Mosquitoes survive by feeding on human and animal blood. They use their thin, sharp and elongated mouthpart to puncture the skin of the host and suck up the blood.
Because the puncture is so small, we often don’t feel the bite when it happens. But the after effects can be very annoying and potentially harmful.
Some of the symptoms of mosquito bites are itchiness, swelling, skin rashes, bruising and occasionally skin infection. Mosquito bites can also lead to fatal diseases like malaria and dengue in some parts of the world.
Ideally, you want to avoid being bitten by wearing long sleeves and long pants or other protective measures. But if you are bitten, there are many natural remedies that can provide symptom relief and help treat the affected area.
Here are the top 10 home remedies for mosquito bites.
(First 3 home remedies are shown in this video as well.)
You can also prepare homemade insect repellents at home to keep insects at bay. Try the following recipes.
Contents
1. Lemon
Lemons contain natural anti-inflammatory and anesthetic properties that make them very useful in treating mosquito bites.
- Simply cut a lemon into two pieces and rub the inside of one of the halves against your itchy skin for quick relief. You can try rubbing the yellow rind of the lemon over your skin too.
- Apply lemon juice to the bites to help reduce the chance of developing an infection.
- Another option is to add crushed basil leaves to lemon juice and apply the mixture onto the affected area.
2. Minced Onion or Garlic
Onion and garlic help reduce swelling and soothe the itching caused by mosquito bites. Moreover, their strong smell repels insects and mosquitoes.
- Apply minced onion or garlic directly onto the affected area.
- Leave it on for a few minutes, then wash it off.
3. Baking Soda
Baking soda can effectively stop the itchiness caused by mosquito bites. Being alkaline in nature, it neutralizes the pH of the skin and hence provides relief.
- Dissolve one teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water. Dip a clean cloth into the mixture and put the cloth over the affected skin area for 10 to 20 minutes.
- Another option is to make a paste using witch hazel and baking soda. Apply it onto the bite and leave it on for about 10 minutes. Then wash the area with lukewarm water.
4. Aloe Vera
Aloe vera is a natural antiseptic agent, which makes it a great remedy for mosquito bites. It will reduce pain, swelling and itching, as well as aid in faster healing.
- Cut the meaty portion of an aloe vera leaf to extract the gel. If you do not have an aloe vera plant, you can use aloe vera gel readily available in most stores.
- Chill the aloe vera gel in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes.
- Rub it directly onto the affected site.
5. Salt
Salt is another easy remedy for mosquito bites due to its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties.
- Create a paste using a few drops of water and a small amount of table salt. Apply the paste onto the area.
- Another option is to make a paste using garlic salt, seasoning salt and water in equal amounts. Apply this paste onto the affected area. It may cause a burning sensation for a few seconds, but great relief will follow.
- If you live near a beach, go swimming to bathe your skin in the natural salt present in the water.
6. Ice
Cold temperature limits the distribution of inflammatory substances to the bite site and numbs the area giving you immediate relief from various symptoms.
- Hold an ice pack or some ice wrapped in a washcloth on the affected area for about 10 to 15 minutes. This will give you quick relief from the swelling as well as itchiness.
- If ice is not available, hold the affected area under a cool running tap for a few minutes. You can also hold a cold bottle of water or a bag of frozen vegetables on the bite.
7. Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a common household antiseptic that can be used to relieve irritation caused by mosquito bites and reduce the chance of developing an infection.
Put a small amount of alcohol on a cotton ball and rub it onto the affected skin area. Initially it may sting a little, but you will soon feel relief from the itching and swelling. If you do not have rubbing alcohol, you can use mouthwash that contains a high amount of alcohol or vodka.
8. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil has good antiseptic properties that can help treat bacteria-infected wounds like acne and mosquito bites. It also will help reduce swelling and itchiness.
Simply use a cotton ball to apply some tea tree oil to the affected area. If you have sensitive skin, do not use tea tree oil as it can cause skin irritation. You can try other essential oils like lavender or cedar oil.
9. Toothpaste
Toothpaste can help minimize itchiness caused by mosquito bites. Simply dab some toothpaste onto the affected area.
For faster and better results, use peppermint toothpaste as it has anti-inflammatory properties, or a toothpaste including ingredients such as baking soda and menthol. It is advisable not to use gel-based toothpaste.
10. Aspirin
Aspirin has strong anti-inflammatory properties that can effectively control swelling caused by mosquito bites.
