6 Ways to Stop Mosquito Bites from Itching

Everyone is familiar with mosquito bites, some more than others. Even if you have taken all the precautions you can, you’ll inevitably end up with a few seasonal bites that always end up itchy and annoying. Now that you’ve been bitten, what can you do about it? Here are 6 ways to stop itching those mosquito bites!

The Reason Behind the Itch

Before we look at ways to get relief from mosquito bites, it’s a good idea to understand the why. According to GoodRX Health, when a mosquito bites you, it injects saliva into your body. This causes your immune system to produce histamine, which has the adverse effect of causing itchy skin. Histamine alerts the remainder of the immune system that something is wrong with the body. This signal instructs the immune system to begin working on eliminating the mosquito saliva. A red, swollen patch, or hive, is left behind because a person is allergic to mosquito saliva. Itching from mosquito bites often begins around 20 minutes after a bite and worsens over the next 24 to 36 hours. The itching will fade over the next 7 to 10 days.

Mosquito Bite Relief to Stop Itching

When you look up mosquito bite relief, several at-home remedies often come up but don’t take a chance with odd concoctions. Often these untested ointments can lead to more issues than if you’d stick with tried-and-true methods. The CDC recommends the following treatments:

1. Wash the mosquito bite.

Wash the area with soap and water. This should always be the first step in treating insect bites and can often help remove mosquito saliva.

2. Ice packs:

Ice can decrease swelling as well as the itchiness of the bite. For around 10 minutes, apply an ice pack to your bite. You can reapply anytime the itching becomes unbearable. Make sure the ice pack (or ice) is wrapped in a towel. Note that applying ice to your skin directly might cause skin damage.

3. Home-made anti-itch pastes:

Combine one tablespoon of baking soda plus enough water to make a paste. Apply your preferred paste on your bite for 10 minutes before washing it away. You can reapply the paste as needed to relieve itching.

Alternatively, you can use oatmeal bath products in place of baking soda.

4. Steroid cream:

Anti-itch steroid creams are beneficial in relieving mosquito bites. A wonderful over-the-counter (OTC) choice is 1% hydrocortisone cream. To avoid negative effects such as skin discoloration, discontinue use after a few days.

5. Antihistamines:

OTC antihistamine medicines can help alleviate itching from mosquito bites. These include loratadine (Claritin) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl) but be sure to follow the dose instructions.

6. Anti-Itch Lotions:

Calamine lotion or other moderate anti-itch creams should be used according to directions.

Stop Mosquitoes Before They Strike

Taking precautions to avoid mosquito bites is always preferred. These bothersome insects spread diseases to not only you but your pets. Mosquito Squad recommends following the 7 Ts of Mosquito Control to keep the population in your yard down and limit the bite exposure. When you want to ensure that your outdoor spaces are protected, use our Traditional Mosquito Barrier Treatment to decrease their presence by up to 90% for up to 21 days! To learn more about our barrier treatment or our other services like our automatic mosquito misting systems, contact Mosquito Squad of the Greater Atlanta Area today!

These great tips will help reduce your itch from those pesky mosquito bites. To prevent those mosquito bites as much as possible, you should follow the 7 T’s of mosquito control, reducing mosquito habitats in your yard. Call us at (770) 504-4494 or Contact us online for your free quote. We at Mosquito Squad of Greater Atlanta look forward to giving you back your yard.