Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Treating mosquito bites
• Part 2 of 4: Treating mosquito bites with home remedies
• Part 3 of 4: Preventing mosquito bites
• Part 4 of 4: Making insect repellants at home
• Tips
• Warnings

If you like to be outside in the summer, and you live somewhere with a lot of mosquitoes, you can almost be sure that you will be stung by annoying mosquitoes. Follow these tips to reduce swelling, get rid of mosquito bites as soon as possible, and prevent them in the future.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Treating mosquito bites

1. Wash the mosquito bite with soap and water as soon as you notice that you have been bitten by a mosquito. After soap and water, dab some alcohol on the mosquito bite to dry it out and reduce itching.
2. Put some Calamine lotion on the bite. This can reduce the itching. Calamine is an anti-itch with zinc oxide and iron oxide that is used around the world to treat itching.
3. Rub witch hazel or deodorant on the bite. Witch hazel has anti-itching and anti-inflammatory properties, it was used by Native American tribes for centuries before being marketed as a styptic.
   • Deodorant contains aluminum chloride, which helps reduce pain and swelling from the mosquito bite.
4. Soak the bite in water with Epsom salt. Epsom salts are made of magnesium and sulfates, and offer a solution for many ailments and also relax the mind. Magnesium helps regulate the activity of various enzymes and increases serotonin levels in the brain. There are several ways to relieve mosquito bites with Epsom salts:
   • Take a bath with Epsom salt. Fill the bathtub with water and Epsom salt as stated on the package. Soak in it for 30 minutes to an hour.
   • Make an Epsom salt compress by adding just enough water to some Epsom salt so that it becomes a thin paste. Put the paste on the mosquito bites. Take a very warm washcloth (almost too hot to touch) and place it on the mosquito bite for 10 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
5. Reduce the swelling. Use the following tricks to fight inflammation:
   • Fill a bag with crumbled ice. Place the ice pack on the bite to reduce itching, pain, and swelling.
   • Take an antihistamine. Antihistamine helps reduce swelling and itching. Natural antihistamines include:
     
     • Nettle. Some doctors recommend taking freeze-dried nettle, which is known for its ability to reduce the amount of histamine the body produces.
     • Coltsfoot may also be effective as a natural antihistamine. In Europe, this plant has long been used against skin problems. The leaves can be ground into a paste, or the extract can be taken in pill form.
     • Basil can also be used as a natural antihistamine. Heat a few sprigs of basil with steam and place them on the mosquito bites. Basil helps the body see that the foreign substance that causes the bump is not something to fight against.

Part 2 of 4: Treating mosquito bites with home remedies

1. Use essential oil. Essential oil can soothe the skin, treat inflammation and reduce the size of the bite. Pay attention to which oil suits your skin (and skin type), because lavender oil, for example, can treat mosquito bites very well, but may also attract bees.
   • Tea tree oil is a great dermatological medicine. Not only does it help treat dandruff, swimmers' eczema and acne, it also has an anti-inflammatory, anti-itch effect and contains antiviral ingredients that keep infections at bay.
   • Like tea tree oil, lavender oil can reduce swelling, treat inflammation, and relieve the itching associated with mosquito bites. Lavender oil, like tea tree oil, keeps mosquitoes at bay. But, and tea tree oil does not, it can attract bees.
2. Use the peel of a banana. Peel a banana and save the banana yourself for later (or you can eat it so you don't think about the mosquito bite!). Treat the area with disinfectant first, then hold the inside of the peel against the bite for 5-10 minutes, rubbing it over the skin every now and then. The banana peel should reduce itching and dry out the skin quickly.
3. Use a powder to tenderize meat. You can find this at the store or order it on the internet. Mix a tablespoon of water with a tablespoon of powder to make a paste. Smear this on the mosquito bites.
   • This powder, called "meat tenderizer" in English, contains papein or bromelain, substances that help pull the venom out of the bite. In this case, the mosquito's saliva, which reduces the itching.
   • The enzymes in this powder, papein or bromelain, are also in many different types natural products: Bromelain, for example, is in the juice and stem of the pineapple, and papein is found in papaya.
     
     • If you don't have a meat tenderizing powder at home, but you do have papaya or pineapple, cut off a piece of that fruit and rub it on your skin.
4. Use clear nail polish. Put some clear nail polish on the mosquito bite and let it dry for 5 minutes.Then scrape off the polish and repeat as needed.
5. Use organic apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is a great itch reliever because of its acidity. The pH of apple cider vinegar is slightly less acidic so it balances the pH of the itchy red skin.There are two ways to apply apple cider vinegar to the bite to reduce the itchiness:
   • In a liquid solution:
     
     • Mix equal parts warm water and apple cider vinegar.
     • Soak a cotton ball in the solution and put it on the bites.
     • Hold it there for a minute or two and let it dry. Repeat if necessary.
   • In a pasta:
     
     • Mix equal parts apple cider vinegar and cornmeal.
     • Put the paste on the bites and let dry.
     • Rinse with warm water.

