are HUGE I used the baking soda paste and it gave me relief for about an hour and it was un bearable itching again… I just used a REALLY hot towel and rubbed it on my bites and then I put some deoterant on the bites it helped a little you might wanna try that. I cant take benedrill or anything like that because I get hives and I get super mean Im like allergic to it. But I would try the deoterant thing and then try to go to sleep right after it ^_^
My 7 yr old daughter is like this too. If she gets a bite on her ankle, in twelve hours you won’t be able to tell where her ankle used to be. We went camping this weekend. I used bug spray every day. Day two, I didn’t use it until late afternoon, nobody else was being bothered. She counted her bites tonight… 19! I have to find a better repellant and I am here trying to find a remedy for comfort and to reduce swelling. She also scratches in her sleep. I am worried about infection.
I think I may be allergic as well. I have a MASSIVE bite on my underarm and it’s hot, it’s bright red, and it itches so bad.
Omg the tooth paste worked 4 me 2! It was so funny. As soon as i put it on instant relif! It works for me. I wouldnt use bleach. Couldnt that make u pass out n stuff?
same here
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.
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?
Acetone isn’t in nail polish. It’s in nail polish remover.
Also, anti-perspirant is what can lead to Parkinson’s, not deodorant. Tom’s of Maine is aluminum free and perfectly safe.
I am doing allergy shots and have had difficulty with itchy reactions. I found this site after being EXTREMELY itchy all night. I tried the deodorant remedy, and this is the only thing that relieved my itching enough to be able to sleep for a few hours. When the itching is bad enough that you fantasize about peeling the skin off your body, I think trying some remedies like the deodorant can’t be bad. I guess you’ve never had any reactions that have been that bad. Good for you, but for others, a little relief can go a long way for sanity. Thanks so much to tipnut for posting this. It helped me get through the day for sure!
tea tree oil is a wonderful product! you know nothing about it. my mom uses this health company called melaluca and they say tea tree oil is the best product to use!
a long time ago,when there wasnt these niffty over the counter meds they used tea trea oil,its in alot of things now.just go to the store and look in the meds isle or ask any older women over 50.
All these remedies are to be done in moderation not numerous times a day, or for a long period of time. Before you go in with guns blazing do research, for the effects you are talking about people would have to do them everyday for more hours then are in a day, think of it especially the deodorant, people use that on a daily basis, yet the percentage of people who get parkinsons from it are few. Also Tea Tree oil & lavender can cause temporary breast enlargement in some boys, but it is very rare & does not happen in most cases, and in all cases as soon as a young boy stops using the tea tree oil & lavender, their breast return to normal & is no way a permenant condition. oh and again, the research was over the span of a year with daily use. Again, take your own advice & do some research before you go shooting your mouth out about the dangers of certain remedies.
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 :).
thank you for informing him
That picture at the top of the page is not a mosquito it is a mosquito eater.
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.
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!
AND…your TipNut avitar isn’t a REAL person – it’s a CARTOON! Gasp! Your “mosquito” pic at the top is fine. We all get the idea of what it’s supposed to represent. Geesh!
Toothpaste works great
doesnt work for me.
Ive been up since the middle of the night—-itching….got the computer out and looked up bite relief………So far, I have rubbed soap on my legs (full of mosquitos), used Vodka (on the spots), tried crushing Alka Seltzer topical treatment, toothpaste and NOTHING has worked. Just took hot bath and itching remains crazy. Going insane. Continuing to try others. Will advise! ughhhh… 🙁
i have tried the toothpaste it helps a little bit then i tried the hot bath it helped for about an hour then itching remained then i tried ice and it feels so nice it stops the itching for such a lond time thank you for your advise
Try the spit. I did that while sitting here reading all this stuff and now no more itch!!!
Worked great for me.. and my feet are now a shiny, pearly white! lol But seriously, the toothpaste stopped the itch immediately.
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.
I do this all the time! My BF thinks I’ve tricked my mind into believing this works, but either way, it works wonders, its 100% natural and I always have a finger with me!
OMG! I do the same exact thing and it works excelent!!
me to!it does work,whats up with that?any one know?
Wow, I heard about this probably 15 years ago and until just now I had completely forgotten about it. I remember it worked then though.
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!!
I have the same issues my ankles look like balloons with all the red swollen bite marks. I usually wash my ankle with warm soapy water then but a blot of Benadryl cream and a band-aid when going to bed, Otherwise in my sleep I scratch with my toes to the other foot & wake up all scratched up. I have found this works best, sometimes I will even take a Benadryl tablet or two. When I wake in the morning the bite is usually very tiny & no itch/scratch issues.
Of course with the cream & band-aids it looks like a war zone on my lower legs. But it seems to work the best.
I find the key is, whatever you’re doing to do, do it FAST–as soon as you get bit, while the wound is still open! I’m the kind who develops welts to the point where they can feel like they’re going to split the skin. The only thing that helps me is taking Benadryl pills and slapping on bandaids so I don’t scratch in my sleep.
I’ve tried the rubbing alcohol, After Bite, Avon spray, topical Benadryl, everything and they all help with the itchiness a little.
But the key thing to keep in mind is that this is an ALLERGIC response to the mosquito saliva, so only an antihistamine will really bring down the swelling and itching. Other people say they don’t get bit but they probably are–they just aren’t allergic so their skin doesn’t react. And again, take the Benadryl ASAP after getting bit. It really helps!
I’m not allergic, but I’ve tried several things too and none seem to work for more than 5 minutes. I tried that drawing and X with your finger thing…..it caused MORE itching!! SOOOO irritating. I have 8 bites. I guess compared to 20, I’m lucky!:) I’m going to try the toothpaste now.
Oh, the things I’ve tried taht failed were…
-Witch Hazel
-Banana Peel
-Drawing X With Finger (Didn’t get that anyway…)
Oh, quick tip: try only scratching AROUND the bite.
P.S.
John Lancia…….lighten up a little!
(and I mean that in a nice way :- )
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!
PS…Sorry for spelling errors…I type between itching.
–Diann…
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.
I have a bad reaction to mosquito bites, I get the giant welts too. I once used a mint lotion after a hot shower, the shower didnt work but boy did that mint lotion sure work great. Ever since then if I get a bite I slather it with either mint lotion or dab a little mint oil and it works great!
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..:).
Hi, thanks for input on this remedy! Deodorant or antiperspirant?
I just tried deodorant and it worked for me! But we’re all different so what might work for some, might not work for others.
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.
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.
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
i have a daughter that doesn’t do well with any kinda bug bites the best thing that we have used on ther was the benadrel that is the best i would have to say that before she goes out side i give her that an then i have no problem because the bites dont get as big….so the other things might work or might not you could also get the tea tree oil…
I bet you go through a lot of banana’s! I would have to buy stock in them to treat my daughter.
i dig them untill they bleed. pain is better than itching. losing my mind here…..ahhh scabs!
so since you don’t mind pain i have a little crazy very weird thing that helps my bug bites… i get a lighter and flick the flame…then turn it upside down so that the flame heats up the metal part of the lighter for a few seconds and then put flame out and put the heated metal part of my lighter on my bug bite and it’ll sting just for a second or two but then if it was hot enough you won’t have to deal with the itching anymore. and no it doesn’t leave a scar. and yes..i know thats weird…
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!
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.
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.
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.
Has anyone heard of tabbing a slice of fresh gingerroot to the bite?
I have been using raw garlic for the last 55 of my 60 years on mosquito, ant, scorpion and wasp bites. It works wonders. My 3 year old grand daughter knows to go outside with a clove of garlic. She knows what to do with it when she gets bitten and does it because of the relief that comes within seconds.
I know that the crushed plantain leaves work. We used to mash it up a little and then put it directly on the mosquito bite. It’r fast relief, and actually makes it much smaller! In a few cases when I found the mosquito bites early and didn’t scratch them at all, they actually made them disappear entirely!
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!
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!!!
I worked for 18 years, three months a year tilling gardens in the spring. I found that Skin-so-soft and ammonia to be the two best repellents, and ammonia to stop the itch if any do bite. For ticks; after I removed the tick Ichthammol Ointment 20% (Wal-mart)applied to a band-aid and placed over the wound, will drew the blood thinner out and stop the itch.
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
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.
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!
i just tried this and it is amazing. while it hurts like hell for a few seconds, it is instant itch relief. thank you so much for this tip
Yeah it work!!! it’s midnight i think i can get some sleep now!! Thanks, but dont try it for kids cause it does hurt alot at first!
I had a horrible allergic reaction to mosquito bites on my feet. They turned into giant red welts. I tried benedyrl, cortisone cream, vinegar, and toothpaste. This was seriously my last attempt because I was contemplating going to the ER because the itching was so bad and I couldn’t sleep. I tried this, and miracle or miracles, it worked! It’s incredibly painful for about 5 seconds, but I cannot begin to describe the relief I got from this. Thank you for such an amazing remedy! You saved me!
Many years ago I got bittem in Belgium and my legs were covered in mozzy bites which have left me with scars and sometime water retention causes these to be most painful. These bites made my life misrable and I have had bites since but if I cover my legs and body in jungle fomula extra strength lotion I do not get any bites. I went to the doctors with my bites and he gave me some pads shiny on one side and white bandage type on the other. I applied insect cream then put the pad on shiny side up this draws the puss out the bite you can see it on the pad next day if you leave overnight. If you have aN understanding doctor they will give you Anti biotics.found a bath in really hot water with some vinegar did wonders until I applied my other remedies. THE IDEA IS TO RID YOURSELF OF THE POISON THESE HORRID THINGS INJECT.
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
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.
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 :).
Sea Breeze. Works every time.
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?
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.
I have 11plus mosquito bites on my legs. I was desperate and discovered this site. Thank you all for your suggestions. I started with the Vicks and hand sanitizer together and that provided relief for a moment. I then tried toothpaste and gel deodorant and that helped for a moment too and my legs smell great, I have now added a topical itch relief gel on top of all the others (I did nt wash off the other remedies) and now I have relief. Can’t tell you which one worked for sure but I am itch free for the moment.
I had forgotten about salt and water paste, salt draws out fluids. I was going insane and needed something really fast. Thanks for all of the suggestions! I was close to asking someone to hit me on the head and knock me out!!
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.
Wearing clothes inside out!?!?! GENIOUS! Although my massive mosquito welts are on my heals and ankles, I will keep this in mind for my future sanity if I ever suffer like this again. Perhaps I’ll through on some socks tonight.
Normally I am able to suffer it (the itch) out and ‘walk it off’ so to speak – the bite usually disappears within an hour or so. if it’s about the size of a dime, I put an ‘x’ in it with my fingernail, spit on it and sprinkle some salt on top (my papa’s remedy), although that usually spreads the mosquito bite first for a short time.
This time? Not so lucky!
Perhaps I developed a new allergy! Great!!!
Thanks for this fantastic blog! It’s already been added to my favorites, and I plan on using any and every remedy it takes until I can get on with my life.
Stupid mosquitos!
You’ve definitely figured it out. There is no single cure all. You have to try all the suggestions until you find the one that works.
Growing up, spit (my own) and dry bar of soap (in those days it would have been Ivory) worked. As I’ve grown older and my skin has changed (along with the rest if me), I’ve had to try different things.
A few nights ago I was bitten. The itchiness spread from my ankles up to my knees, along with swelling and small hives.
Tonight, I tried the hot compress (damp washcloth heated in the microwave and kept in place for 60 seconds). Relief was instantaneous, but after a few minutes I felt it begin to return.
Next I tried the basil because I have it growing in my yard.
I took about 12-15 large leaves and crushed them with a mortar and pestle until the juices ran freely. I used the pulp like a sponge and painted both of my entire legs.
An hour has gone by and still no itching and the swelling has greatly diminished.
Bottom line: try each suggestion until you find the one that works for you. And don’t be surprised if sometime down the road you have to repeat the process and find a new remedy.
Grandma, you’re so right. I appreciate all the suggestions here. I have also used holy basis liquid that seems to calm them down.
I meant holy basil.:)
I also reccommend elevating the bitten area to reduce swelling. Reducing the swelling should help the bites to dissappear faster.
Vicks is a lifesaver!!
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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?
ALL YOU nEED IS YOUR OWN SALIVA. DAB THE BITE WITH YOUR FINGER. ANOTHER KNOWN CURE 4 ITCHING IS CIGARRETE ASHES.
your wrong. but close. tobacco helps stop the itching. not cigarette ashes.
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!
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!!!!!
Tell me about it! i went to a party and it was outside, and i have atleast 75 mosquito bites. it is very frustrating sometimes, but i found that the suggestion above about the hot water and the spoon worked pretty well; better than most i have tried. also, neutrogena has a face mask that i put all over then and that seemed to work well also.
Try Absorbine Jr or Adolph’s meat tenderizer (A’s meat tenderizer is great for bee stings) both work…
The meat tendorizer also works on jellyfish stings.
