15 Natural Remedies for Dealing with Mosquito Bites

A mosquito bite can be irritating – resulting in itchy skin and causing discomfort. This feeling of discomfort is increased when a child has a mosquito bite.

While there are plenty of useful commercial products for treating mosquito bites, not everyone wants to add chemicals to their body. Luckily, there are many natural remedies that you can use to relieve skin irritation and shorten the duration of effects from the bite.

It can be incredibly tempting to itch a mosquito bite, which is why the primary focus of treating mosquito bites is relieving skin irritation. When you scratch a bite, you run the risk of infecting the area of the skin around the bite. As with an open wound, you should allow the bite to heal. To help reduce the temptation to itch a mosquito bite, use any of these 15 DIY natural remedies for dealing with mosquito bites.

Citrus Juice

Using lime or lemon juice, you can reduce the chance of infection and prevent skin irritation. Citrus contains antibacterial, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. The combination of benefits makes citrus juice the perfect solution for mosquito bites; though, you should avoid direct exposure to the sun until you have rinsed the juice from your skin.

Apply and Ice Pack

Make your own ice pack, using a bag of ice and a towel, to reduce swelling and number your skin. The cold compress will relieve skin irritation and get rid of any swelling. Apply the ice pack to your skin for at least ten minutes.

Use a Banana Peel

Banana peels contain anti-inflammatory properties, which will assist with relieving itchy skin. Save the peel from a banana and rub it along the bite. This could also help to remove fluid from the bite, preventing infections and helping to alleviate the itchy skin quicker.

Saliva

This remedy may not always provide relief, but it is an old solution for dealing with mosquito bites. Spit on your palm and gently rub it onto the bite. Allow the saliva to dry. This should provide some relief from your skin irritation.

Make a Baking Soda Paste

Make your own baking soda paste and apply it to the bite. Use one teaspoon of baking soda and add a few drops of water. The mixture should have thick, pasty texture. Apply the mixture to the bite and leave in place for at least fifteen minutes. Alkaline compounds found in baking soda can restore the pH balance of your skin, which may help fight inflammation.

Use Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil is an essential oil with thousands of uses. It can help treat acne, fight inflammation, and treat poison ivy. Among the thousands of uses for tea tree oil is using it to relieve itchy skin. Apply a few drops of tea tree oil to a mosquito bite to prevent skin irritation, reduce swelling, and avoid any chances of infection.

Add Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil provides the same relief as tea tree oil. It is another essential oil with many different uses, including mosquito bite treatments. As with the tea tree oil, apply a few drops to the bite and gain almost immediate relief.

Create a Salt Rub

Create a salt rub, by moistening the mosquito bite with water and then adding a small pinch of salt. Rub the salt around the bite. This will reduce the itchiness, but may not help fight infection or reduce swelling. To use salt to prevent infection, go swimming in saltwater.

Apply Aloe Vera Topically

The Aloe Vera plant has many uses, including helping to relieve itchy skin. It provides a cooling effect that will help soothe your skin. Along with limiting skin irritation, Aloe Vera can speed up the healing process. Aloe Vera should be applied topically, rubbing it on the mosquito bite.

Rub Basil on the Bite

Basil is another herb that can be used to treat bug bites. Rub fresh basil on the bite to limit skin irritation. You may not get complete relief, but it should help a little bit. Basically, basil should be used as an alternative when you do not have any of the other ingredients listed.

Apple Cider Vinegar Bath

Take a bath with apple cider vinegar. Apple cider vinegar will help reduce inflammation and skin irritation. Fill up your bathtub and add several tablespoons of the vinegar. If you do not feel like taking a bath, then add a few drops of vinegar to a cotton ball. Apply the vinegar from the cotton ball directly to your skin.

Use Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, applied with a cotton swab or a cotton ball can help relieve itchy skin. Not only will this limit skin irritation, the rubbing alcohol will help to prevent infections.

Apply Toothpaste

Apply small amounts of toothpaste to your mosquito bites. The toothpaste will dry out the skin and prevent itchiness. Once the irritation passes, you should thoroughly rinse the area where you applied the toothpaste.

Slap the Bite

Slapping the bite can provide momentary relief from itchy skin. The pain from the slap should replace the skin irritation. This method may not provide long-term relief and may not be a suitable method for dealing with bites on your children.

Tape

Tape the bite. This will keep you from scratching the mosquito bite. You should apply the tape after adding a topical treatment for skin relief. Using tape is a good option for people that have difficultly not itching a bite. Leave the tape on for 24 hours and then remove.

Try any of these 15 remedies the next time you or a family member gets a mosquito bite. You may want to rinse the skin around the bite, before trying these methods, to help reduce the risk of infection.

Dealing with a mosquito bite comes down to preventing skin irritation. These home remedies use natural ingredients, allowing you to avoid chemicals and use a green method of treating a bite.

When a bite occurs, clean the skin and give one of these DIY natural mosquito bite remedies a try.