Mosquito bites essentially are allergic reactions that leave you feeling uncomfortable for as long as they stay reactive. Excessive scratching causes swelling, which eventually breaks the skin. This could lead to infections and result in unsightly scars. When bites are left unscratched, they shrink. Although mosquito bites are inevitable during the summer months and especially in heavily wooded and humid environments, there are solutions for relief you can try to promote faster healing.
Soap and Water
Soap and warm water works well to relieve itching in areas where you have been bitten by mosquitoes. During a shower, lather up a bath soap bar and rub it on mosquito bites. Rinse off excess soap with warm water. The soap will react with the venom from the bite and relieve the itch.
Toothpaste
Another solution that works well is toothpaste. Wash your hands thoroughly before applying. Squeeze half of a pea size of toothpaste onto your finger and rub directly over the bite, covering the entire area. The best time to apply toothpaste is during nighttime hours, before going to bed. If you don't want toothpaste to get all over your sheets, apply a one-inch Band-Aid over the bite. This will keep the toothpaste in place as well as discourage unconscious scratching overnight. Apply daily as needed until the bite area no longer feels itchy.
Creams and Lotions
Because mosquito bites are the result of allergic reactions on the skin, histamine fighters contained in products such as Benedryl or Cortizone 10, and other anti-itch topical creams or lotions, can offer relief on affected areas until the bites shrink.
Aloe Vera
The juice inside an aloe vera plant also will relieve itching. Break off a single leaf from an aloe plant, then split the leaf. Rub the aloe juice directly onto the bite. Discard after you have covered affected areas. When you begin to feel the itch at the bite site, apply juice from another aloe leaf. Aloe vera gel skin products work well to soothe itching and swelling as well.
Temporary Relief
The solutions mentioned above will provide only temporary relief for mosquito bites. They help to reduce swelling and itching so that the bite heals faster. If you feel the need to scratch a bite, scratch around the outer circumference of the bite area. This will ensure that you do not break the skin, as an open wound could lead to infection. Visit a doctor if itching from your bites does not heal after more than a week.
Tags: mosquito bites, affected areas, allergic reactions, bite area, could lead, over bite