De-itching Mosquito Bites?

[Quoll]

One that we used regularly, (we had quite a few plants) was lemon balm, we just crushed the leaves and rubbed it on the bites, it worked quite quickly.

http://www.theepicentre.com/Spices/lemonbalm.html

Hot water extracts have anti-viral properties, possibly due in part to rosmarinic acid and other polyphenolics constituents. A lotion-based extract may be used for skin lesions of herpes simplex, the anti-viral activity having been confirmed in both laboratory and clinical trial. It also inhibits the receptor binding and biological activity of immunoglobulins in the blood of patients with Graves disease, a condition which results in hyperthyroidism. German studies show that the essential oil of Lemon Balm acts upon the part of the brain governing the autonomic nervous system and protect the cerbrum from excessive external stimuli. This is a safe herb for children, and it tastes very good.
Fresh leaves can be used to sooth insect bites, and a linement made with lemon balm will help heal cold sores.

http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lemon-balm-000261.htm

 

[NippleMuncher]

I don't know that a heating pad will do the trick. In the case of the hot water, you want it almost scalding. Obviously, you don't want it so hot as to hurt yourself, but you want it as hot as you can stand. Rinse the area for a minute or two, dab it dry and you should be good for a while. I suspect that it's sensory overload with the heat (same with extreme cold ) that stops the itching for a while.


A couple of preventative measures that just came to me. If you take plenty of vitamin B12, the skeeters will leave you alone. I'm not sure how high a dose you'd have to be taking, I've never reached that level personally, though I'll admit I don't take vitamins on a regular basis and B12 is something that must be taken regularly and attain a certain concentration in your body before it repels the critters.

I can attest to the use of Eucalyptus around the yard to repelling critters of all kinds, skeeters, fleas, ticks, etc. We periodically get lucky and are able to get a tree trimming service to drop a load of chips when they've cut some Euk. It really does wonders.

Something that I've yet to try, but will be the next time I go camping is to spray Listerine around the area that I'll be in. Supposedly it repels critters quite nicely. I've gotten this from several sources that I'd consider reliable, however until you try it yourself you can never really know. According to the sources, you spray it around the environment, not on yourself or the chairs or furnishihngs and it's supposed to last a couple days.

 

[silverwhisper]

WRT how to address the itching proper: obviously, scratching feels good but is to be avoided. i've tried slapping the area of the itch instead, which helps avoid breaking the skin, at least for me.

ed

 

[KarennaC]

My mother swears by dish soap (like Dawn or Palmolive, that kind of thing) to relieve bug bite itching. I've never tried it myself, but she used it on my 10-year-old daughter, and my daughter says the itch went away right off and stayed gone. Given that my 10-year-old is very literal and very blunt, I'd say it's an effective remedy, because otherwise she would have been very vocal about it not working.

 

[human_male]

If no one's suggested this yet, you could try dabbing vinegar on them.

 

[midwestyankee]

I suppose that amputation is out of the question?

 

[Nightbird]

This might be a little off topic but I find eating garlic or taking garlic pills during mosquito season does a really good job of keep me from being bitten.

 

[Pandora78]

Two things that I've found effective for just a few bites are:

* Saliva. Temporary, but it tends to work.

* Pressing your nail in to the centre of the bite in an X. It hurts like crazy for a little bit, but you press hard and it takes the sting away.

Good luck!

 

[MilesSmiles]

Believe it or not - Preparation H is great for mosquito bites!

 

[missymoomoo]

A squirt of perfume does the trick! It has alcohol in it. And you smell nice. I always push my nail over the top and make a cross (+) with the edge. it helps!

 

[missymoomoo]

Two things that I've found effective for just a few bites are:

* Saliva. Temporary, but it tends to work.

* Pressing your nail in to the centre of the bite in an X. It hurts like crazy for a little bit, but you press hard and it takes the sting away.

Good luck!

the + things must be as aussie thing!

 

[Dhalgren150]

A small dab of tooth paste will help.

