Itchy, unsightly and uncomfortable: summer is bug biting season. Fortunately, there are several natural home remedies for mosquito bites you can use to treat them which use simple, easy-to-find ingredients. We’ll show you how.
Mosquitoes can put a dampener on outdoor activities like camping or summer parties. These little critters come out at dawn and dusk in warm weather and feed on human blood — you may not even feel them bite you, but it’s the itch afterwards which will drive you crazy.
Not only are mosquito bites annoying, but there’s also the potential to catch diseases from them such as dengue fever or malaria, depending on where in the world you are. Mosquito bites also have the potential to get infected if not taken care of properly. The key to speeding up the healing process is not to scratch mosquito bites, this can cause them to bleed and leave them at risk of infection.
There are some steps you can take to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes in the first place, such as:
- Wearing long-sleeved clothing/pants
- Using a mosquito night over your bed
- Using a natural mosquito repellent
- Closing doors and windows at night and installing mosquito screens
- Using plants to naturally repel mosquitoes
- Using essential oils against mosquitoes
If you still get bitten: we’ll show you ten natural ways to treat mosquito bites, using ingredients that you probably already have at home.
1. Crushed Ice as a Home Remedy for Mosquito Bites
An ice pack or washcloth filled with ice cubes can achieve a numbing effect to mosquito bites, it can also help reduce inflammation. Apply to the skin for around five minutes, for short-term relief. Don’t put ice directly on the skin as this will feel uncomfortable.
2. Honey
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / fancycrave1)
Honey is high in anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities which make it great for treating wounds or infections. It can also be used for other maladies like bruises or sore throats. As a home remedy for mosquito bites, just put a drop directly on the bite to reduce itching and inflammation — obviously try not to touch the bite afterward, to prevent getting sticky honey on your clothes.
3. Oatmeal is a Natural Mosquito Bite Home Remedy
You probably have this in your kitchen already, oatmeal is surprisingly good at treating mosquito bites due to the avenanthramides and polyphenols in it which help to reduce itching and inflammation. Simply add equal parts water to oatmeal and stir to form a paste. Apply the paste to the skin and cover with a washcloth for about ten minutes, then use the washcloth to remove the oatmeal and wash clean.
4. Aloe Vera
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / marcegaral)
Aloe vera is a spiky succulent house plant that has some healing properties. If you have a plant, just cut a small section open on it and you will find a gel-like liquid inside, put this directly on your mosquito bite to reduce inflammation and heal wounds. If you don’t have an aloe vera plant at home you can buy a few leaves and make your own homemade aloe vera gel or buy some organic aloe vera gel online from Amazon**.
5. Basil Works as a Mosquito Bite Home Remedy
Not only does basil taste great in cooking, but it also works as a solution to itchy mosquito bites, this is due to a chemical found in its oils. Finely chop fresh basil leaves and use your fingers to rub them onto the mosquito bite. It smells great too! With all those versatile benefits, it might be worth learning how to grow basil yourself.
6. Baking Soda
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / NatureFriend)
Baking soda is so versatile, it can be used in cooking, cleaning, and for personal hygiene such as in a homemade foot soak. It also serves as a remedy for mosquito bites, to reduce itching and dry out the bite. Simply mix it with a little water to make a paste and put it directly onto the bite — make sure you do a skin test first on a smaller area of your skin to check for allergies.
7. Apple Cider Vinegar: A Versatile Home Remedy
Another item which you probably already have at home, apple cider vinegar is good at relieving itching caused by mosquito bites, if you don’t have any to hand you can make your own homemade apple cider vinegar. Just put a drop on the mosquito bite, or if it’s very itchy apply a vinegar and water soaked washcloth to the affected area. Ensure you do a skin test first to check for allergies. Another use as a home remedy is for a calming apple cider vinegar foot soak, which might also help relieve the itching if you were bitten on the foot.
8. Thyme
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / brenkee)
Another herb that has some medicinal properties, thyme can be used to reduce the itchiness of mosquito bites. Its antifungal and antibacterial qualities help to reduce the chances of infection. Chop some fresh thyme leaves and then apply them directly to the bite, leave for ten minutes and wash off.
9. Onions Reduce Irritation from Mosquito Bites
Onions help reduce irritation from mosquito bites, and the liquid inside them can also help reduce infection due to its antifungal properties. Take a slice of onion and put it on the mosquito bite for a few minutes, the juices from the onion will ooze out of the slice. Afterward, wash the area with soap.
10. Lemon Balm
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / zrenate)
Lemon balm is a herb whose leaves have a strong lemon smell, it contains honokiol and magnolol which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties and can reduce infection. As with the other herbs, simply finely chop the leaves and put them on the bite. Wash the area afterward.
Read more:
- 7 Natural Pesticides for Your Home and Garden
- How to Propagate Aloe Vera: Tips and Tricks
- 5 Baking Soda Alternatives for Cooking & Cleaning
Important Information regarding Health-related Topics.
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