Same thing happened to me 3 days ago Toni. It drives me mad when I scratch them…you know that feeling of wanting to cry and say ahhhh at the same time? The only thing that has helped had been NOT to scratch, smearing a Hydrocortisone product on it all (Lanacaine) and taking 2 benedrill tablets. Then, I pass out and NOTHING bothers me. I got bitten by either “no-see-ums” or chiggers on a porch over a canal., I first cleansed the area with Johnson and Johnson’s Anteseptic Wash (has lidocane in it) , then the cream, then pills 2x a day. If you find a better cure, please let me know.Good luck.
Oatmeal bath, Hot!
Dab pure pear oil on it or rub a sliced pear on them it helps instantly!
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…!
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?
The heat actually works the same as itching does except more efficiently. The itching sensation is a mild pain reaction. By scratching we damage the nerves thus causing relief. Applying a very hot compress or lighter or heated spoon will also damage the same pain receptors but with out the dirty nails and blood. I works longer and less likely to cause infection.
Note: The heat needs to be hot enough to hurt, but not hot enough to actually burn yourself.
My mom would always use a lighter or match close enough to the skin to hurt but never touch the flame to the skin. I now do this and it gives instant and lasting/permanent relief.
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.
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.
Some of us just have chemistry that attacks the lil buggers. I find that if I shower just before dusk, and refrain from sweaty activities, they leave me alone.
Also, I’ve noticed that running scalding water over a bite significantly reduces itching.
Dryer sheets under a hat or on your shoulder under a shirt will keep them away from your head
PEAR OIL! 🙂
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)
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.
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.
Hehehe… cute!
I just tried Windex.. it didnt help…it stings really bad!
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 =)
YES! Dr Bronner’s Pepperment Oil Castile Soap works wonders. I use this in a hot shower or on a hot towel as a cpmpress. Just use hot water and add a splash of the soap and apply to the bites. As I poseted before, rubbing mint lotion or mint oil directly on bites seems to help me as well.
I smack my mosquito bites and it does wonders! I highly recommend it!
naughty, naughty!! lol smacking 🙂
I just used vicks on about 50 bites…it does feel a bit better.
Scratch and X in the mosquito bite, it helps relieve the itching and swelling
YES! thanks!
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!!!!!!
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!!
I use Skin So Soft by Avon. It’s always done the trick for me when I put it on.
Bob I have listed home remedies for that too, see: How to Prevent Mosquito Bites
Hope this helps :).
Ammonia and bleach on skin ?!?!?
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. 😉
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.
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.
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.
there may be something to that. I am A pos and I have over 50 bites on my legs right now. I am trying everything but at the moment myh legs are covered with aspirin paste and it has kept me from scratching…..also took a couple of aspirin figured I would work from outside in and inside out!
Maybe? I’m also A+ and seem to suffer more than those around me. I can get bit and within moments it swells. And my swelling is generally worse than many others I know. Thus I generally try to prevent it with Skin So Soft or OFF.
NO..blood type does not affect. Diabetes…does not affect either. Is an aroma from you that attracts mosquitos. Unfortunately, some of us get more attraction than others.
Other suggestion for those who need immediate relief but don’t have something close by: your own saliva. Was a remedy used in pioneer times and is effective. Do clean off later and apply an astringent type product. Benadryl spray works wonders for the associated itching and swelling; can be reapplied as needed. Good luck with the season!!
I agree. I am A+ & dh is O+. He tends to get bitten more than I do. I rarely use sqeeter spray – don’t like the chemical on me.
I disagree. I am AB- and I get eaten alive. I usually am the target even when others are near me.
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.
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!
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!!
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).
I drink Korbel…before you know it, they stop itching!
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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)
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! 🙂
My son is also A+ and he looks like he has some sort of skin disorder because of all the bites (and scratching). I would be curious to know if there has been any kind of study done on this blood type thing.
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.
Try antibacterial Wet Ones!
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.
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!
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!!!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!!
apple cider vinager works great, or it has for the past hour or so…
thanks heaps i couldnt remember whether the bite was an acid or an alkali thankx
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.
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)
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
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.
Last night, I was at a concert and was wearing shorts. I now have mosquito bites all over my legs, ankles, and on my bum cheeks. 🙁
What I did first thing this morning was put Triple Antobiotic Cream with Itch Relief to all of my bites, and it has really helped!
Later today, I will most deff try the hot spoon thing, and I pray that it works!!
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 !?
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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….
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.
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.
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
I found that if you put an x on ur bite and you itch it would really be itching but it will satisfy ur needs
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.
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
honey just makes them eat you more!!
and if you do use honey anyway shae yourlegs first!!
does anyones mosquito bites form a bubble in the middle of the bite?
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.
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
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.
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?)
Garlic is actually toxic to cats, as are many things that are “Good for us”.
I take garlic myself and my grandfather always gave it to his dogs but when I got my cats I read up on it and they can’t have garlic, and many other things you wouldn’t think would hurt them.
Their system is just very different from ours, and even from dogs.
My count of bites is about 30 now, 20 on legs the rest over arms and back.
I’m young but I’ve finally managed to overcome the need to scratch (it’s only the British blighter’s that got me). Basically because its hot and we’ve been wearing skirts everyday, so I thought if I don’t touch them they’ll go away… I’ve put every spray and cream on them I can find, the teaspoon in hot water took away the itch but seemed to keep them at the same size and redness when its appearance that matters most atm. Some are slowly shrinking on their own but some are just staying huge with what I assume is icky stuff inside which make them feel solid to touch and bright red to look at. I’ve been bitten all my life as my parents never did any preventive things to start with but I think that would help any one.
The bicarbonate soda/water paste helps the itching moderately but looks terrible – not something you can take with you. All day in a park I’ve been using a cooling spray which didn’t really do anything… Are there any tips that speed up the break down of the bite so it heels quicker or is it a time thing? Is it better to keep skin moist or dry? so many conflicting tips like hot//cold…
I’m definitely trying everything, I have so many I can try lots separately but the ones that have gone the most are the ones, uncovered by clothes (like on my hand and arm) and left alone, sometimes with a cooling spray – but this seems to depend on bites. Is it possible to have different reactions to bites from separate mosquitoes because I have some that are raised solid lumps and some that cover a wider area and seem deeper under the skin and not improving over any time.
The creams tried have been hydro cortisone and anti histamine. now I’m trying the oil from vitamin E capsules. Fingers crossed.
People who are allergic to cats and dogs can take shots for their allergies. Does ANYONE know if there is such a thing for mosquito bites? I certainly can’t find it.
Skin So Soft soap, body oil, body lotion, and bug spray. If you use all of these items you won’t get eatten alive by mosquitos!!!
The itching described above is like mine, huge welts, horrible itching, and the bite may last two weeks or more.
the cure?,
After you have scratched the mosquito bite blister off,
1)light a match
2)blow it out after it lights
3)let it cool (30 seconds or so)
4)rub the burned tip into the center of mosquito bite.
Ugly I know, but it works.
Mosquito Magnet, should be my name! The worst part is I live in Louisiana now! This place is mosquito country! After reading the tips and trying a few, I thought about another option and tried it myself. Although, it’s temporary relief, it does seem to work for a few hours. I worked out in my yard and was attacked because I thought, maybe, just maybe, the darn pests wouldn’t be attracted to me that day. Don’t ask me what I was on to think that…Anyway, after being mutilated by them and receiving about twelve bites, and one ant bite I became desperate to stop the itch. So I surfed the web and found this site, tried a few remedies and came up with my own. I decided since my husband sometimes uses Head-and-Shoulders to stop the itch from his scalp, I would try it on my insect bites. To my surprise it actually works. It only works for a few hours, but any relief is better than none. I got the idea from reading another post about the soap and water. Head-and-Shoulders shampoo has ingredients that stop itch in the scalp, so I thought why not. First I cleaned the areas with rubbing alcohol and then applied the shampoo to a cotton ball, then applied that to my bites. The shampoo also gives a cooling feeling as well. That was a nice added touch. I don’t know if it’s all in my mind because of my desperation for relief, but if it is, it’s working so far. I hope this tip helps someone else. 🙂
I don’t think I’ve had a Mozzie bite for a couple of decades. One of the benefits of living in a cooler climate, I suppose (I live in London, England). However, my luck ran out the another night when I dozed off in front of the TV and woke a few hours later with a vaguely familiar itching sensation around my exposed calves and feet…
Aaargh!!!!!!!! I feel like I’ve been losing my mind these past few days and probably would have but for the one thing to bring me some sweet relief: Cold water.
When the itching really starts to kick in, I simply sit on the edge of the bath with my feet and lower legs submerged. I find that bathing the affected parts for 15-20 minutes stops the infernal itching for a good 3-4 hours which, at this point, is worth any number of prize winning lottery tickets!
Of course, if you’re bitten all over this isn’t a practical solution and, in fact, I do have a couple of bites on my neck. But for some reason they are nothing like as bothersome as those lower down. Anyhoo, some relief is better than no relief and I would recommend giving it a go. It’s working for me and may do so for you.
i used the liquid band aid called new skin and it seems to work for me
i went to starbucks with friends the other night and stayed at the outside tables, i went home with my legs full f really ugly red itchy bites. the next night i cant sleep bec of itching so i googled bite remedies. i wanted to try vinegar and baking soda but we ran out of baking soda.
i only have powdered deodorant and a foot cooling spray with HAZEL WITCH, i read that somewhere of my googlng, it also has tea tree oil and menthol.
i sprayed both legs with the foot spray but rubbed only one leg with the deodorant. relief was instant on both legs and i slept all night. now when i wake up, i feel the itch again but the leg with deodorant doesnt itch as much..
ive also realized that ivory soap works! because i used it before on my bath and remembered saying “my mosquito bites are gone, i wonder why…” now i know.. and now i will switch back to ivory 😉
I think mosquitoes are attracted to heat. I always have cool skin and my husband and son have hot skin. If I’m outside with one of them I never get bit and they are constantly getting bit. If I’m outside alone they eventually find me and settle for me. I can’t stand the itching and usually scratch the bites right off. And I do get scars. As long as I’m outside with other people the mosquitoes don’t seem to know I’m there. As I’m sitting here reading about bites a misquito flew past my computer screem and then it bit me. I am thankful for all the suggestions and will try them. I knew that heat works for wasp stings but I never thought of trying it for mosquito bites.
Thanks for the help.
I have always been a hot item for mosquitoes. Spending summers at the lake I was constantly searching for strategies of alleviation and prevention. I too suffer the reaction of a giant raised welt when bit by mosquitoes…
Prevention – One summer I picked up some sunscreen with bug repellent, I think it was Copertone, and it worked wonders. I got it use in the afternoons and I was so impressed by the protection I received, I reapplied it for the night (and the rest of the summer). It seriously worked.
Alleviation…oh the pain…file those nails down nice and smooth to avoid infection and scarring.
Bites are so distracting, painful, and annoying – hope this helps!
I usually use my finger nail (clean) and put a large X on the bite and it goes away. My brother uses fabric sheets on his skin and the mosquitos leave him alone. It works!
i used the scotch tape with the rubbing alcohol and its working for me but scotch tape alone doesnt work too well… i actually have the tape on mi bite rite now lol 🙂
I just wanted to say that I had a Birthday party and we had a bonfire with fireworks and all my girlfriends got eaten up!!!!!! I put bug spray all over my legs and I have so many terrible mosquito bites, but I forgot to put some on my face and I don’t have one single bite on my face! Maybe bug spray is worse than no bug spray.
Often eating garlic will help keep th mosquito’s (and possibly everyone else) away. Something about the smell… Also many stores now have the wrist bands that are supposed to keep mosquito’s away. I wore one a few summer ago when I was working at a tourist attraction by a lake and waterfall, I rarely got bit. You have some great tips up, I’d just prefer to try and prevent the problem before it starts. Have a great summer everyone!
ive treid some of the stuff posted in here. if used wrong its painful. to relive the itching i usaly put neosporn and band aids on them if i have a few. and those wrist bands do keep most of the skeets away for the most part.
Ahhhhh I was going crazy! The toothpaste didnt work, neither did the Bananna, rubbing alcohol, baking soda paste, bleach, mouthwash, tums, lemons, or vicks. The the nail polish worked for just a few but……… the doedorant is a SLEEP SAVER! Thank you Thank you Thank you!
Tried the hot spoon/heat trick…it works!!
Creams, solutions, soaps, alcohol, pastes, etc, etc never worked for me. It seemed like cool water should work over hot, as the itch feels “warm”, but that never worked for me either. My mom always did the “X” trick growing up to mixed reviews…I think the pain of the X temporarily makes you forget about the itch, and it returns shortly after.
