Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Recommendations from doctors
• Part 2 of 2: Folk remedies
• Tips
• Warnings

Mosquito bites cause itching because you have a mild allergic reaction to the mosquito's saliva that gets into your skin when bitten. The diet of female mosquitoes consists mainly of the blood of their victims; therefore, most of them feed on the blood of several donors during the day. Males do not bite. While mosquitoes can carry serious viruses, most of the time they only cause minor inconvenience and irritation.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Recommendations from doctors

1. 1 Wash the affected area with soap and water. This will rinse off any remaining irritating insect saliva, allowing the bite to heal without infection.
2. 2 Apply ice to the bite site as soon as possible. Most mosquito bites do not hurt, and you may not notice that you have been bitten for a long time. Ice will help reduce discomfort and swelling.
3. 3 Soothe your skin by applying calamine lotion or another topical remedy from a pharmacy for use after insect bites. Follow the instructions on the package.
4. 4 Take a bath with colloidal oatmeal, baking soda, or epsom salt to relieve itching.

Part 2 of 2: Folk remedies

1. 1 Try home remedies for pain and itching.
   • Add a couple of drops of water to the baking soda for a thick paste. Apply the resulting paste to the bite.
   • Use a seasoning for marinating meat that contains the enzyme papain. Add a couple of drops of water to the mixture to make a paste. Apply it to the bite to help relieve itching and swelling.
   • Crush an aspirin tablet and add a couple of drops of water to make a thick paste. This mixture, when applied topically, will help relieve pain.
2. 2 Take a pain reliever such as aspirin or acetaminophen. Check the instructions on the packaging.

Tips

• Use foods that contain citronella, linaool, and geraniol (such as candles) when outdoors. All of these ingredients are natural female mosquito repellents. Most mosquitoes appear at sunset and sunrise.
• Apply insect repellent to exposed skin before leaving your home to prevent mosquito bites.
• Alcohol-soaked wipes can help cool the bite and relieve pain.
• Crush Rennie's indigestion pill, add a few drops of water, and apply the mixture to the bite to help soothe the pain and itching.

Warnings

• Mosquitoes can carry serious diseases from one bitten to the next, such as malaria and West Nile virus. In the early stages, West Nile virus symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and swollen glands. If you develop symptoms of the virus, see your doctor immediately.
• Try not to scratch the bite site - this will cause more irritation and may leave scars.