( 3)Ī handful of serious complications can occur following a mosquito bite. If you have a lot of bites and are really suffering, an oral antihistamine - something like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or cetirizine (Zyrtec) - can also quell your body’s response to a bite. The same is true of over-the-counter hydrocortisone creams, which help mellow the body’s natural immune response to the mosquito proteins. Rubbing an ice cube on the bite site could likewise offer some temporary relief - although that won’t remove any of the mosquito’s proteins, he says.Ĭalamine lotion can also relieve the itch, says Lee Townsend, PhD, a professor emeritus of entomology at the University of Kentucky. “In the field, I always carry those little individually packaged alcohol swabs, and they really help me.”Īlong with quelling the immune reaction to a bite, rubbing alcohol also has a cooling, soothing effect, Day says. By denaturing the proteins in the bite, rubbing alcohol “works really well in reducing swelling and the histamine response,” he says. Instead, he recommends dabbing the bite with rubbing alcohol. That will only further inflame the lesion, and make the itching, swelling, and irritation worse, Day says. The swelling, redness, and itch are the body’s responses to those foreign proteins, Day explains.įirst of all, try your best not to scratch your itchy bug bite. It’s this histamine-releasing immune reaction that causes all your bug bite symptoms. Specifically, the human immune system releases a compound called histamine, which promotes inflammation and allows wound-repairing white blood cells to flood the area of the injury. Day explains.Īpart from stopping blood from clotting, these saliva proteins also elicit a reaction from the bite victim’s immune system. This saliva contains proteins that prevent the bite from clotting, which would slow the outflow of blood and therefore disrupt feeding, Dr. Known formally as a proboscis, the female mosquito’s mouth is made up of a bundle of long, tapered feeding stylets that act like microscopic syringes - sucking out the blood that females require to produce their eggs.Īs the mosquito extracts this blood, it also pumps its saliva into the bite site, says Jonathan Day, PhD, a professor emeritus of medical entomology at the University of Florida. And their mouths are intricate, multipart instruments. You can simply apply it to the affected area and let it dry to help the skin heal and prevent you from scratching.Only female mosquitoes bite. “But while it can help, unfortunately, it will not relieve significant itch.” Calamine lotionĬalamine lotion is an ideal solution for bug bites, as it has soothing and anti-itch effects, Dr. “Colloidal oatmeal has calming effects which is ideal for bug bites,” he says. It’s usually meant for people with eczema, as this balm from Aveeno denotes. Colloidal oatmealĬolloidal oatmeal is a skin-protecting ingredient found in many moisturizers, though it shouldn’t be your first line of defense if you have other options, Dr. “It forms a protective seal over the skin that allows the barrier to repair itself, especially if you’ve been scratching,” Dr. Petroleum jellyĪpplying petroleum jelly (such as Vaseline) is an easy way to bring down itching while you wait to treat bites more efficiently. No tech or fancy equipment needed: Just grab a washcloth and some ice from the freezer or cooler to bring some quick relief. “The cold constricts blood vessels, which reduce inflammation in the skin,” he explains. Cold therapyĪpplying a cold compress or ice pack is an easy and effective way to provide relief from itchy bug bites, Dr. The tube is also small enough that it’s easy to transport in your backpack. Cortizone-10 is usually a good option, though you can usually find equally effective generic brands at your drugstore. “Over-the-counter 1% hydrocortisone cream is a go-to product for bites, as it helps reduce inflammation and can improve itch,” says Dr. Avoid These Common Summer Training Mistakesĥ remedies to relieve itching from bug bites Hydrocortisone cream.
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