 

[khlarrissa]

I've heard taking a bunch of B vitamins (actually, it's a specific one, but I can't recall the number) can help make one less of a target, but I wonder what the other factors might be.

I think one of those People's Pharmacy write-ins said they took B12 before a camping trip and only had a few bites, even though they were pretty much swarmed with skeeters.

 

[RawHumor]

Generally I use a sterilized scalpel or needle to open mine, drain the mosquito venom, then dab it with alcohol to dry it out. Works like a charm!

Usually the skin is so stretched and numb from the swelling you can't even feel the cut/poke.

Wouldn't that cause scarring?

 

[rydia57]

The first one I learned is to rub soap on the bite. kinda numbs the itch. Eating garlic stops them from biting you completely tho. Mosquitoes can't stand the smell!

 

[N_B]

I second the fingernail X thing. It works in a pinch.

Also, am I the only one who's been tempted to take a can a misquito repelant and spray it directly on the misquitos themselves? I mean, just for the satisfaction of knowing they will go crazy trying to get away from themselves?

 

[catnip42]

I'm from the South, currently in East Texas...believe me, we have the mosquitos. I think I have a slight allergy, they always affect me horribly...swelling and itching for days. The best thing I have tried is Bactine. It stops the itching and the swelling disappears really fast.

 

[TheOne007]

Take an aspirin, rub the coating off under water. Then while its wet, rub it on bite.

If you have a bee sting, rub a wet Tums on it.

 

[bgrass]

One night I had tried many remidies that did not work and my wife suggested scotch tape. Just cover the itchy area with a bit and it worked!!!!!!!!!!! Just keeping the air off of it I guess.

 

[SweetErika]

Take an aspirin, rub the coating off under water. Then while its wet, rub it on bite.

If you have a bee sting, rub a wet Tums on it.

Interesting. I can maybe see salicylic acid helping mosquito bites by acting as an anti-inflammatory or exfoliating the skin, but I wonder why calcium carbonate would help bee stings.

One night I had tried many remidies that did not work and my wife suggested scotch tape. Just cover the itchy area with a bit and it worked!!!!!!!!!!! Just keeping the air off of it I guess.

I've never heard that one before, either. I'll have to give it a shot sometime.

 

[NippleMuncher]

Interesting. I can maybe see salicylic acid helping mosquito bites by acting as an anti-inflammatory or exfoliating the skin, but I wonder why calcium carbonate would help bee stings.

My mother used to do that to us as kids when we'd get stung. The baking soda is supposed to help draw out the venom.

 

[satindesire]

My mother used to do that to us as kids when we'd get stung. The baking soda is supposed to help draw out the venom.

I bet that stung putting it on. Yeowch.

 

[Noira]

The x thing does work in a pinch but it's not good for you. Other things.

Cover it in soap.

Or... new remedy I've found works...

Clean it with rubbing alcohol and then put tape or glue on it. YES. SERIOUSLY. I put glue (normal ol' Elmers or craft glue) on the bites on my feet before work and the bites didn't start itching again until after work. Or tape, which is more annoying to walk around with, also works. I think it's to do with covering it from air contact.

Apparently rubbing the skin of a banana on also helps.

As apparently does lemon juice.

 

[Quoll]

Two things that I've found effective for just a few bites are:

* Saliva. Temporary, but it tends to work.

* Pressing your nail in to the centre of the bite in an X. It hurts like crazy for a little bit, but you press hard and it takes the sting away.

Good luck!

What I nowadays do (gotten less allergic to mosquito bites over the years, luckily) is put a cross on the bite with my longest nail --> just drive your nail into the bite twice. The bites usually goes away within minutes (except the really big ones).

the + things must be as aussie thing!

Ha, I was just going to post that it must be an overseas thing, because I'd never heard of it before and neither had the few people I asked today.

Does anyone know the theory behind this one?

 

[Mysty61]

Clear nail polish works wonders for me, shuts the itch down right away. I think the nail polish keeps the air away and dries up the bite so no more itch.