Mosquitoes are starting to appear more in the sweltering heat of summer. It is necessary to apply the right methods to solve mosquito bites, which are the common problem of people of all ages. There are natural ingredients that will relieve your itching and redness. If you do not have a medicine to cure mosquito bites at home, you can get help from these materials.
COLD COMPRESS
The most basic home remedy for mosquito bites is an ice pack or any cold compress (For example, a bag of frozen peas will work too). When a mosquito bites you, it actually injects its saliva into the bloodstream. This saliva triggers your immune system to send histamines to the bite, which causes an inflammatory response; that’s what’s causing that red, swollen, itchy lump. Ice, on the other hand, numbs the mosquito bite area, thus helping to reduce itching and soothing your skin. Applying the compress for about 5-10 minutes should be sufficient to relieve discomfort, at least temporarily.
Aloe vera has been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. Today, it is a very common and easy-to-care houseplant. The gel inside the thick, chunky leaves is used to treat many skin conditions. One of them is mosquito bites. For starters, applying aloe vera gel on a mosquito bite will likely provide instant relief as it has a mild cooling effect on the skin. Aloe vera is also known to be effective in reducing the redness that accompanies skin irritation due to mosquito bites or sunburn.
To both treat itching and speed healing, mix baking soda with water and rub it on the mosquito bite. You don’t have to worry about the amount of water and baking soda, just start with a teaspoon of baking soda and add some water to create a paste that you can apply to your skin. Baking soda is a base, so it helps prevent the acidity of the reaction between your body and mosquito saliva. Baking soda can also be used as a home remedy for chickenpox or eczema, which causes dry, itchy, inflamed patches of skin.
ROLLED OATS
Oatmeal, like baking soda, has been a common kitchen ingredient for years to relieve itching. The most common method against mosquito bites is an oatmeal bath. You can basically buy just finely ground oatmeal made specifically for skin treatments. If you have unground oats, it’s best to grind them in a blender first. To take an oatmeal bath, sprinkle oatmeal in a warm bath, then dip into the affected body area and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
Although this method is a bit sticky, it has some benefits. Honey, like other home remedies, has anti-inflammatory properties that will help treat mosquito bites. According to a review on raw honey in the journal Wounds, the sticky substance facilitates debridement, the medical term for removing dead tissue and foreign debris. Basically, honey draws fluid from the tissue around the wound, which helps wash the wound and remove irritants. If your mosquito bite does pop up—for example, if you’re itching a lot—consider putting a dab of honey on it, just as you would with any ointment. You may want to cover it with a Band-Aid to avoid getting honey on something else.
TEA TREE OIL
Tea tree oil, obtained from the leaves of the Australian bush-like tree Melaleuca alternifolia, is mainly used as an antiseptic and anti-inflammatory drug. It’s even now available in some over-the-counter anti-itch treatments. You can buy this essential oil at a local health food store. A 2002 study published in The British Journal of Dermatology suggests that tea tree oil may be a natural antihistamine that can help reduce itching for mosquito bites. To use tea tree oil on mosquito bites, you must dilute it. For this, mix a little with other common types of oil, such as olive oil or vegetable oil. Then, apply it lightly over the bite.