But the Spoon trick feels like it treats the whole area, and it goes from an uncomfortable hot skin feel, shortly to a cool, calming non-itchy feeling for hours! WOW!
thanks blog…
I dont get alot of mosquito bite but when I do I get huge whelps and a bad case of the itchies. The one thing that really seems to work for me is some stuff for poison ivy called ivy dry. Use it with caution because it will stain your clothes or bedding if it gets on them while it is still wet but once dry everything is ok. It works for the mosquito bites just like it does for ivy. if you can keep the air from getting to the bite it doesnt itch. It seems like the post about the super glue stuff would do the same thing. anyway Ithat is what i use if I have any left over from the occasional case of poison ivy. I need to go get some tonight. the other thins I have tried that seem to work is the bar soap. If you use the bottom part of the bar that has been sitting in water and gotten that slimy feel to it, that part works the best. Again the soap stuff keeps the air from getting to the bite. But I just tried the hot spoon and it seems to have worked. Thank everyone for all the sugestions. I hope mine helps someone.
Never hurts to know or try a new method I just thought I’d share
this since we have a mosquito problem here…And Listerine has no DEET in
>it, which is nicer for spraying on your children! The best way of getting rid of mosquitoes is Listerine, the original
medicinal type. The Dollar Store-type works, too. I was at a deck party
awhile back, and the bugs were having a ball biting everyone.
A man at the party sprayed the lawn and deck floor with Listerine, and the
little demons disappeared. The next year I filled a 4-ounce spray bottle
and used it around my seat whenever I saw mosquitoes. And voila! That
worked as well. It worked at a picnic where we sprayed the area around the
food table, the children’s swing area, and the standing water nearby.
During the summer, I don’t leave home without it…..Pass it on.—————— FRIEND’S COMMENTS:
I tried this on my deck and around all of my doors. It works – in fact, it
killed them instantly.
I bought my bottle from Target and it cost me $1.89. It really doesn’t
take much, and it is a big bottle, too; so it is not as expensive to use as
the can of spray you buy that doesn’t last 30 minutes. So, try this,
please. It will last a couple of days. Don’t spray directly on a wood
door (like your front door), but spray around the frame. Spray around the
window frames, and even inside the dog house if you have one.
I got a mosquito bite on my eye lid and now i can’t open my left eye. Any suggestions or recommendations on how to help this problem.
I’m not sure how old this is but my mother’s eyes swell up when she gets bitten by blackflies and she has to take something like Benadryl (orally) to get the swelling to go down.
I have over 20 bits on both of my legs-tried some of the remedies on here, most were a bust.
Deoderant worked the first application but after that, no relief. Hot compress did not work. X on the bite did not work. Benadryl cream is a joke. None of the pastes seemed to work either.
I found 2 Benadryl caplets, a hot shower, and then an application of a clay face mask worked wonders! Just let the mask dry on the bite and it will relieve the itch for HOURS! Reapply when the itch comes back!
Going to start loading up on garlic and get one of the wrist bands to prevent the little buggers from getting me but the mask works great as post-bite relief.
basil leaves actually give off this scent that insects do not care for. So instead of the toxin DEET, use basil leaves for bug protection. Just rub the leaves on the exposed areas and not have to worry about “anti-itch remedies”.
Thanks for all of the tips, the hot spooon trick worked for fast relief and also reduced the whelps quickly.
Another one that works but only if you get to the bite at the first sign of itching is to apply hard pressure with your fingertips and release. Keep doing this and you break down the histamines that are causing the itching.
I am A+ Blood group and very fair skinned. Whilst working in the yard 4 days ago (without Deet on as I had run out and was too lazy to go and buy some more) I received over 100 bites on my legs and I am very allergic. The swelling around my ankles is so bad I can not stand and put weight on my left leg. My Left thigh has swollen so badly that is almost a third bigger than it usually is and I am running a very high temperature.
No over the counter products work on me, but I was told a few “Native American tricks” by a colleague. Apparantly mosquitos detect you from the carbon monoxide levels that you breath out from approx 50 feet away but it is only when they get very close to you that they hone in on you. Apparantly the colours that you wear when out in the open can help to disguise you with green being the bigggest disguise, followed by brown or white. Red and blues are big no nos as they are like a red rag to a bull.
A mosquito can only fly at around 8 miles per hour, so if you are out in the open and are near an electric point keep a fan running as the fan makes it impossible for a mosquito to land on you to feed as the fan blows them away (although you may still get the odd one or two bites).
They also detest anything oily getting on their wings so keeping your skin well oiled deters them from feeding on you. Not only does it act as a barrier on your skin making it harder for them to land but the oil coats their wings and they are unable to fly again, so they will avoid you like the plague. Cedar oil is one of the best oils to use and works as a huge deterrant if you have it on your skin as they detest cedar (note do NOT apply to face). If you have no cedar oil a tanning oil will work also but is more expensive and needs reapplying more frequently.
Bounce Tumble Dry sheets rubbed on your skin, used in every wash and carried in your pockets also acts as a deterrant for them although I am not sure why.
Thanks again for the hot spoon tip though, this was a new one and much appreciated!
Try First-On Hydrocortisone stick. I got mine at CVS last year and it takes a couple minutes after application to begin working, but you will feel a cooling sensation in your skin, I believe there is some sort of menthol in it. That and the 1% Hydrocortisone combination really helps. It’s small enough to carry in a purse, and it doesn’t smell strong at all.
tobacco juice from chew
I tried the hot method on one of the worst bites on my leg. I was lazy to find something like a spoon to dab on it, and I just poured a cup of hot water on the wound. I was almost screaming the first time. IT STINGS.
My sister has five mosquito bites on the inside of her leg in a circle. These remedies look like they are going to work! Thanks!
I know it has a type of alcohol in it and that’s why it works, but Germ-X works great too. It may sting for a second, but it works.
what kind of deodorant do you guys use because ive been trying lots of remedies and none seems to be working
ive tried the tape, spit, deodorant, hot water..
My mother in law makes plantain oil. I keep this close by in a little vial. It helps relieve the itch and helps the mosquito bites go away faster.
i used the underarm deoderant and my bite was the size as the bottom of a nail polish and when i used the deoderant it was the size of my little finger
– Hot spoon works for me for a short period of time.
– After bite and other such remedies cool the skin temporarily, but are ineffective over a long period of time.
– Watch when you eat sugar, since the mosquitos seem to like the sweetness
– If you use garlic and vinegar in your cooking, the scents will deter the mosquitoes.
– Try growing a basil plant outside your door, or on the patio. It is rumored to deter mosquitoes, as is. Then you can use the leaves on the bites, and in your cooking.
Don’t scratch; it will warm up the area and prolong the itching.
Blood type appears irrelevant. Watch your diet, and see if that changes the number of bites you get.
This is the first year that I have been really bitten in my life. Of course, I’ve gotten a mosquito bite, but I have at least 20 or so and that just hasn’t happened. I’m going crazy because what works for me is rubbing alcohol and I’m out!
Anyway, my oldest son is highly allergic to mosquitos’ and gnats’ saliva. He swells so terribly he looks and feels awful. The first thing we do is give him a benadryl; however, to stop his itch and the swelling, we use rubbing alcohol immediately and then use crushed aspirin that is slightly damped. Children’s Hospital gave us that remedy. By the time you’ve gotten a bite, you’ve more likely than not already scratched it at least once brining most of the ugliness to the skin’s surface. The crushed aspirin in your skin will directly affect the infection swimming underneath. It does not always work on the allergens, but it works a great many times.
Hope this helps!
Absorbine Jr. works instantly on all bug bites for me and my family.
My husband is a mosquito magnet. He is also in the military and they have a trick similar to the hot spoon. Take a lit cigarette and hold it VERY NEAR(NOT ON) the bite. He swears by it and says it never failed him in ‘the back 40’.
Please use caution as not to burn yourself! 🙂
The reason a Lit Cigarette works is not because of the Tobacco. Heat stops the histimine in the bite from spreading – ergo: no itch. You can use almost Any heat source – even hot water. Take the heat as hot as you can stand it – and Whalla!! Histimine – That’s the Cause of the Itch. There is a product called “Click-Away” sold in the UK that uses a piezoelectric principle of heating (no batteries) and works great. HEAT stops the Itching Histimine.
The one that seems to be the most effective for *most* people, is an old lifeguard trick normally used to treat jellyfish sting. Wet the area with white vinegar, and rub in a small amount of seasoning salt. Lifeguards all up and down the beach in Waikiki have it in the lifeguard station(s). It certainly works on *my* mosquito bites.
A little short term solution is to press your fingernail into the skin very near the bite until you feel a bit of pain. There’s only one nerve in the area and it can’t handle two sensations at once, so it’ll forget the itch and transmit the teensy pain sensation to your brain.
use cold water and scotch tape
HELP!!!!! I have over 10 bites all around my body and I need to know which one works the best!!! someone give me a tip
Put clear nail polish on and around the bite… i have it on right now and it WoRkS!!!
Heat stops the Histimine. For VERY serious cases use an Anti-Histimine product like Benzedrine. For quick relief – use heat like from a lit cigarette, hot water, some heat source that is safe and can easily be regulated as not to burn or damage further.
The reason, by the way, that Scratching feels so good is because the scratching is generating Heat – thus stopping the Histimine. Your body responds with scratching as an instinct.
Hi, i just want to say thank you so much for this list. I have been eaten alive these past few days. I have spent all day today with a towl and rubbing alcohol on it as well as just about every cream you could name. Nothing worked. I eventually decided to give in and try one of these “Wacky” ideas and would you believe the nail polish acctually worked!!! Wow i am finally going to get some sleep tonight. THANK YOU!!!!!
MOUTH WASH.
I have at least 20 mosquito bites and I just put on Vicks Vaporub and it cools the bite and helps itchiness… at least for awhile 😛
Ok, at this moment, so far I have tried the soap and water, and the hot water with a spoon, they help for 10 minutes but the itch in unbearable. please HELP!
After reading the previous posts, I tried a combo of things: putting hydrocortisone cream on the bites, letting it dry a little then covering it with a piece of scotch tape. Then I poured some boiling water into a mug, dipped a metal spoon in the water and then touched the spoon to the taped up bites. The next day I just repeated the hydrocortisone and tape method. It’s now day three, and it seems to have worked. I can’t tell though if I could have omitted the hot spoon part.
I forgot to mention that I also took two Benedryl each night.
I just want to say that after trying several over the counter creams and pills, which yielded little to no result, I decided to try the HOT SPOON TIP and it worked instantly. I haven’t slept for the past two nights because of the constant itching from bites I got at the lake (I’m guessing it was “swimmer’s itch” caused by a parasite that lives in the water.)
I’m glad I found this website because now I’ll be able to sleep tonight.
The only other remedy that worked for me was the ice pack. But it only stops the itching for a little while. The hot spoon technique seems to be much more permanent, and stops the itching instantly.
Thanks for a great tip!
I just tried the liquid bandaid. So far so good, it took a few mins to stop itching but its been 1/2 hour now and still no itch.
you forgot benadryl spray! it is fast relief but u have to keep applying it… also hydrocortzone creme… and slice a apple and rub it on the itch then put a dab of neosporin and/or alcohol on it and put a piece of tape over it then get a hot washcloth and put it over it with a cup surrounding it and it will feel great! i have 5 in a row right now on my leg and this works so well for me!
I got bit 7 times on one hand and elevating my hand worked to get rid of the itching instantly and now i am trying toothpaste and it seems to work and keep the itching at bay but we will see how long that lasts
It’s apparent different things work for different people. I really appreciate all the great ideas posted here. On July 4th I got 21 leg bites and 2 arm bites. I’m a male in my mid-thirties, and here’s what worked and what didn’t:
Benedryl itch stick works temporarily, but After Bite and BiteMD sticks don’t seem to. Caladryl didn’t work either. The hot water / spoon thing works great (I have low pain tolerance, so I dabbed the spoon on the bite for a few seconds, then pushed it on until the spoon cooled). Crushing a Tums in water and putting the paste on the bite worked well. Sitting on the edge of the tub letting cold water run over my legs gave temporary relief. None of the other gels or creams did much (Oragel, Vicks, etc.). The banana peel did absolutely nothing.
We’ll see how things feel in the morning…on day three!
Seconded, Julia! It doesn’t necessarily last for long, but making an ‘x’ with your fingernail on the bites can certainly help for a while. My dad taught it to me; he was a forest ranger for years (and constantly itching, to hear him tell it :P).
wow…thats a big list but i have to say that i would have never thought of putting toothpaste on mosquito bites but it works! the minty kind works best. cuz i had gone over to a friends house and we were outside for grillin some burgers and goofin around, stuff like that but i had gotten attacked my mosquitoes. i put crest minty fresh toothpaste on all 17 of my mosquito bites and they stopped iching as soon as i put it on. i was amazed. thanks for the tip. 🙂
I was bitten at least 7 times last night – I tried toothpaste (Crest – paste) first and that seemed to help, but it’s messy. After a while I washed it off then tried some Listerine. Today I hardly see any bumps. So I’m not sure which helped more but I’d try both again.
I have no scientific explanation, but hot water does the trick for me and lasts about six hours–enough time to get a pretty good night’s sleep.