Part 3 of 4: Preventing mosquito bites

1. Take a dose of vitamin B1 daily. Research suggests that this vitamin changes your odor making you less attractive to mosquitoes.
2. Make sure there is no standing water in the vicinity of your house, so that mosquitoes have nowhere to lay their eggs. Unclog your gutters, change water from birdbaths and ponds regularly and turn buckets and bins upside down so they don't become full of rainwater. Also, don't leave car tires around your house.
3. Repair holes or openings in the screens for your windows and doors.
4. Use insect repellent. Take an agent containing DEET, Picaridin, or lemon / eucalyptus oil. Citronella candles can also provide some mosquito protection.
5. Wear protective clothing when you go outside.
   • Wear long sleeves, long pants and socks.
   • Wear a hat with a mosquito net over your face. You can also put a curtain over a pram to protect your child from mosquito bites.

Part 4 of 4: Making insect repellants at home

1. Make an insect repellent in a can. For an insect repellent that resembles a mosquito candle, take an empty can with a lid, an unused dishwashing sponge and one or a combination of the following essential oils: lavender, eucalyptus, citronella, peppermint, lemongrass or pennyroyal (Hedeoma).
   • Soak the sponge in the essential oil.
   • Put the sponge in the can and close the lid. Let rest for 24 hours.
   • Use when needed. Every time you use the can, open the lid and place it outside on the table. Make as many as you want in your yard to get rid of mosquitoes.
   • Top up the oil after each use; when exposed to air, its strength will decrease and must be topped up.
2. Make bug spray with natural oils and vinegar. This is a basic recipe with which you can continue to work and expand. In this recipe we call eucalyptus oil, but feel free to use a combination of the above oils if you have found that they work.
   • Mix in a plant sprayer:
     
     • 125 ml witch hazel (hamamelis)
     • 125 ml apple cider vinegar
     • 30-50 drops of essential oils. Choose any combination of citronella, cloves, lemongrass, rosemary, tea tree, eucalyptus, cedar, lavender, mint, catnip and cajeput.
   • Shake the ingredients and spray on exposed areas. Avoid getting it in your eyes or mouth.
3. Make insect repellent from dried or fresh herbs. This recipe uses cooked herbs with witch hazel as a base. It is effective because insects, especially flies, do not like the strong scent of the herbs.
   • Bring 250 ml of water to a boil and add 3-4 tablespoons of any combination of dried peppermint, mint, citronella, lemongrass, catnip, lavender and cloves. Cover the pan.
   • After two minutes, remove the pan from the heat and leave it with the lid on until it is lukewarm.
   • Pour it through a sieve into 125 ml of witch hazel (or alcohol) and store it in a spray bottle / plant sprayer in the refrigerator.
   • Use it on the skin as needed.
4. Rub lavender or lavender oil directly on the skin. Lavender is a natural mosquito repellent and it even helps against fleas from cats or dogs. Drip a little lavender oil on your wrists or other exposed body parts.
5. Rub mint oil or family of the mint plant directly on the skin. Mint is another natural insect repellent and has that classic sweet mint scent. Peppermint, Moroccan mint and catnip are great for keeping unwanted bugs at bay while you smell good.
6. Rub basil or basil oil directly on the skin. Basil is another strong smelling herb that flies dislike and it is also very helpful against moths.
7. Rub garlic directly on the skin. This is a bit less popular, but only because garlic smells so strong. But if you're at a loss and only have garlic in the house, you can be sure that a little garlic on your skin will keep the flies at bay.

Tips

• Do not try to scratch the mosquito bite. You destroy your skin, so it takes longer for the mosquito bite to go away and you have more chance of infection.
• If your skin is broken it will sting when you put vinegar on it, but that's a sign that it is healing.
• Rub a piece of onion over the mosquito bite to help with itching. Unfortunately it stinks.
• Make a paste with baking soda and witch hazel. Smear it on the bite and let it dry. Then rinse it off with cold water.
• First put alcohol on the mosquito bite and then some lotion. That feels better.
• You can also buy all kinds of ointments against itching from insect bites at the drugstore.
• Try not to think about it too much and hit yourself on the mosquito bite, that will give relief.
• If you use nail polish, make sure the bite is not open or you will get infections and pain.

Warnings

• If you find yourself developing other symptoms besides the mosquito bite, such as fever, body aches, nausea, or vomiting, see your doctor. Mosquitoes can spread diseases such as West Nile virus, Dengue and (if you've recently been to the tropics) Malaria, which require treatment.
• You can have a severe allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. Have a severe rash, swelling in the throat and wheezing immediate need medical attention.