The best home remedies for mosquito bites,
of course, are those that stop the little critters biting in the first place.
But if it is too late for that, there are still a few things that you can try.
A mosquito bite is not like the sting of a
wasp or bee which is an injection of poison. Mosquitoes just want a little
taste of your blood. But to stop it coagulating so that they can easily drink
it, they also deposit a protein which causes an allergic reaction in some people.
It seems that some people get bitten
constantly and others never have a single itch, but this is probably nothing to
do with whether the insects like you. The truth is that some people do not get
allergic and so they do not know they have been bitten.
If you ask a hundred bite-scratching people
what they recommend, you may get a hundred different answers.
Here are some of
the most popular ideas.
Ice: apply an ice cube to reduce the
inflammation and temporarily numb the area. Ice also restricts blood flow which
may reduce the allergic reaction. The bite will probably itch again later, but
maybe by then you will be busy doing something else and will not notice.
Roll-on anti perspirant: most commercial
anti perspirants contain vasoconstrictive substances which, like ice, restrict
blood flow to the area. Additionally, the aluminum in the anti perspirant may
help the bite to heal. Do not use if the bite has been heavily scratched.
Toothpaste: some people recommend smearing
toothpaste over the bite. The fluoride is said to reduce the allergic reaction.
If desperate, why not give it a try!
Scratching: it has been shown that if you
go so far as to open up the bite and make it bleed, some of the allergen may be
forced out by the blood flow. However, the bite may become infected, so doing
this deliberately is not recommended. If it happens by accident, apply
antiseptic.
The good news is that the itching from
bites will only last between 24 and 48 hours. Then, cover yourself in insect
repellent or keep those mosquitoes out with netting to stop yourself being
bitten next time.
You can also look for an anti itch cream
that contains camphor, and keep it with you whenever you risk being bitten.
Camphor can stop the itching and if applied early enough, it may even prevent
the itchy bump from forming. This makes camphor one of the best home remedies
for mosquito bites, but you have to buy some ahead of time.
