How to treat mosquito bites

Summertime marks the start of BBQ season, picnics in the park, long warm nights, and vacations abroad. The warm weather brightens up your spirits from the cold winter months and everything is perfect until you start to hear that high pitch buzzing sound echoing through your garden.

Then the dreaded day comes when you wake up to find yourself covered in red bumps accompanied by an everlasting itch that annoys you right to the core of your bones. There can be only one culprit…mosquitoes!

Everyone has suffered the wrath of these bloodthirsty insects. To them, we are a giant bucket of KFC, or an all-you-can-eat buffet, leaving behind nasty red marks and an irritating itchy aftermath.

Don’t let mosquitoes ruin your barbecue season, contact your local Ehrlich Pest Control office today and discuss our mosquito treatment options.

Why do mosquito bites itch?

The itching that occurs after you have been bitten by a mosquito is your body’s reaction to the bite

Did you know that only female mosquitoes bite?

Technically mosquitoes don’t bite, they suck. When a mosquito has selected you as their main course for the evening, she uses her needle-like mouthpart (called a proboscis) to penetrate your skin. Then she searches around for a tasty blood vessel.

Once she has found the perfect vessel she will start to feed. But before this begins the mosquito will release some of her saliva. The saliva acts as an anticoagulant, letting her feed without the blood clotting. Our body’s natural reaction to an anticoagulant is to create histamines and send them to the affected area. It is the histamines that cause the bite to itch. It’s not the mosquito that has caused the swelling and the itching, but your immune system! Scratching at the bite makes it even worse. The more you scratch at a mosquito bite, the more histamines your body sends to the area.

Next time you become victim to a mosquito’s bite restrain yourself from scratching. It will just create an endless nightmare of unstoppable itching.

How can I stop mosquito bites from itching?

Fortunately for us, there are some treatments for mosquito bites that can help reduce redness and swelling. The treatments can even help stop that infamous itching.

These natural remedies for mosquito bites can be made from items found around your home, helping put an end to those sleepless nights. Get back to enjoying your summer!

Home remedies for mosquito bites

Toothpaste

Toothpaste is a great treatment to help fight the annoying itch after a mosquito bite. The menthol flavor from the toothpaste acts as a cooling agent, keeping your mind distracted from the urge to scratch. To add to this, the astringency characteristic of toothpaste will help reduce swelling by eliminating the fluid build-up.

Honey

Did you know honey, particularly fresh honey, is a natural antibiotic? Been bitten by a mosquito? Apply some honey to the bite.

If you tend to attack each mosquito bite like a feral cat on a can of tuna, then honey is also a great way to treat mosquito bites that you have scratched open.

Banana Peel

It may sound strange but, banana peels are another great way to treat a mosquito bite. This is due to the natural oils found within the banana skin. For this natural remedy, simply rub the banana peel, flesh side down, on your mosquito bite and relax as the irritating itch fades away.

Vapor Rub

Not only can vapor rub help with a stuffy nose, but it has also been proven to reduce itch from mosquito bites for some people. Much like toothpaste, this is mainly due to the menthol-based ingredients found in this product, mixed with the camphor oil.

Ice

Just like with wasp and bee stings, ice is a great way to treat a mosquito bite. Take either an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas and place it on the mosquito bite. The cold temperature will help cool the area, reducing the redness and keeping the itching apocalypse at bay.

Aloe Vera

Did you know that aloe vera is a fantastic, natural antiseptic agent? That’s what makes it a good natural remedy for mosquito bites. The vitamins and minerals found in aloe vera will help to reduce the pain, swelling, and itching. On top of that, it will also help the bite heal faster.

Either fresh aloe vera or aloe vera gel works perfectly for this home remedy. Beforehand, make sure the aloe vera is at a cold temperature before you apply it to your skin. Simply leaving it in the fridge for 10 minutes usually does the trick. All you need to do is rub the gel (this can be extracted from a fresh aloe vera plant by cutting a meaty portion off and squeezing) to the mosquito bite and let the aloe vera do its magic.

Create an X

This next home remedy for mosquito bites is more of a temporary fix rather than a solution. Simply make an X on top of the mosquito bite using your fingernail. Don’t press too hard as you don’t want to pierce the skin, just apply enough pressure to make a dent. This will help stop the itching temporarily. However, it will return when the X fades away.

The best way to rid yourself of the irritation that comes with mosquito bites is to eliminate mosquitoes altogether! If you are looking for help controlling mosquitoes in your home and/or business, get in contact with the experts at Ehrlich today.