I have a movable shower head. I get the water as hot as I can stand it, then spray it on the affected area a minute or two.
Mosquito bites don’t bother me too much, but fire ant bites do–and do they ever! The hot water treatment is a blessing.
Also works for itching and burning rashes.
Someone mentioned buffalo-sized skeeters. Well, they grow pretty big in the Everglades, too.
Two mosquitoes were looking at a big gator. One said to the other, “Shall we eat it here or take it home?”
“Eat it here,” replied the other. “If we take it home the big ones will take it from us.”
Thanks for all of this. I thought I was the only real mossie magnet in the world till now. We just got back to cold Britain from the hot Mediterranean and all the bites that we thought had died down started up again as soon as we came out at the airport. This makes me think that the only cure is going to be one of those hot baths that makes you look like a boiled lobster. Just a word of warning about Avon So Soft: it makes my eyelids itch very badly. I spent a month thinking it was a kind of hay fever and I looked like a ghoul with the itching and swelling, and finally I worked out it was the Avon So Soft. But it doesn’t do it to my four grown up kids and is probably a lot safer than Deet.
I’ve found the intake of garlic, either pills or food helps keep mosquitos from biting. It’s also beneficial for a slew of other things, so it can’t hurt to try.
I use my saliva…IT REALLY HELPS!!!!
Thanks so much!
I found the chloraseptic really helped! Much better then the Itch-X my mom bought me. Tho idk why, the deoderant made it kinda burn so I immeddiatly cleaned it off. Has anybody else had that problem?
The tops (front and back) of my legs are absolutely covered in chigger bites. Horrible! The Gold Bond medicated powder gives me the best relief so far. But I’m going to try the hot water and Benedryl capsules. Thanks for all the hints!
Rubbing alcohol (or anything containing this) can considerably reduce the size and swelling of the bites provided that you apply it immediately after it bites.
I dont think I saw Neosporin mentioned. Last year my bites got very infected cause of all the scratching,bleeding and scabbing , on no. Of course I didnt do this but i will from now on , and that is to spray with OFF, in the first place. I just didnt know they were out so much this year.
Back to the soap, water and nail polish for me. Lots of neosporin.
Have a great summer, y’all :))
Just wanted to say thx 4 all the gr8 tips!
I recently was at an outdoor concert and I got bit by something. It was RIGHT near the ankle and it started to itch like crazy. So, I tried the hot water method and it was burning for like 5 seconds and the itch is gone for right now *phew* XD
Has anyone tried Burt’s Bees Res Q?
It has Vitamin E, comfrey, lavender and wheat germ oils, and smells really nice. I just got some today and am trying it – I hadn’t found this site yet. Bites on the feet and ankles, and the hands and fingers are the absolute worst!
Soooooo true! Anyway, i used toothpaste. In thirty I i couldn’t even feel it=D tho u do have to apply a generous ammount
I use Skin So Soft by Avon right after I shower and I rarely get mosquito bites, but my children and grandchildren get bites all the time and they scratch them til they are huge and/or bleeding. I am grateful for all the tips here and hopefully they will have relief finally without having to wait til we have money to buy something for relief.
My Son put “Skin So Soft” on his cat and the cat passed away! A First Aide Kit in a jar, all Natural is Oregon Creme11, with “no” side effects. It will take the red and swollen infection away over night or in a very few hours. Needs to be rubbed in on all 4 sides of the bite and a very small amount goes a long ways. You might need to do it more than once if you tend to scratch it first. The Essential Oils and Plants are great for the patio, too. Many Scientific Studys have proven that “Rubbing Alcohol” causes “Cancer Cells”, what the American Medical Association calls Cancer, which is a weakness in the body.
I know 1 thing u all probably dont know thats really weird. I would’ve never belived this until it actually worked all the time. Ok, you need 2 small things. A piece of tape and a penny. If you put the penny on your skin then tape it on for about 20 min you won’t have and itch any more. If you leave it on for too long though your skin will be slightly green on the area the penny was. {Couple hours like if you sleeo with it on MIGHT be too long} Try it i never thought it would work until i did it and they’re common items.
Bye,
Me
Liquid Bandage.
Absolutely works.
Dries clear.
No itching whatsoever.
Baking soda mixed with water put on large bandaid and leave on for a while
+Tea Bath
works for hands or feet
Lipton tea bag or plain teabag works well too
bowl of cold water
dishtowel clean
take the teabag make a hole in it and then dump it in the bowl then let the hand or feet soak for about seven minutes then dry off with a few herbs still on foot it is a fast relief and works well
I was just outside with my kids for fifteen minutes. I got eight mosquito bites that turned into extremely itchy welts immediately. I tried the dry bar of soap, and it didn’t work at all. My next choice was tea tree oil. It worked instantly, and I have had over an hour of blessed relief from the itching. I’m going to try tea tree oil or eucalyptus essential oil mixed with water for prevention next time I go out with the kids. Thanks tons for this wonderful list! I’m so glad it came up in my Google search.
I just woke up with bites all over my legs and arms. I rubbed Listerine (the regular one) all over my and after a few seconds the itching stopped and so far I haven’t gotten any more bites. Hopefully it is keeping the little devils away.
I agree with the comment below about “Anthisan” from the UK — it works wonders, I couldn’t live without it! I haven’t seen it sold here in Canada, though.
I suppose nail polish (preferably clear) would work, but “Liquid Bandage” includes an antiseptic, indicating that it would be safer than nail polish. Just an additional thought.
Just got back from a week’s camping at Wheatley Provincial Park in Ontario. Skitters were bad. Eaten alive.
Wife and I are using the hot water method.
Emptied the car and looked for relief. Found this website.
Thanks for the help and especially the preventative measures noted.
mike and deb
I have been trying to tough-out these ankle bites for a week, but they won’t go away. In desperation I have turned to the internet, only to be told my bites are “stagnant” and too old to treat. I’ll try these remedies next time.
I’m curious though, has anyone tried vinegar? (Mild acid) Urine? (Eeewwww, but hey, it works for jelly fish stings!) …and one I can’t wait to try; Tabasco? (Capstasin [sp?] the main ingredient in pepper spray has many medicinal uses.) Inquiring minds want to know!
Thom-Thom
the tiger balm works!
Okay. So I got bitten really bad on my left arm. I have atleast 10 or 12 mosquito bites. I tried the toothpaste which worked for only a few minutes before the itching returned. I also tried the deodorant and that didn’t work for me. Then I saw putting rubbing alcohol on would maybe help. So I dug up my nail polish remover and I have to say WOW. The bites did sting at first when putting it on but the itching is gone. I can’t even feel them anymore. Also, if you blow where you apply the nail polish remover the sting goes away faster. So I would suggest applying nail polish remover, it worked great for me.
A variation on the hot water/hot spoon that a friend suggested and which worked for me is to use a hair drier – idea is to have it slightly hotter than you can stand for as long as you can stand it (in my case that seems to be 10-15 seconds). Wait a few minutes, and it the bite is still itching, do it again. It took 2 or 3 applications before the bites stopped itching. That was last night, and while they’re still visible, they aren’t welts and even the ones where my sleeves are rubbing aren’t itching.
Just went for a walk around the lake this afternoon, got about 20 bites, but they don’t seem to bother me at all !? Just tiny red dots on the skin, no itching (so far… 3 hours later) Good luck to you all, I feel for you sufferers.
I have 5 bites on 1 arm, they swell up HUGE when I get several in close proximity (palm of hand size, plus achy pain w/red swelling and hot to the touch). Ran hot water on them for a couple of minutes each and it was the only thing that worked. What relief! Thanx!!!
I am one of those people who swell up very badly, (like silver dollars!) very quickly and the bites stay for a week to ten days, itching all the time, even if I don’t scratch them raw into bleeding sores.
The heat solution works for me (I nuke a wet washcloth) but takes about 5-7 minutes of repeating it (and it has to be almost hot enough to burn your skin, painful to feel for long.)I would rather have pain than this itch!
If you have a dozen bites keeping you awake, this can take an hour to treat them all. And it’s only temporary, for a few hours or the night. I really need something else to work on bites that are still itching three days and even ten days later.
Also, the fingernail X works for a few seconds, but increases the likliehood that you will scratch off the skin and develop a sore. So I had to stop doing that. My legs are so badly scarred from childhood mosquito bites that got out of control that I almost never show them.
I have to put bandaids on them just so it will remind me not to scratch them, because I have woken up bloody from scratching them in my sleep.
Sure-Fire Cure, kids: you need the following: One BIC lighter and one stainless steel butter knife. Heat the tip of the knife for perhaps five-six seconds; it might turn black..no worries. Now, grit teeth and dab heated tip directly to welt. You will feel a pain shock; dab and dab until heat dissipates. Repeat again. I guantee you will not itch again. You shouldn’t even see a mark. Dabbing is the key; feel the pain and remove, feel the pain and remove. The high heat immediately neutralizes the enzymes in the bite, hence the immediate relief. Do your own bites, only. Never fails and no expensive CVS crap to buy.
Wow!
214 comments!
Well anyway personally for me when ever i’ve had mosquito bites my mum uses some cream but it takes 3 DAYS TO WORK ooooh………..the pain.But that’s only really when i have loads!
Usually with 1,2 or 3 i just leave it no itching or anything and i’ve never been really bothered to use a proper remedy!
I say:
1.deodrant+soap+ear cleaning stick think(name escapes me)
2.really really really hot cloth on the area 5 second on + off
3.really cold ice pack!
4.voila! no pain for ages!
Thanks TipNut you rock!!! 🙂
Wow, I’m not the only one to have these bites.
Happens to me every summer, and more after I play football in the fields.
All i do is go in the shower and do the hot thing. I’m not gonna take any substances.
Doctor recommended piriton and antibiotics.
Fucibet cream also works as its cool to the skin.
Sorry about the ppl with over 200 bites! i only have three and I cant imagine having that many!
Oh yes, if you want to sleep. Suggest after having hot water on the area, put some cold water on and then sleep with your feet on the edge of the bed with a fan on. Works well for me.
My mosquito bites swell like no other! They get bigger than a golf ball, is there anyway to reduce swelling??
I have a 2 year old daughter and her legs are turning into mosquito bite palace. She scrathes until she breaks the skin or starts to bleed. Ive tried anit-itch cream, and benedryl. Ive even resorted to covering her legs with band-aids just so she can’t get to them to scratch. She wakes up in the middle of the night telling me her legs hurt. I can’t tell what burns her so I dont want to try to apply any heat. And honestly, Im scared to apply any chemicals to her 2-year old skin. Her legs are starting to be covered with scabs. Can someone please help me relieve my baby?
I know, I would hate to hurt kids too. What really works is meat tenderizer and water mixed. Heals forever!
the reason it hurts is because she has scratched them alot. I would add neosporin on to make sure you dont get scars, and what I usually do Is deodorant, or zit zapper.
Mosquito’s drive me mad. Just as you are about to fall asleep you hear that dreaded buzzing.
I swell really bad with the bites. I have tried everything but one night, (whilst half asleep) I pick up SUDOCREM instead of my bite cream and the itching stopped and the swelling was not so dramatic. You do need to keep applying the cream when you feel it starting to itch again. But This works for me.
I hope this information helps.
Drink 8 to 16 ounces of concentrated ORANGE JUICE 30 minutes before going outside and bada bing NO BITES TO WORRY ABOUT..Guys the best cure is prevention..This works great and its alot better then spraying all those nasty propellents on yourself
Nail polish always works 4 me but as the greeks say “Put some windex on it.” idk if its poisinous but it works and i aint dead
Windex does work – it has alcohol and ammonia in it. After Bite’s anti itch ingredient is ammonia. It is more concentrated in windex, so where After Bite didn’t work for me, windex did. Just don’t spray it on an open sore or it’ll sting. (although the sting might get your mind off the itching)
I find most, if not all, products on the market only supply relief for a short period of time. Once solution I´ve found, albeit a hardcore one, is to apply extreme heat to the bite. I found this out when I was suffering intense itching and in the despair of the moment decided to burn it. In quick and short bursts, I applied the flame of a lighter to the tip of the bite. If you can handle the momentary pain of the burn, it takes care of the itching immediately and in most cases stops it in its tracks. It´s not a question of burning your skin, but applying that amount of heat for some reason works. Expect a few singed hairs though!
I’ve heard (but never tried) that activated charcoal applied directly to almost any insect bite (including ants bees and wasps) immediatly after it happens, can significantly reduce any pain, itching, swelling, etc.
Just don’t be stupid and try to use regular, store-bought charcoal meant for your grill. Activated charcoal can be found at a lot of local places and is meant for different uses. For example, I’ve substuted Nexium/Prilosec with activated charcoal mixed into a cup of water/ a day. Much cheaper. Actually, like 500% cheaper.
My two year old has about 20 mosquito bites on his feet and legs. He was in complete agony. Unfortunately, because he was screaming, I could not drive all the way to Wal-mart to get anything. I read the list and didn’t feel comfortable putting bleach or other chemicals on his skin, so I tried baby orajel, and it worked! It has been over an hour and he is still good!!
