Effective Home Remedies for Bug Bites

Effective Home Remedies for Bug Bites

Lemon
Lemons contain natural anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties that make them very useful in treating mosquito bites.

Simply cut a lemon into two pieces and rub the inside of one of the halves against your itchy skin for quick relief. You can try rubbing the yellow rind of the lemon over your skin too.
Apply lemon juice to the bites to help reduce the chance of developing an infection.
Another option is to add crushed basil leaves to lemon juice and apply the mixture onto the affected area.

Minced Onion or Garlic
Onion and garlic help reduce swelling and soothe the itching caused by mosquito bites. Moreover, their strong smell repels insects and mosquitoes.

Apply minced onion or garlic directly onto the affected area.
Leave it on for a few minutes, then wash it off.

Baking Soda
Baking soda can effectively stop the itchiness caused by mosquito bites. Being alkaline in nature, it neutralizes the pH of the skin and hence provides relief.

Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and put the cloth over the affected skin area for 10 to 20 minutes.
Another option is to make a paste using witch hazel and baking soda. Apply it onto the bite and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then wash the area with lukewarm water.

Toothpaste
Toothpaste can reduce itchiness that occurs due to mosquito bites. Apply some toothpaste tothe mosquito bites area. For best results, you can use peppermint toothpaste because it has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help in soothing swelling. Toothpaste, which contains menthol and baking soda, is also a good alternative. See, this is why toothpaste tops our list of home remedies for mosquito bites.

Aloe Vera
Aloe vera contains anti-inflammatory compounds, which can aid in reducing itchiness. Apply the aloe gel in the affected skin. For best results, put the aloe vera in the refrigerator first before applying to the mosquito bites. To use aloe vera, cut the leaf and rub it to the skin with mosquito bites.

Meat tenderizer
Mom KayDee B. says she uses a paste, too, but she makes it out of meat tenderizer and water. She says you don't have to buy an expensive tenderizer, just as long as you can mix it with water to make a paste. Rub it on the bite, and your child is itch-free and ready to (eat) barbecue.

Rubbing alcohol or nail polish. OK, so these two remedies are usually in the bathroom, not the kitchen, but moms still say they work. Amy V. says dabbing rubbing alcohol on a mosquito bite as soon as you notice it can keep the itchies at bay, and Jocelyn S. says a little bit of clear nail polish will help, too. One mom named August also uses nail polish, but she says she uses it to keep a bite from "re-opening."

Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV for short) is both anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory, making it a perfect solution for soothing and disinfecting mosquito bites. For all-over treatment, add 2/3 cup to a warm bath and soak for at least 10 minutes. Spot treat single bites by dabbing undiluted ACV on with a cotton ball.

For the best quality and consistency, I recommend Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar. It not only smells great and gets the job done; if you accidentally splash Bragg ACV onto your skin, you can rest easy knowing that it’s good for you, too.

Basil
Basil contains camphor and thymol, both of which relieve itching such as that caused by mosquito bites. Crush a few fresh basil leaves and press them over bites or dab on a drop or two of basil essential oil for super fast relief.

Basil also makes excellent mosquito repellent!

Ice
Simple yet effective, applying ice to bites is a sure fire way to reduce swelling, numb pain, and stop the itching. Just remember to wrap ice in a towel as direct contact with skin can cause more harm than good.

Banana Peel
Plantain peel is one of the best remedies to get rid of the itch and sting. Peel the banana and massage the inside part of it directly on the area of a mosquito bite. Wash the area after 90 minutes and apply sanitizer to relieve the itch. Another alternative is to cut open a fresh lime or lemon and rub it on the skin directly.