Home Remedies For Mosquito Bites

Submitted by Alicia Sanders
Posted on 16 Dec, 2020

While many of us try our best to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, it’s impossible to avoid them completely. Fortunately, just as Mother Nature has honored us with the presence of these buzzing nuisances, she has provided us with some natural home remedies for mosquito bites. In this article, we will cover my all time favorites.

Why Mosquito Bites Itch
When a mosquito bites, it pierces your skin and draws blood with its proboscis. In the process, the mosquito injects some of its own saliva, which contains an anticoagulant that prevents your blood from clotting around the proboscis and trapping the insect. Your immune system recognizes the proteins in the mosquito’s saliva as a foreign substance and mounts an immediate attack by releasing histamine. The histamine causes your blood vessels to enlarge, creating the wheal, or swollen bump, around the bite, resulting in itchiness.

Why Do Mosquitoes Prefer Some People Over Others?
If you are a mosquito magnet you may be wondering why mosquitoes prefer you. It’s true, mosquitoes will deliberately pick certain people (20% of us) and this has actually been proven scientifically! Mosquitoes use their senses to detect heat, visual cues, carbon dioxide and odors. The female mosquito is very particular!

Here Are Some Of The Factors That Influence The Mosquitoes To Pick You!

• Some studies found that mosquitoes prefer people with type O blood and that mosquitoes can tell this because some people chemically secrete a signal through skin as to their blood type.
• Mosquitoes like people who exhale more carbon dioxide (generally larger people). Also, pregnant women are targeted because they exhale more carbon dioxide.
• Mosquitoes prefer people with body temps that are higher and they are attracted by sweat and lactic acid. This is why if you have just been exercising you are favored.
• If you have more bacteria with few different types on your skin. Ankles and feet are targeted for this reason, they like the smell of the bacteria there.
• If you have been drinking beer it is also a factor because of the ethanol in your sweat or the increase in your body temperature.

Here Are The Best Natureal Remedies For Mosquito Bites To Relieve Itching

1. Baking Soda Paste

A simple remedy for mosquito bites is to make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Then apply this paste generously to the affected area. You should feel the swelling and itching subside shortly afterwards.

After the paste dries on your skin (it may dry in about 15 minutes), you can reapply to get more relief. You can also make a mixture of witch hazel and baking soda and leave it on for 10-15 minutes.

It works because baking soda is alkaline neutralizing your skin’s pH resulting in relief.

2. Raw Honey

Simply, take a small amount of honey and apply directly to the bite. Honey also has anti-microbial properties that can help prevent infection. I would personally recommend using local raw honey to lower the chance of your developing an allergic reaction to the honey.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Take a cotton ball and dip it in pure apple cider vinegar. Apply the cotton ball to your mosquito bite and rub it on the area. The vinegar’s acidity helps stop the itch.

4. Apply A Cold Or Hot Spoon

Take a spoon and put it in your freezer or just keep one there for when needed. Take out the spoon and apply it to your mosquito bite. It provides instant relief from the itchiness and the cold numbs the area and reduces the inflammation. Not only a spoon works but just anything that is cold, it could be an ice pack or frozen veggies.

Applying heat to the area also helps reduce your body’s reaction to the bite. To do this, take a spoon and dip it in hot water, but not so hot that it will burn your skin. Hold it on the bite area to reduce inflammation and itching.

5. Essential Oils

There are several essentials that can be great natural remedies for mosquito bites because they are anti-inflammatory, reduce the itchiness and swelling. The best ones to use for mosquito bites are neem, witch hazel, tea tree oil, lavender oil, peppermint oil, and cedar oil. Mix a couple drops of one or more of these essential oils with water and put it directly on the bite.

6. Freshly Sliced Piece Of Onion

Apply a fresh cut onion to the bite area immediately. Onion not only helps to keep swelling down and stop itching, but it also helps pull the fluids out of the bite.

7. Lemon Slice

Lemons are anti-inflammatory and also antiseptic. Cut the lemon in two and rub the slice over the skin. Lemon juice is also helpful as an anesthetic to prevent infection.

8. Aloe

Aloe vera is another excellent remedy for mosquito bites, as well as many other conditions. Not only will it help ease the itching and swelling from the bit, but it will also aid in healing the wound. You can use fresh gel directly from an aloe plant or organic aloe juice. They both work well at providing relief.

9. Toothpaste

For quick relief from mosquito bites, try applying a small amount of all-natural peppermint or neem-based toothpaste. Allow the paste to dry and leave for as long as desired.

Do you have any mosquito bites natural remedies? If so, I’d love to hear about them in the comments below.