More bug bites. This time the “hot” method didn’t work (it has before) so I turned to an ice pack to reduce swelling and using a Benedryl stick on the bites. Perfect.
I don’t think the suggestion to scratch them so much they scab is a good one since it can lead to impetigo. Insect bites is a major way kids develop impetigo due to scratching mosquito bites. I think Sarna anti itch helped for a while for me.
Deb
Believe it or not, Chap Stick. The key is that you cannot scratch the bite. Rub chap stick on the bite as quickly after receiving it as possible without scratching it. It not only will stop the itch, but the bite will virtually disappear shortly afterwards. Works for me and mine anyway.
To The Mosquito hating mother:
I too have a 2 year old boy and he has scratched some of his bites until it has broke the skin. after reading all the different remedies and after all the crying he was doing because it hurt so bad i tried the toothpaste and it worked like a charm. he instantly stopped crying and started running around again.
I never used to get bitten…literally…at camp when I was 11, I was the ONLY one in the cabin that didn’t get bit
Boy things change. Now I’m highly allergic…prolly because I never used to get bit, never built up antibodies to the saliva…they itch for days.
2 months ago I got 2, yes only 2 bites on my foot and it swelled up so bad I was on crutches because not only did it itch, my muscles ached from the bites.
Currently I have 4 bites on my right foot and I’ve been suffering for 2 days. I just tried the hot towel trick -microwaved that baby for a minute, flipped it over and microwaved it again for about 30 seconds, popped it in a plastic bag, and put it on there. Sure it hurt at first…and I did take it off here and there when it hurt too bad…BUT IT WORKED! Thank you!
I don’t know if anyone else has posted this but Avon’s “Skin so Soft” works like a dream. My father was in the US Marines and he said that the comanding officer told thema bout it. He swaers by it! And so do I. I am always getting attacked but as soon as I put it on within a matter of minutes the mosquitos are gone.
I have terrible Mosquito bites at least over 60. I’m not severly allergic but enough to annoy. Unfortunatly I scratch them in my sleep until they bleed and scab so I have to be careful what I put on them, but here are somethings that work for me.
Tea Tree Oil; applied with a Q-tip to unbroken skin is good but it can sting and make a red mark if you have sensitive skin.
Lucas Paw Paw Ointment; applied directly on the bite, it works temporarily but is greasy and can be a bit yucky on the skin.
X with fingernail; also temporary and usually due to feeling the pain rather than itch.
Calomine Lotion; good but usually because it cools the area and that’s usually why mine itch due to getting warm and irritated.
Hot water; usually when I have a shower it stops them from itching but can sting the bites and isn’t as effective or long lasting (in my case).
Rapid Relief (itch relief cream); this I know you can get in Australia, it came in my first aid kit from St Johns Ambulance! IT IS THE BEST….. it gives instant and long lasting relief from itching and if kept in the fridge is also very soothing.
Aeroguard; although this is supposed to prevent bites it also helps relieve them for a reasonable period of time.
Cold pack; this can be good as mosquitos bite in summer, and that is usually why mine itch after I have been bitten due to getting hot. It also numbs the area which stops it from being as noticable.
* I recently went to the chemist rather than the doctors and the pharmacist advised me to get a cream….. it is a antiseptic, anti inflammatory and anesthetic…. so as well as helping keep the bite clean it soothes and numbs the area it works well and I strongly advise it as its good for anything not just bites, its a generic brand in Australia so you can just ask for something similar providing the chemist have it.
I hope this has helped I’m going to try more things now I have found this website and I will do a review of all the things that work.
Jade
My Grandma said that milk works(and it does).
This is how it works.
1)Pour some milk onto a cotton ball, tissue or something like that.
2)Then apply to the bite
3)Hold it there for at least 3-5 minutes
I was stung by a wasp and had the worst iteching and swelling! The itch was so bad that i was waking up scratching. Many over thr counter treatments relieved the initial pain of the sting, but did not helo with lng term intense itching. A friend’s grandmother recommended mixing some plain uncooked oatmeal with milk and applyit it as a paste. IMMEDIATE relief! I walked around the house for a while, just mumbling I cant believe it worked, I cant believe it worked! lol
Another grandmother sugggested soaking some bread in milk and applying it to the itching area for similar results.
If it worked on my wasp sting, I”ll bet it would work very well on a mosquito bite, too.
May your itches be relieved as quickly as mine were. 🙂
Mosquito bites last 2 weeks on me and my 9 yr old daughter – The only thing that works for me IMMEDIATELY:
I just took a regular aspirin (have crushed them also and scrubbed with the jagged grains) (or baby aspirin when I can find it) and SCRAPED my bites on my big toe and finger until I didn’t itch anymore – to the point of bleeding – but they don’t itch anymore
I did this a few weeks ago after suffering for YEARS of using PRESCRIPTION steroid cream, 20% Benzocaine (Spray and Lanacaine EXTRA STRENGTH cream Painkillers), IVORY soap on them, acetone (not nail polish remover which is diluted), alcohol immediately after the bite does not work, meat tenderizer doesn’t work
AND I’VE USED MITIGATOR TOO – DIDN’T WORK FOR ME –
Hey. I;ve currently got my foot in a bucket with cold water and vinegar, It seems to be working so far, stings a little but It doesnt itch……how It will go once my foot is out of the bucket who knows, will keep y’all posted!!!!!
I normally use Windex. You can spray it directly or spray on a rag or Q-tip and rub. It takes a couple of mins to kick in but after a while it is worth it!!!! NO ITCH!!!!
For me, mosquito bites are toxic. If I do nothing, the bites swell up and after a couple of days, the area around each bite begins to ooze. If I try to OTC medications and/or folk remedies, the bites still swell up and ooze anyway. So I do the one thing I’ve always been told not to do… SCRATCH!
Of course, I only scratch the bite(s) after I have taken a few precautions. First, I scrub my hands well with soap and warm water. I use a nailbrush to clean out any dirt/germs I might have under my fingernails. Then I wash the bite(s) with soap and warm water.
After I scratch myself silly to relieve the itch, I wipe the bite(s) with an alcohol swab (the kind the nurse uses to clean your skin just before she or he gives you an injection).
Then I rub some Neosporin into each bite and cover them with a self-adhesive bandage. I leave each “sore” alone for two days and when I peel off the bandage, the bite is gone and skin is nearly finished healing.
I too was feasted upon by no-see-ums on Jeykll Island (60 or so bites). Them blankers are fierce. As another commenter posted: the power of distraction is amazing. I agree somewhat, but now I’m sitting here covered with Old Spice High Endurance deodorant, and am finally releived. For now… Thanks for the tips!
I live in Phoenix AZ but I get mosquito bites approx 8 months in the year. I am allergic/
sensitive to so many products, health problems, and get infected easily. Until a few years ago I had a fast fix for the bites– scratched them open and applied vinegar with a cotton ball, itch gone immediately. Usually took one application but sometimes 2. Two years ago I got ? spider or mosquito bites around my ankles and did the scratch and vinegar routine. Three times in 8 months I did that but had to be admitted to the hospital each time as it turned into cellulitis. Not sure if it was the vinegar (I know I am now sensitive to vinegar due to another incident entirely) or infection caused by bacteria under my fingernails. Baking soda and water has a caustic effect on the skin. I have tried a lot of the things mentioned and got infected, it did not work, or it set off my tachycardia. What I have been doing, and it relieves the itch for at least a few hours is to apply cornstarch. I use a little take out salsa-type plastic container and put in cornstarch and a little water and stir. I apply it to the bites with either my fingertip or Q-tex tip. Keep in refrigerator so it does not get moldy. Cornstarch will settle, just stir with finger. If it gets on clothes it will not stain– just save your clothes until you wash them as you usually do and the cornstarch washes right out. I also use cornstarch dry on salad oil, etc., stains on my clothes– rub it in, leave it set until wash day. Sometimes I have to do that as often as 4 times but it does take the stains out– been doing that for at least 40 years.
I love this website! I’m like a mosquito magnet.
I just got back from Puerto Rico. It rained our last day there and several of us were bitten by Misquitos. I’ve tried the following methods. I’m on the third day of Misquito Bite Treatment. The “Itching” wakes me at night, but the best solution I’ve found is… Solarcaine Aloe Vera Spray. I had some of the Aloe Spray for Sunburn. Since I heard Aloe was good to stop Misquito Bite Itching, I tried it and it gave the best relief. These other methods also worked, but the Solarcaine Aloe Vera Spray relieved the “Itching” the longest. Most of the bites appear to be clearing up now. 1) Solarcaine Aloe Vera Spray – for Sunburn Relief coupled with Neosporin applied to each bite, 2) Benadryl Tablets every 4 hours, 3) 100% Aloe Vera.
I’ve also used Neosporin continually on the bites because it is an Antiobiotic Ointment. The combination of the Aloe Vera Spray to relieve itching and the Neosporin to clear the bites seems to be working effectively (for me).
I find that the best way to relieve mosquito bites is very hot water. I turn the sink on as hot as it will go. Angle the bite so that only the mosquito bite touches the hot water. I hold it there for as long as I can. The skin will get a little red but the itch will be gone. I’m not sure if the hot water just kills the nerve endings or denatures some of the inflammatory proteins but usually the swelling from the bite will go down and the itch is relieved in a few minutes.
Caution:
Don’t scald yourself.
Don’t try this on children. They have to be able to know when they’re skin is uncomfortable hot.
thanks so much for all of these tips! i dont have any bites but my friends and i have to do a project in health for yellow fever and i wouldnt have found any of these ideas on google:) so thanks again so much! for all the people’s help! i appreciate it soo much!! <3 😀 i love you guys!
After reading the list of recomendations the heat application with the spoon dipped in hot water seemed to make a lot of sense to me and others were having success. What also caught my attention was holding the blade of a stainless steel knife to a cigerette lighter and then applying the hot blade to place that was itching. I decided on this route because the cortizone cream bought at the local pharmecuetical outlet was prooving to be a waste of money.
So I began to apply the hot blade of the knife to those areas which were itching. Trust me, it takes some mental discipline to do this because what I was doing was burning the welt and turning it into a heat blister which could be popped thus realeasing the liquid causing the irritation. For some this may be extreme, but if you are the rambo, survivalist type and don’t mind the burning sensation, the end result is you won’t spend a sleepless night scratching all those parts of your body that have been eaten alive by some insects getting ready to lay thier eggs.
For the summer prevention of those pest(mosquitos) our family has used a spray bottle half n half water and avons original skin so soft just spray it on after you shower it repels and leaves your skin soft.
Roll on DEODORANT WORKS!!! DON’T USE BLEACH
Thanks so much the itch is gone, I had a leaky deodorant bottle I never used now it has a use.
I like to use peroxide on the bite after it’s been opened up. It gets all the mosquito saliva out and stops the itch. It might take a few applications.
All the misquitos allways bite in the SAME place! Then I get welts. Toothpaste is the best though.
I was hanging out in the fields near my house with my girlfriend for several hours and I ended up with over 200 mosquito bites and I can’t get them to stop itching. They’re on my arms and legs, but mostly on my thighs and upper arms. What should I do?
I read these just to try some out on a bunch of bits that are driving me mad! Vapor rub worked for me. I read it and knew that i had some close and instant relief! i feel so much better
If your in the woods and dont have any of these things, go to a stream, pond, etc. look for a leaf
that shines when it is under water. It is called jewel weed and the liquid in it stops the itch for almost anything.
I recently purchased a bug bite pen (After Bite-The Itch Eraser). It is a great idea and convenient to keep in my purse. After my husband used it he told me he thought it smelled framilar. HE said “all this is is spirit of ammonia”. My point being, if you cant find this pen you should be able to find Spirits of Ammonia at any drug store, pharmacy etc. I have not priced it yet, however for the volume you get in the bottle vs the pen, I would imagine there would be a significant savings buying the bottle of Spirits of Ammonia. Give it a try, my kids and husband can vouch for its effectiveness. I will follow up with an accurate price match.
I sat here and read every response on this blog. This is the best! I’ve gotten quite a chuckle from some of them – we all have folk remedies handed down – the potato one was especially funny. I got some nasty bites on my feet – so bad I couldn’t sleep last night. (I tried aloe jel with menthol or whatever they add to it to deaden the pain, I tried solarcaine and hydrocorosone cream – nothing – still itchy. I got up this morning and googled “mosquito bites” – and viola – this site came up. I read through all of these looking for what I thought would be the best cure – I chose the hot towel in the microwave. Thought I’d start there and then go to other if necessary. It worked well – so far it’s been an hour and no itching. It’s cheap and non-invasive – no chemicals, etc. (I’m not opposed to better living through chemestry – I’m just cheap!) Usually the old cures are the best anyway. Thanks so much for the suggestions.
I tried the “spit mixed with salt” trick and it worked for me! Instant relief from itching and it seems to be shrinking the bite as well! I used real sea salt, I dont know if the type of salt made a difference.
