I feel like I get eaten alive every summer.  For some reason bugs just seem to like the way I taste and declare open season on me as soon as the weather gets warm. To make things worse, I’m a picker and scratcher as well as having absolutely zero self-control, so it can take a long time for a simple mosquito bite to heal. I’ve tried all sorts of remedies to stop the itch and have found quite a few over the years that work really well.  Some of them are fairly obvious but some may surprise you.

The first thing you should do for an insect bite, no matter what type of bug, is to remove the stinger. If you can see it and can get it out safely, you should do this as soon as you notice the bite.

The stinger contains the venom of the critter, and removing it will stop some of the pain and allow healing to begin.

If you know the stinger is still there, but can’t see it or remove it, try these DIY methods:

If the bite is new you can choose one extreme or the other to start treatment, a hot compress will help with pain and swelling and may cause the stinger to come out on its own. An ice compress will help with pain, swelling and any immediate itching.  It will cause the skin to contract making the stinger more visible and easier to remove.

Apply a thick mud paste and allow it to dry completely before washing it off.  The mud will dry out the bite and draw out the stinger at the same time.

Apply a thin coat of Non-Toxic Elmer’s glue and let dry. When you peel it off, the stinger should come out with it.

Ticks should be removed with tweezers, there is a really good method for getting rid of them here and remember, ticks carry lyme disease so make sure you watch the bite area until it is fully healed. Oh yeah, and don’t throw away the tick until you know you didn’t catch anything.

To Help With Itching:

I’ve tried so many things to stop itching, but here are a few home remedies people swear work:

Make a paste of baking soda and water, apply generously and let dry. Repeat as needed.

Mentholated toothpaste cools and soothes the area but can dry out the surrounding skin so only apply to the bite itself.

Aloe Vera Gel…duh, a no-brainer.

Preparation H can reduce redness and swelling and works especially well on bites on your face.

Make an aspirin paste, crush one tablet and add water and apply paste to bite.

Mix lemon juice with cornstarch again, make a paste and apply to the affected area.

Ice the itchy area. I have a cold pack in my freezer designated only for itch relief purposes. (I’m a rashy girl)

Use Vitamin E after the bite has healed to avoid any scarring.

Note: As always, I’m not a doctor and if you have a bite that is infected, looks worse than your average bite or isn’t going away, seek medical attention as soon as you can.

What are some of your home remedies for insect bites?

Photo: Source