How to Treat Mosquito Bites

Everyone will deal with a mosquito bite at some point or another. As long as you resist the urge to scratch them and treat them correctly, the bites often heal in just three to four days. Here’s what we recommend doing to treat mosquito bites:

When you notice the bites, wash them with soap and warm water.
If needed, apply an ice pack for ten minute intervals to help reduce itching and swelling.
If itching persists, use anti-inflammatories, antihistamines, and over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream
Avoid scratching if at all possible. Scratching will prolong the duration of the mosquito bites.

How to Get Mosquito Bites to Stop Itching

Symptoms can appear anywhere from a few hours to a day after the bite. At first, the bite will look like a raised white welt but will reduce to a red bump in a day or so. To alleviate the immediate itching sensation, apply ice packs and over-the-counter ointments. Anti-inflammatories or antihistamines can help with severe symptoms. Again, resist the temptation to scratch the bites. Doing so will lengthen and worsen symptoms and put you at risk of developing an infection.

Best Mosquito Bite Home Remedies

Always do a skin patch test before proceeding with any of these remedies, applying it to a small area of your skin to make sure you don’t have any allergic reactions. These are some of the many home remedies you can try to help treat mosquito bites:

Baking soda and water: Use one tablespoon baking soda and water to create a paste and apply it to the mosquito bite. Let it sit on your skin for ten minutes, and wash away.
Oatmeal: People know this remedy from chicken pox, but you can also use it to try to alleviate severe mosquito bites. Use equal parts oatmeal and water to make a paste that’s applied to skin with a washcloth. You can also try an oatmeal bath by sprinkling a cup of ground oats into a warm-water bath.
Honey: Honey has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. A small drop on a mosquito bite can reduce inflammation and reduce the desire to scratch.
Aloe vera: Not just for sunburns, aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties that help soothe symptoms associated with mosquito bites.

When Should You See a Doctor for Mosquito Bites?

If you start to feel sick with more severe symptoms like fevers, rashes, nausea, and allergic reactions, seek immediate medical attention. Thankfully, this is very rare. Most mosquito bites can heal right at home in less than a week.

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