I have 61 bug bites up and down both of my legs that have caused my legs to become swollen. I found no relief from any product until I took an oatmeal bath. Aveeno’s Oatmeal bath packets provide instant relief. Soak for about an hour.
the deodorant trick works really well, using the roll on one on my bites & the itch is gone, also did the hot water trick til it felt tingly it works 🙂 thank you!
Spray a little bit of strong kitchen cleaner on it.
hi there just wanted to say that spit and salt actually worked last night i left it on for like 15 mintues and it was gone in the morning no itching nothing thank you
apparently there is a national epidemic going around of bugbites as the way in for bacterial infections — i know; i got one probably hiding on a yoga class floor.
Clean, scrape clean and keep clean and covered is key.
it takes 48 hours for the area to begin inflating or swelling so keep a close watch. the ER is the next step for anti-biotic treatment.
as far as the itching: baking soda & water paste; hydrogen peroxide/water solution are effective and safe.
I was outside for 1 hour moving boxes around because im moving.
i was bitten in the kneck twice , the foot three, leg once, and arm twice.
I took a few ice cubes and put them on a wash cloth and then tied the wash cloth
i put it on my mosquito bites until wit was numb ( do not keep it on you bite to long. you dont want a frost bite)
then i took alcohol pads and rubbed softly on the bites.
its amazing how great its working
you should try it!
Amazing!
I have never heard of using deodorant until reading your post. I literally got about 80 mosquito bites the other day and just tried deodorant on some of them and it worked right away! I guess I’d recommend Old Spice (red container with the blue stick) since that’s what I used. Thanks for the cheap and very practical advice!
A long time ago I heard you could slap a bite really hard. This will will both your hand and the bite area, but it will take the sting out. I have two on my ankle right now and ended up using a hard marketing flyer to hit both of them. They itch is now gone.
Anything that will stop the air from getting to the posion will stop the itch. The reason for the itch is air getting to the posion and the reaction is it itches. So there you go. I use clear nail polish and it works every time.
After reading a ton of these comments I’ve noticed that while not everything works for everyone, I will say that applying packaging tape (which is just a stronger version of scotch tape? haha) really works wonders for my mosquito bites (I also put hydrocortisone on prior the packaging tape). Currently my entire right and left leg are SWOLLEN with mosquito bites (you can see maybe about an inch of un-bitten skin and the rest are bites) but the packaging tape is really preventing me from itching.
I’m going to be seeking professional medical help (we’ll see how beneficial it is though, ha, they’ll probably just tell me to take benadryl) and will repost if they have any good solutions, but for now I am going to try the Vitamin B-1 and maybe even the odorless garlic pills — my coworker told me of a supposed great preventative medication and I will post it as soon as I ask her what it is.
It’s good to know that I’m not the only one to suffer from this awful affliction! Only those of us who get these bad reactions really know how bad the pain and suffering really is! Ah! (My mosquito bites turn into huge red welts and sometimes even bruise up! And the sad part, it’s only the mosquitoes from where I currently live — mosquitoes in other areas never seem to affect me as much!)
I tried Orajel and it worked wonders. You saved me a trip to the store @ 1 am. Thank You!
I have three kids, four if you count my husband, and we are now living in Oklahoma…the mesquito are so big!! I am just waiting for them to take the next step and start up and mugging prople! seriously its bad…and my two year old is eaten up…I had to rush to walmart to get her benadeyl after calling the doctors..she was bleeding from her wounds, and I had used all the calamine and goldbond itch cream..my mom says to put listerine in the bath water, and my friend says to put BLEACH in the bath water LOL bleach! in my babies bath water..
what gets me is that I don’t get bit like everyone else, I can be standing next to my husband and kids, and they are swatting themselves all over, but so far, ive been bit twice, and they both hurt, in fact I scratched so bad that I scratched my skin off my toe, and I have a huge scab, the whole while I was scratching I couldn’t feel that I was hurting myself…so if you can feel that you are hurting yourself, how is any topical cream, or spray going to help? if the saliva disables that..then theres not too much you can do…
this site should be watched though, because there are people out there without any commonsense that are desperate to try anything…so y’all need to be careful what you say! think of dim bulbs out there!
A mixtue of hot water and lime juice works great
vodka + hot spoon!!
had badd one on face
still red but bump is gone.
i am really alergic 2 misquito bites i get hives and hav 2 go 2 the hospital i had 2 twice when i was 5 but just wanted 2 say Benadryl rool on medicin works really well
thanks 4 the tips ,alexis
I tried the bar of soap and it really worked
thanks
I just wanted to report that the Ivory soap remedy worked wonders for me. I got bitten yesterday right in the joint of my middle finger, which caused my whole finger to swell up to twice its normal size. I am moderately allergic to mosquito bites anyway which I’m sure is what made this bite so bad. Today it was even more swollen than yesterday despite repeated applications of very hot water and ice. In desperation I Googled mosquito bite remedies and found this site and the Ivory soap idea. I slightly moistened the bar and liberally coated my finger in the soap. Within 15 minutes the pain and itching subsided and within 45 minutes (and a second application) the swelling had gone down to the point where I could bend my finger (it wouldn’t bend at all before). THANK YOU SO MUCH. I am practically crying in relief. I’ve been a loyal Ivory soap user all of my 36 years but never knew I could use it on mosquito bites! It really works!! The finger is not totally back to normal but it’s WORLDS better. I can’t believe it.
ICY HOT. It stinks and the first 5-10 minutes your skin will feel very hot but then the area where you applied the ICY HOT will become cold and the itch will disappear..TOTALLY.
Everybodys’ skin reacts different to different products but this has always worked for any itch that I have had.
I got a lot of mosquito bites 3 days ago. Today, I used the hot spoon on them, and the itch has been gone for about 3 hours now. It also may be my imagination, but the bites look much less noticeable – definitely smaller. I also took 2 ibuprofen, so that may have had something to do with the swelling going down.
Tea tree oil worked immediately for me.
It’s quite enjoyable doing the hot spoon method to someone else! Just been thanked for torturing my girlfriend for 20mins.
Seems to work too!
I recently got bitten by mosquitoes ( don’t know where they came from and was only outside for a short time) – one arm has 25-30 swelling bites on it and the other about 7 and one leg has about 3. So it’s not terrible, but the intense, severe itching they cause can drive anyone crazy. I found this website ( GREAT website!) and tried the following remedies: hot water – made it itch worse, cold water and ice – only helps while it’s on, Vicks vapo rub, toothpaste – didn’t do a thing, calamine lotion – helps for about a half hour, alcohol and scotch tape – helps for about an hour if you can stand the scotch tape, and then i tried CLEAR NAIL POLISH. – Voila! I am so grateful. Just swab tbe whole bite area, including the surrounding red area, with nail polish and let dry. Ignore the temporary stinging; that will go away. Then take 2 Benadryl and some Tylenol if you’re trying to sleep. Put a light cloth over the area and use an ice pack over that for further relief. The itching will stop soon and will not itch for SEVERAL HOURS. You will need nail polish remover to take it off or it will start flaking after 8-12 hours. Anyway, by then, you’ll need a repolish. Good luck!! And have a great summer!
I am allergic to Mosquito Bites and ind they swell considerably. I want a good fast acting anti-itch solution that I can soak in as I tend to get bitten all over. I will definately try the 2 cups of vinegar in hot bath water to see if that helps. any other tips and tricks would really help.
Thanks!
I live in the south where the mosquitos are enormous in the summertime. I’ve found that a small spay bottle filled with original (brown) Listerine mouth wash, sprayed onto exposed skin before going outside works wonders. It contains no chemicals that can harm skin, and certainly isn’t going to hurt a child if it gets into their mouth. Use a cotton ball to apply on face. Be sure to let it dry before going outside. You’ll probably want to re-spray after a couple hours.
Vinegar works wonders!!! I pour about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into water or juice and drink it like a shot (it tastes nasty) but the vinegar exits slowly through out the day via your skin pores and when you sweat. I’ve used this for several years now and I’ve had minimal mosquito bites.
potassium supplements seem to stop the itching.
underarm deoderant the gel stops itching as soon as its applied
The ice pack work GREAT! My ice pack was freezing cold, so it worked quicker!
After my lazy mom wakes up I’m gonna take a nice, warm, bath upstairs.
Thanks!
P.S. Use a SUPER COLD (or at least as cold as you can take) ice pack! Keep one handy and put to the itching area. Got two like me? Then take a spoon and put in a mug with warm water and put the spoon to the itching area! Bye!
i have bites on my neck
is there a certain remedy that would be good for my neck?
im not thinking a hot spoon that may burn will feel good on
the soft layer of neck skin
Tom’s All-Natural Baking Soda/ Peppermint toothpaste!! I was bitten last night by some NASTY mosquitos, and even as they were biting me, welts had already started rising on my skin. Usually I can’t tell I was bitten until the next day when itching started, but these I felt immediately (much to the dismay of the little bloodsuckers). I tried the icepack, and it helped a little. Unfortunately, it did nothing to slow down the swelling on my skin (big red blotchy areas with a small rising welt in the middle). I saw this post, and thought I would try toothpaste. Voila!! After a few minutes the itching stopped completely. The paste dried on my skin, and I left it there overnight. By morning, the swelling was gone. Thanks for the suggestion! If you are having a *mild* allergice reaction like apparently I was, I recommend giving baking soda toothpaste a try. (Obviously if your reaction is worse, you may need to see a doctor quickly). Best of luck!
Add another vote for extreme heat. The spoon out of near-boiling water is a good way to apply it. Make sure most of the water is off it, though. It has to be so hot that you would normally instantly jerk away from it, and it has to be applied for at least 3-5 seconds. Do your best to hit only the mosquito bite. The bite itself should feel even hotter than any skin around it you accidentally touch, and will burn pretty bad for the 3-5 seconds you apply the heat. I like to apply for 5 seconds, pull the heat away and reapply 3 times. Afterwards, the bite doesn’t just feel better, it does not itch *at all*.
The science behind it for skeptics.
1.) You get immediate relief, because your nerves pull back from the surface to avoid the heat. The itch is concentrated on the surface of your skin, and your nerves withdraw away from that itch, to seek refuge from the heat.
2.) You get longterm relief because at a certain temperature, the chemical compounds that cause the allergic reaction lose integrity in extreme heat. You’re actually neutralizing the toxins, and if done right it should never itch nearly as bad as it did before you applied this technique (about 12 hours later you may feel some mild itching again)
This hurts, but it’s the only 100% immediate relief I’ve found, it can turn mosquito irritation off like flicking a light switch and sometimes that’s worth a little pain.
Years ago my Naturopath told me to use a blow dryer. Using hot air blow till it starts to hurt. It pulls the water/stuff that causes the itch to the surface & dries it. Usually once in the morning and again in the evening before bed, but can do it more. Also, works on Poisen Oak, extremelly well. Dries it up in just a few days, if you happened to get into a patch by mistake. Fast, Easy & no messy dabbing.
I really like some of the others, too.
YES!! the blowdryer! i discovered heat for itchies many years ago soon after a wasp bit me on me. without meaning to, i squated down in front of a space heater so that the heat was directed onto my bite. i noticed it starting to itch more and then it quit. after that i started using the blow dryer. first i used it on a very bad case of poison sumac and got great relief. every 12 hours and no more itching!! YAY!! i get devoured every summer by mosquitos and chiggers and everything else out there, but i get GREAT relief through my blow dryer!! my husband thinks i’m crazy, but we all know better!!
I have found that if you put hydrogen peroxide on a mosquito bite as soon as possible, the bite will be gone by the next day with only a small mark. This has worked 100% of the timefor me IF you put it on within an hour or so. I don’t know that it does anything for the immediate itch, but then, I never see my kids scratching either.
For instant relief of the pain and itch of mosquito bites…
I’ve found that cutting an onion in half and applying it to the affected area
works wonders. The juice from the onion kills the itch almost immediatly!
Instead of Deoderant use Roll On Antiperspirant within 20 min of the bite. It not only takes the itch away but reduces the redness and swelling. When bitten my daughter tends to swell up and get red at the site instantly. This is the first thing we have found that works fast and effectively on her. She carries a travel size bottle with her to camp and I keep one in my purse at all times.
I use neosporin
I get terrible reactions to bites–my skin swells and I get welt-like looking marks, usually the size of a half dollar.
The only thing that really helps me is using ice–I use frozen peas. It takes away the itch because it is so cold and reduces the swelling. Within 24 hours, the bite has reduced dramatically in size.
I also somethings make an X in the center of the bite with my fingernail, it takes away the itch immediately.
Good luck!
I have found the best solution for me is to squeeze the mosquito bite fromm the bottom up. it forces out a clear fluid. I ususally do this untill all the clear fluid is out and sometimes squeeze out some blood. This usually causes the itching to subside immidiately. The squeezing is sometimes a bit painful but that bothers me less than the itching.
