What's a good remedy for mosquito bite itch?

Question

I got chewed up all over by mosquitoes and it won't stop itching! I wasn't wearing mosquito repellant and now I am suffering. What's a good home remedy for the itch???

Answer 1

Avoiding mosquito bites should be your first line of defense, but if the little bloodsuckers bite, you'll need some defense against itching and infection.

Steps:
1. Wash the infected area with soap and water as soon as you recognize that you've been bitten. Try to keep the site clean and dry until the irritation abates.

2. Avoid scratching. Although a mosquito bite should itch for only a few days, continual scratching will increase your discomfort and may prolong the itching.

3. Make a paste of baking soda and water, using just enough water to make the paste sticky. Spread the mixture on the bites.

4. Rub soap directly on the bite. This is an oft-repeated home remedy for mosquito bites.

5. Apply an ice pack or ice wrapped in a washcloth to the bite area.

6. Use calamine lotion or a topical anesthetic containing pramoxine to help relieve pain and itching.

7. Purchase 1-percent hydrocortisone cream to alleviate the itching. Follow directions on the package for safe use.

8. Use an anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce any accompanying swelling or redness.

Tips:
See "Avoid Mosquito Bites," under Related eHows, for information on methods that will protect you from bites.

If you are traveling to a foreign country - especially the tropics - you may be in danger of contracting malaria from a mosquito bite. See "Malaria - General Information," under Related Sites, for facts you need to know about this illness.

If your mosquito bite becomes red and swollen and if the area around the bite feels warm to the touch, your bite may be infected. Apply an antibiotic cream or ointment. If symptoms do not clear up, consult your doctor.


Warnings:
In rare cases, you may contract encephalitis from a mosquito bite. If, 5 to 15 days after a mosquito bite, you experience severe headaches, fever, nausea and vomiting, disorientation, chills and/or muscle aches and pain, see your doctor immediately.

If you have specific medical conditions or concerns, we recommend you contact a physician. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Tips from eHow Users:
Use cold water by eHow Friend
Apply cold water directly on to the bite. I find it works better than hot showers because it helps to numb the area. It works much like an ice pack, but it is easier to do when you're out. Dry the area afterward and apply some soap (no water) and rub it on to the bite. Rub until the soap is completely absorbed by your skin. Something in the soap seems to balance out with the mosquito's saliva and slows down the itching.

What does and doesn't work by
I have just barely read all of the comments of how to treat mosquito bites. I decided to try the deodorant, and it only made it itch more! So then I put Scotch tape on the bites, and the itching is completely gone! :)

Answer 2

The best for any all-skin irritation is an oatmeal bath. Fill an old sock with a cup of oatmeal, tie it off and use it in the bath like a scrubber. The starches will make a slippery milky substance that is very soothing to your skin. My kids beg for this if they get itchy or have dry skin - really good for chicken pox and poison oak itch too.

For individual bites, Campho Phenique works best for me.

Answer 3

Caladryl is the best or just plain cortisone cream. I often ice an itch to relieve the burning.

Answer 4

Put a dab of deoderant on it. It will stop the itch in a few seconds.

Answer 5

Wet the area with water and scrub it with regular table salt , leave it on, let it dry and flake off the crystals...repeat if necessary. It works.

Answer 6

calamine lotion, benadryl cream or dab a bit of ammonia on the bite (draws out the poison...old grandma trick)

Answer 7

I have heard that listerine is great. Camphor or vicks works well too.