Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites
The swelling of mosquito bites is caused by saliva released by the mosquitoes when they suck blood from the skin. It surely doesn’t sound appealing, and neither is the itchy feeling that follows — mosquito bites can be very irritating! They usually form a swelling around the area, and this swelling is sometimes accompanied with redness. Scratching the area certainly will not help, and will only lead to further irritation or potential bleeding. Instead, try some home remedies for mosquito bites to reduce swelling and redness.
Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites
Here are some excellent home remedies for mosquito bites, which are nearly impossible to avoid on hot summer nights.
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Cold tea bag – Apply a refrigerated tea bag on the area to help soothe the itch.
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Use honey – Honey is a natural antiseptic agent, so it prevents the infection of the area.
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Use aloe vera – Like honey, aloe vera is a natural antiseptic agent. Cut the meaty portion of the leaf and take out the juicy parts. You can also store this in the fridge before putting it on the mosquito bite. The cold effect will soothe the area further.
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Use alcohol – Alcohol might sting a little bit, but it will kill any form of bacteria that might infect the bite zone.
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Witch hazel or tea tree oil – Both are good antiseptics which are usually used for bacteria-infected wounds (like acne). This will work well with reducing the bump.
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Mint or basil leaves – Mint or basil leaves have cooling properties, so it will relieve the itching.
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Put scotch tape on – While it may not really be one of the many home remedies for mosquito bites, putting scotch tape on the area will help prevent you from scratching, which could lead to infection and even scarring.
Make sure that you thoroughly clean the area with high quality organic soap (or honey as mentioned) before you apply anything to it. The remedies abovementioned will help in soothing the area and prevent infection, and you can actually use honey all the time for home remedies for wounds. After a day or two, the bitten area will naturally go back to its normal state.
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| Natural Society staff contribution |