I appreciate all the advice and suggestions given here. I’m going to try them on my kids. My daughter especially is a magnet for the skeeters. Short of putting her in a bubble when she plays outside, I don’t have many options left. thankfully she hasn’t had many get infected, but I always worry about it b/c she scratches the bites until they bleed. My daughter is only 6, but she has had this problem ever since she could walk. 🙁 So thanks for advice, I can’t wait to see if something actually works for her besides my “don’t scratch” advice. Kind of hard for a 6 yr old to understand that. My 3 yr old son is starting to get the same way, he cries when he gets a few bites and it breaks my heart.
Gin-either externally on the bite or internally (works well both ways).
I’ve become mildly allergic to the bites. When I get a mosquito bite it will swell to the size of a walnut and get red and hot. Last year I learned about the tape remedy. If I put a piece of tape on the bite as soon as I notice it, I don’t have ANY reaction. The tape doesn’t seem to help as much if I wait and put it on after the reaction starts. So I keep a roll with me in my purse and car. The better quality tape will stay on longer. It usually takes a couple of days before I can do without the tape. Hope this helps someone else out there. Everyone I’ve told about this has said that it works for them as well.
Purell antibacterial hand sanitizer works wonders for me
I got bit the other night on the neck and face ,,,they swelled,,,within an hour of getting the bites I applied alot of “Hydrogen Peroxide” to a towel and just wiped it all over the bites,,,it was very cool when applying and the next morning they were all gone ,,,no itching that night either ! First time I tried this,,,the brown bottle had been left out of the medicine cabnet,for a minor scrape the day before, Good Luck ! (I don’t think the stuff is too toxic either)
Desenex stops the itch (in a minute or two) “ointment”! Even made some bites disapear: My 1st. choice always.
(ps)Staying in the house works too!!!
what i have found to work is …take a lit cigarette and about a 1/4″ above bite, sting, hold tell starts to hurt and redue a couple times, the heat burns up the poisen injected in you….i believe have fun fishin an hunting or just playing….paul
I have used the roll-on antiperspirant and the crystal antiperspirant trick. The bit stops itching immediately and the welt goes down and disappears within 20 mins. The reason is the Alum in the deoderant which is why the roll-on or “wet” type works better and faster than the stick.
I walked into a bush to pick raspberries, and walked out with 7 mosquito bites. I tried the basil, and it really works for me! Thanks.
So i tried after bite i tried marking them with an ex with my finger nail nothing, works seriously its crazy i was ready to just give up and i read the spoon thing to i got up and heated water and burned myself so many times but it worked everywhere other than my hands… haha i am covered i look like i have chicken pox or something
I’ve been plagued by hobo spider bites for the last week. They may not have the same effect on others but on me they itch like crazy. The hot water/hot spoon trick is the only one that works. It’s not always handy but it does give several hours of relief. The spoon trick, Benadryl and ibuprofen before bedtime lets me sleep longer.
just tried the deodorant and then put rubbin alcohol on it — seemed to help
Blistex =]
Thank you the baking soda and water worked I have like 9 mosquito bites…
I go white water rafting/camping every year and in the beginning I used to get bombarded with mosquito bites. Mosquitoes love me. I would get attacked so bad during camping trips that I would even have welts all over my face from bites and scratching.
So I did a lot of research to PREVENT mosquito bites. I learned that mosquitoes are attracted to sweet smells. So if your pores are giving out a sweet smell, guaranteed you’re attracting the mosquitoes.
I was instructed to stay away from sweet stuff during my camping trip. Which includes, no soda..no juices..no fruits…no candy. I know it sucks. But I was willing to give up these sweets just for the 3 days I was on my trip. All I drank was water water water. Also prior to my trip…I drank only water to flush my body from any toxins and any sweetness.
I have to honestly say, since I’ve been following these steps…I didn’t get one single bite.
I thought I’d share my experience, hopefully it helps someone. =)
What a great information source! I also find the easiest and cleanest way to stop itching for at least 6 hours is blasting with the hairdryer on a fairly high heat until you feel a weird uncomfortable feeling in the centre of the bite, it only lasts a few seconds though so well worth it. You have to be careful not to overdo it and burn your skin but this works wonders so you forget you have them until you walk past a mirror that is! Blast a few times for a 10 seconds or so – you will know you have done enough once you have had the weird feeling in the middle of the bite. The same thing with very hot water from the shower head works too but think the hairdryer works better – same principle as the hot teaspoon and hot cloth. I am going to try the B vitamins and Avon skin so soft for prevention in future, thanks for everyone’s comments makes me feel less of a mozzy attracting freak and more ‘normal’!
Solarcane – SPRAY, not lotion. Numbs the skin, stops the itch.
I hope one of these works i have had like 500 different bug bites for about 3 days now and im a scratcher i can resist but to scratch so my bug bites are all open can anyone tell me what NOT to use if my bug bites have been scratched open thank you
I live in Australia, and I think most of the comments here are from US residents. 8 days ago took a flight from Melbourne to Darwin to go camping in Kakadu National Park. Smothered myself in repellent everyday but mosquitoes still got me. They did not swell up as they would have done if I had been bitten in my home state. But I got about 70 small ones on my legs from ankle to knee, several on my lower arms, some round my face and neck.
They did not itch much. Returned home 4 days ago but last night woke with intense itching and felt on fire. Had to take a shower to relief itching. This morning the bites are about 4 times larger than they were originally were and very red and have white circles around each spot. Found this website and decided to try using roll on deodarant (Norsca) the itching has eased, have taken 2 Ipubrufen tablets, hoping they will act as anti-inflammotory. If no improvement think I should visit my doctor. Thanks for all the tips!
I have read through the entire thread and many ideas on here- some too scary for me to try as I tend to find that even if I get pain whilst applying, it does not override the itching- I get pain AND itching at the same time!!
What I have tried is salt- didn’t do anything for me, both with and without spit. T-bags- also did nothing for me what so ever, malt vinegar which also didn’t do anything. Also, Eurax cream which although said to “stop itching fast” and normally works on my eczema within 15 mins, did nothing for my bites.
What has helped is good simple TCP. (liquid antiseptic: aqueous glycerol solution of halogenated phenols 0.68% w/v and Phenol BP 0.175% w/v. other ingredients concerntrated phosphoric acid, E104, (quinoline yellow), demineralised water.
Basicly I soaked a cotton wool pad with the stuff and rubbed it into the bites for a good few minutes (2-5 mins). Now heres the trick:
At first it did not do anything, if anything made it itch very slightly more but not really even that.
Then it began to sting- it was quite sharp and enough to not do this to small children, (so don’t as they will not thankyou for it!). After about 2-5 minutes of rubbing- the itch feels as if its not gone and so I gave up.
Then, 2 minutes later- NO ITCH!! Its like a delayed reaction!
I thought it was just a fluke but I tried it on my (many) other bites and the same thing happened! I am not writing this with no itchy bites on my legs! (I had 30 that I can count shared between two of my calves).
I do smell like a medical lab but even the ugly red bulges have gone down! And no itch- I don’t mind smelling like TCP if I can sleep!
And I back the idea that sweet foods call over the mozzies- its the sugar in your blood they want- its fast fuel for them and how they get their energy. I have not tried eating citrus fruits (out of season right now in the UK) But may try to find something similar.
Oh- and no need to repeatedly swap over the cotton wool pad- I only had one last one and used it on all 30 of the bites- no problems, still worked.
The deodorant one works great. I actually got instant relief. My friend also showed me a great one that works really well; rub in hair gel on the bug bite, it works really well, the bite goes away so fast and the itching never comes back.
Thanks again for the help,
Hop e my tip helps too.
BugsBite
thanks soo much but i use windex and it works great!! only the blue kind though
I put on low sodium soy sause and it worked 🙂
Simply washing the infected area in very cold water for a few minutes worked wonders for me!
i got a bunch of em on my arms and legs but there all bunched up in a group and i cant find any mosquitoes in my house >.<
Hi Fabian! If ur getting bites on ur legs and arms and dont seem to have mosquitos then u have a worse problem my friend. Look around your bed bacause you have bedbugs sucking your blood!!!
Thank you so much for this tip list!!! I just went on a 10 mile hike yesterday in boggy MA with only Natural Bug Spray (called Swy Flotter) as my protection. I have upwards of 100 mosquito bites!!
This is awesome! I’m at work and these bites and killing me so I decided to google it…and I’ve seen deodorant?! REALLY?! I was excited, because I have it in my gym bag, so I put it on…and IT WORKS!
AWESOME! Thanks…now I need to get back to work….lol =D
Sometimes I just feel like removing limbs after bites, I kind of wondered … would just a needle prick and squeezing it out work ? Because when I scratch them bloody a yellow oozy substance always comes out first and it feels good after that.
I just sat here and read all these posts making sure I picked out what I thought was going to be the best remedy but as long as it took me to read through all this, my bites have stopped itching a couple of replys ago. Many thanks!
Happy Trails………
Jack
Witch hazel really works. This is a very old remedy. We keep a bottle in the medicine cabinet.You can find it near the hydrogen peroxide or rubbing alcohol. It is a distillation (like a hydrosol) of the leaves from a witch hazel tree. Works beautifully dabbed on with a cotton ball. (This is actually an ingredient in Tucks wipes, probably the Prep H wipes too.)
Last night, I got 17 mosquito bites and this morning I COULD NOT stop itching them! So I Google’d ‘mosquito bites’ and this is what I found. I just tried the ice cube, it did not work. I put deodorant on them about 20 minutes ago and its working! Thank you so much!!
The “Pit-Stick” suggestion is working on my flea bites. All 594 of them. Was just woken up at 1AM by them so I used google and found my way here.
I am telling you…if you try anything on this website it must be the hot spoon. It without a doubt absolutely positively works! My legs were bit up so bad that I was at my wits end..tried a lot of different remedies on this site. The only thing that gave me immediate lasting relief was the hot spoon! Don’t waste your time and money on the other stuff.
toothpaste works a treat :)….
but only temporarily 🙁
I tried the X over the bite and it made it itch worse. I have about 50 bites on each foot and ankle, I’m all stuffy in the nose now and feel like utter crap. I think I’m having an allergic reaction to it.
Last night (to go to sleep) I took a HOT HOT HOT soak with Epsom salt in it. It was scented with spearmint and eucalyptus and it helped SO MUCH. I’m gonna do that again in a few minuets, but oh god it was great.
I find sun cream stops the itching 🙂
finger nail polish remover works for me
What I’d really like is some info on how to avoid being bitten. My husband never gets a bug bite, I have many. Why, what to do?? Any suggestions?
we have no seeums as well as mosquitoes, what works for me is a bounce ( what you use in the dryer) in each sock and one in my belt loop, no problem, no bites
I have just came in with bites ALL OVER my ankles – I was only outside for 10 minutes feeding my animals – and my ankles were itching off!!! I found this website and tried the vinegar on a wash rag and it was instant relief!!! Thanks for the tip – although I smell like mustard, it is worth it!!!
I tried two remedies listed here last night (one on each leg – both legs have lots of nasty bites!!!) and they both worked… I put Vicks Vapour Rub (the baby balsam one as didn’t have full strength) on the right leg and Tiger Balm on the left, for the first time in two months I did not get up during the night due to itching! Also, went and bought some B1 tablets today and have started taking them… the guy at my local health food store also recommended B1, so am keeping my fingers crossed!
I don’t know what it is but it seems like when i’m outside during mosquito season i’m always getting bit. I try to avoid going outdoors when the mosquitos are bad but sometimes going outdoors is unavoidable, i have tied some of the “remedies in the past to no avail. I tried the deodorant and it worked….but for maybe 10 seconds. I went to my grandmothers the other day and they just attacked my feet and ankles and i also got one on my hip and another on my stomache, i’m so miserable, i was able to sleep this morning but i woke up due to the itching getting worse….niether heat nor cold seems to work. I feel for anyone who gets bites, I know how bad it can itch because i can never seem to find relief. Thanks for the suggestions though.
Greetings! I’ve been dealing with a chigger attack this week. I’ve tried 2 commercial products that didn’t help at all, also tried some of the suggestions above (soap, apple cider vinegar, anbesol come to mind…). Two nights in a row this week, I was unable to sleep more than 1-1/2 hours at a stretch w/o waking up to a terrible itch on both legs (despite the above suggestions).
What seems to help a lot for me, believe it or not, is shaving cream. Put some on and leave it (don’t wash it off). Wear pajama bottoms or sweats (you can wash them later and it’s only soap, really!). The kind I happened to use had aloe in it – don’t know if this makes a difference.
It might sound peculiar, but it really knocked down the discomfort level enough that I could get some sleep. I hope this helps someone out in the future! Good luck!
I get hugely inflamed by an unknown bug in the late summer/early fall. To the point where half my arm or leg is swollen. Have not found a natural remedy that works for me at all (I’ve tried MANY), except the hair dryer which gives me relief for maybe 30 minutes to a few hours if I’m lucky. From what I understand, the heat rushes all the histamine in your body to that one point and your body cannot produce enough that quickly to cause the never ending itchiness that people feel when they have a bad bug bite. So the center of the bite becomes tingly and very itchy for a few seconds, and then fades.
i use sugar and water on the bite it really works
Hi!
So it’s getting nice and cool here in Memphis, so I decided to leave the door open for a while, air out the house, the day before yesterday.
It was a biiiiig fat mistake. I have so many bites on my feet, it’s…obscene. I think I’m going to tear them right off. I honestly think I might have considered dipping them in BOILING water, if it would have helped! Thankfully, a scalding hot spoon and generous application of an equally hot rag really DID help. Very, very much. I almost feel human again!
Hand sanitizer has been working, thus far, for short periods of time. To be entirely frank, they’re not QUITE bloody, but they’re sure not far off, and it burns like HELL when you put the sanitizer on. Feels really good though, after you get over the “oh OW, that STINGS” of it all. Stinging is a helluva lot better than itching, as far as I’m concerned!
Thank you guys!
Mud!
Mud like outside.
Get some dirt, add water, and apply!
This is an easy way to relieve itching and workd great for my kids and i!
So, went camping for two nights with my husband, son and some of our friends, and I was the ONLY one who got mosquito bites! Got home yesterday and counted them…no joke, 39 on my left foot and 31 on my right…mostly all around my ankles. I’ve always had my bites swell like crazy, but it’s especially hard to keep them from itching too around your ankles. I went crazy last night trying to sleep, as they were annoying the hell out of me, so this morning i got up on this site and tried toothpaste…OH MY GOD…if you use whitening gel, it works miracles on them. Be sure to rub it in pretty good though, don’t just skim over the top of them. Hope this helps cuz God knows I HATE mosquito bites!
Hannah
Seriously, all you need to do is put your saliva on it. This is the only thing I’ve ever known to do, can’t even remember who told me, but it’s what you do. Put as much as it needs, your own saliva will do the trick better than anything else, and it’s safer too.
I know this is all about the aftermath, but try drinking lemon juice before or Indian tonic water. The quinine helps put mosquitoes off. For some it taste nice other maybe not..
Its the same as tonic water but with added quinine. And its not alcoholic 🙂
Also do not scratch with your nails… You will break your skin and leave marks. Use a cloth or your sleeve and do it lightly…
Ive just been demolished by mosquitos. I did a total body count and have 206 bit marks.
The hot shower didn’t work. Camamile lotion didn’t work.
Lucas Papaw Ointment did. I feel great but sticky.
Im going to Sri Lanka in 3 days and im SO scared im going to be bitten badly (when i get bitten within 24 hours the bites get really hot, a huge red patch developes and a blister forms and grows and grows until it pops- sorry gross i know! The blister will then fill up again and again and just weep for atleast 2 days) its hell. Ive written down so many of your suggestions so thanks! I went to Italy 3 years ago and the chemist there gave me a cream and said apply it as soon as i think ive been bitten. It was magic- it would completely stop the bite forming. And if i applied it after the bite had developed it still helped to heal it really quickly. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THIS CREAM WAS CALLED 🙁 IF THIS SOUNDS FAMILIAR TO ANY BODY PLEASE PLEASE LET ME KNOW!! It came in a tube and the cream was white.
Omg thank you so much! I recently went out for the weekend without any repelant and my legs have been eaten alive! I have welts all over me from the mozzies, so hopefully some of these tips will help 🙂
My 5yr old son gets huge bites that get very swollen and hard and warm to the touch.
I put white vinegar (put some on a tissue and then dab onto the bite) on his bites and it helps a lot. I have used it on my own bites and it relieves the itch fairly soon after applying.
If I apply to my son’s bites fairly soon after noticing them, the swelling is gone buy the next day, or sooner. If I miss a bite – it takes much longer to go down and stop itching.
So the vinegar seems to work well for us and my son doesn’t itch afterwards.
My mom always said human saliva was the best remedy. That is, licking or spitting on the bite 😛 She said there was some enzyme in it that did the work. I’ve never had it work for me, and I also don’t recommend this if you have DEET or something sprayed on already *ew*
The lemon juice thing totally worked! We actually had frozen lemon juice ice cube’s in our freezer and i put one on there for about a minute and it worked great no itch!! 😀 thx!
organic coconut cream, just dab some on the bite, it works for me
So I only have one mosquito bite but it has been driving me insane for days now (3 and a half days!!!) and it is honestly massive. the size of a dime.
ANYWAY
i tried putting metsal cream (similar to deep heat) on it and it may have helped a little, then i read about putting ginger on it but i only have garlic, and out of desperation i tried that and it seems to be helping although i still have a huge urge to scratch it. my next stop is the hot spoon and hand sanitiser. will report back.
i am in jamaica and have oer 200 bites on my arms and legs and it is quite literally a living h3ll! please help !!!!!!
I have some bites on my legs and i put these following things on them to treat:
-Tea Tree Oil,works but only a short time relief
-Hot substances,works
-Ice,works but is only also a short time relief
-Tiger Balm,works
-Hypericum, works
-crushed aspirin,pandol etc., works
-deodorant, it dosent work for me it just leaves a sting
-Lemon Juice, moderate relief
-Watermelon peel,banana peel, works
-basil,works good results
I tried heaps others but i cbb to type the rest the majority of these items work but some can be dangerous to people with sensitive skin. Also, even though this list works it can lead to side effects when the bite has gone example..dry skin…etc.most of them are only short time relievers but if you put a few of them on together eg.tiger balm and Hypericum it creates a stronger ointment and a longer lasting result.
4/5
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After getting my first mosquito bite of the season two nights ago, I had forgotten how itchy they could be. So, last night, I couldn’t take it any more! I kept itching the bite on my foot while lying down, instead of sleeping (very uncomfortable and awkward, might I add).
So, I found this site and first tried the deodorant, it only took the edge off. Still not satisfied, I tried putting a wash cloth under some hot water and applied it to the bite. That worked right away! Although, the bite feels a little tender/painful after applying the hot water twice, it still beats the heck out of the itchiness!!
Finally after 50+ years a cure for mosquito bites!:
No 1 The Hot Spoon Technique is 100% effective
No 2 for kids – toothpaste partial relief
garlic, salt, tea tree oil, vinegar, little or short term effect.
But; Hot spoon does not work on Flea bites so still researching this.
If you are only being bitten on the legs its more likely to be fleas. Here in Crete Greece stray cats are a major source. The fleas can be tiny probably because the cats are small?? and very thin; they look like a thin black speck and you can only be sure that it is an insect by putting your finger close and see if it diappears (jumps). Took us a long time to figure this out. You can verify by placing a saucer of water with a drop of washing up liquid out in the dark with a small light next to it; the fleas jump in and get stuck. The next day check; you might need a magnifying glass to identify them (long dangly legs underneath – no wings). Johnsons Raid Max deals with fleas and their young and mothballs might help.
I tried clear nail varnish that worked a treat on my bites but needed to keep re-applying it directly onto the bites every 2 – 3 hours.
Just wanted to let you know about one that actually made mine worse! When i put Noxzema, the original cleansing cream, it made my bites swell back up like they did when i first got them! Made them swollen and itch more. Toothpaste counteracted it.
I´ve found that putting a hairdryer on the highest possible heat you can stand, directly onto the bite really does help. Keep blowing hot air on it for as long as possible (it will really sting whilst you do this) and then leave to cool. The bite will obviously still be there, but the releif I´ve gotten from this technique has been fantastic – up to six hours today (currently written whilst in an internet cafe in Majorca where the little blighters are out in force).
Like a lot of these techniques listed here – heat really does seem to help.
Thought I´d share this with you guys. Good luck!
I do whatever possible to avoid mosquito bites. However, regardless of all my efforts, I have one, and I do mean just one. I have one mosquito bite that started out about the size of a dime, now it is the size of a 50 cent piece. I am ready to aputate my leg! I have tried every single remedy on this page and none of them have worked. I hate my leg….
My mom always put an X through the middle of them with her finger nail and it really does work to relieve pain, even though it doesn’t feel good when you do it. She also took alfalfa pills to keep them from biting.
Other than that, I just tried the tape because I am at work and have nothing else and it seems to work for a short quick relief if you are going crazy like I am. It suffocates the bite.
I return to this site every year hoping there will be a miraculus cure for “the bite”. Already this year I have been savagely chewed on by mosquitos and no-see-ums. By accident, I have had to take allergy pills (loratadine)at this time. I have noticed that the itch is bearable and it does not keep me up scratching all night long. If I forget to take my allergy pills , the itch is unbearable. Hope this helps someone else.
I didn’t read all the comments so maybe this has been posted – ALOE VERA.
If you can buy a plant at your nursery, great – just snip off of the end about an inch, cut it like you’re butterflying a piece of meat and smear the moist inside of the leaf directly onto your bite.
If you don’t have your own plant you can buy a huge leaf at most produce centers in grocery stores for around a dollar. Store it in the refrigerator and it will be good for up to 2 months. Throw it away once it starts shriveling.
Not only does it allieve the itching and swelling – the bite will be GONE within 2 hours. There will be no swelling, redness or anything. Promise!!! I have used this for many years, as do my children and relatives – I’ll even take a plant or a large stem with me on vacation if we’re camping. It’s THAT good!!!
Oh – I forgot to mention – the stuff that contains aloe vera, over the counter gels or sprays… worthless.
You want actual ALOE VERA plants. Google it if you have no idea what that is. Very common and can live indoors in any climate as long as there’s some sun exposure in your window.
100% natural aloe vera. No chemicals, no additives, no tubes, or bottles or colored gels. Seriously – it’s cheap, it keeps producing and it flat out works.
I tried the toothpaste one, was talking to my cuz joking around because i didnt think it would work, it actually relieved the itching immediatley. Gonna try some others to which one i like best. If you have just been itching the bite and you keep itching it, the toothpaste stops the itch but then has a very small sensation on the area. I only recommend toothpaste if you need to stop the chronic itch because a slight itch comes back
I have a 2 year old daughter that seems to have very severe reactions to mosquito bites. They swell up and make a knot. And they make her itch terribly. They last for at least a week. I have found that the Orajel stings and she refuses to let me put it on her. I have an Aloe Vera plant that we put on it and it helps a little, but not long term. I’m going to try the deoderant suggestion to see if it helps. I am just at my wits end here and thought I’d look and see if there were any suggestions and this site popped up. I’m going to save it and hopefully I can find something to give my little angel some relief. We just spent nearly 2 hours trying to get her to sleep because she itches so much. Thank you so much for making this list. If anyone else has any recommendations on what would be safe to use on a little one, PLEASE let me know. Thanks again.
Aloe Vera gel also works really well I tried the soap and it also works..
cant go wrong with the soap it really works!
I would just like to add that i too suffer a severe reaction to being bit ,but i never seem to be aware of the actual moment it happens so have to rely on after treatment , usually as well as the fact that i have probably scratched myself silly in my sleep . As i speak now i have a bite that was in the middle of my forearm and the swelling has extended from my elbow right down to my finger tips (imagine a tom & jerry cartoon ) you will get the picture , also with a large blister type thing in the middle. and this is just one of many i have .Even my ear looks like i have done 10 rounds with mike tyson . (who would think they would bite your ear ) Everytime i go on holiday it has been a nightmare ,and everytime i end up at the docs or even the hospital (and they are always shocked at the extent of my reaction). Extremely painful, itchy ,burning the works . I take anti-histamine tablets, put on anti-histamine cream, repellant ,spray myself before i go out, cover up and spray rooms . but they still get me . One thing i have noticed that it is dependant on the country i go too, the remedies that help always vary, when i went to turkey i ended up at the hospital and the blisters were all drained , i was given tablets and cream to help with the pain and itching, and for that holiday it seemed to work . My next holiday was in egypt and i took along the exact same items that had helped in turkey, but no again i was the rump steak , so off i went again to the doctors with medicine in hand , It was explained to me that egyptian mossies were stronger and the items i was using were of no use ?? So i then needed a very strong injection (which hurt like hell i might add ) more cream and tablets , which again seemed to work for the duration of my stay .This year i have moved to spain , again i was armed with every cream and tablet that i had ever been given , i even made the mistake (or maybe not ) of having some in my hand luggage with the intention of being fully covered before i got off the plane , the customs people took this off me ,despite my cries of desperation and pleas of understanding that i needed this stuff , Then one of the officers told me that i needed to take some vitamin b12 as he had been told off someone in the army , as i am stood there thinking where and what the hell is b12 , he told me to have marmite UUgh or bovril as that contains b12 …… ,thinking him an uncaring person to take away my saviour and offer me bovril i totted off, Anyway on the second day (heavily loaded with tablets and cream ) i went shopping and just happened to spot bovril ,and so i remembered the conversation and thought , well why not its worth a shot ,So every night before i went to bed i had a cup of bovril , and for 6 weeks not a bite ?