- Grind a regular aspirin into powder form. Add a few drops of water to make a paste. Apply the paste to the affected area and leave it on for a few hours. Wash it off with lukewarm water.
- Another option is to wet the affected skin and rub an aspirin over the bite.
Many people get relief using one or more of these home remedies. However, if the swelling and irritation remains, consult your doctor.
hey this was a really good remedy.I loved the detailed instructions. I get tagged by them all of the time.
i was wondering what home remedy could take the redness of the misquito bite away? its really been upsetting me cause i have such pale skin and i have to walk outside alot. the bites mostly scar me and it takes like months to heal leaving a abhorrent reminder of the misquito.
Not a home remedy but calamine lotion is mandatory. Stops the itching, dries the welt, and promotes healing. Beware: there are imposters, caladreal ,or caladrine one is called. It must be calamine (ferric oxide and zinc carbonate mixture) and zinc oxide as active ingredients. Stops the itching quick! A necessity!
I also have VEY pale skin (Irish Heritage) Anemia contributing to the paleness and I cant even scratch, If I do I get bruising along with redness! So, I TOTALLY understand what you mean, NO its not a pretty look, AT ALL for me anyways. However; all that being said, I SWEAR by investing in an Aloe Vera Plant! I received one as a gift, as it was very small then, just a baby. That was only months ago. Now that lil Aloe Plant has been re-planted and has grown so big and healthy I cant even lift it myself anymore! Mosquitos not ONLY happen to love my blood, I get bitten all over, in clusters, and believe me they do not even look like bites, more like welts! I simply turn to my Aloe Plant for IMMEDIATE RELIEF!! Take of a branch, break it open, cover all my bites (welts!) NOT only instant relief, but the redness is gone, bumps gone, PROBLEM-GONE!!!!
I REALLY HOPE YOU TRY THIS!!! ITS NATURES MIRICLE PLANT!!
thank you thank you thank you!! I was outside for less than 5 minutes and my feet were bitten all over. This was very helpful
Well I was near to tears with swelling and itching after a load of mossi bites 1st I tried tooth paste then after 15 mins it was back again. so I tried nail polish remover pour some on a cotton pad and place on the bite. this will instantly work but may return 20 mins later so repeat again I did and guess what a great nights sleep and the bite sting and itching gone now this really works…good luck
Thank you ! My little girl was out side playing and she came in and she had bites all over her arms ;( I can’t get her to stop iching the no Matter how much ich cream I put on her …. But these look like a grate start 🙂
Tea Tree oil works best for me, tried alcohol, witch hazel, no good.
I don’t know if the lemon helps swelling. My whole eye is swelling.
Tea Tree Oil and Detol
I’d say that different things work for different people, though some may just be false entirely.
thank u
Baking Soda works well.. as it is dissolved in water it penetrates in skin infection immediately
Wow lemons WHO NEW I was up till 11 :00 and it was so hard to resist from scratching. So I thought enough is enough and I feel so much better thank you.
Thank you for the home tips.
Heat/hot water or some have suggested the back of a spoon dipped in very hot water. I get bites that swell so bad my arm/hands or wherever the bite is can be swollen to painful levels. I found hot water for a few seconds as hot as you can stand but without hurting your skin stops the itch. Google it, but it works and you are itch free for a long time if not entirely, and if it itches again just repeat.
I Take a really hot shower (AS hot as you can stand it and I mean really HOT). Make sure the bite gets doused with the water for a minute or so. This really helps me.
BANANA PEEL! Rub a piece of banana peel on the bite for about a minute and watch the redness and itching go away! Hope this helped!
A spoon under hot water and applied directly to the bite works wonder
VINEGAR!! I was in so much agony from mosquito bites, and in desperation tried some white vinegar. Just soak a cotton ball, swab the bites, and voila! the bites dried up and the itching went away. Amazing!!!
People when you get a mosquito bite just put some sanitizer or toothpaste on the affected area to stop itching hopefully it works for allof you because it does work for me :-).
Everything bites me & I always have really bad reactions afterwards. The absolute best remedy is the baking soda paste method. I have tried everything posted here & nothing else works as good on me except this. I was attacked by some some huge black mosquitoes, once again, earlier today that I’ve never seen before in CA before this year. They’re very aggressive & kept dive bombing at my eyes. I have the baking soda paste on 3 different places as I type this, what a relief!!
It’s now 0140 in the morning and my body was attacked by the mount mauler (worse itching than a mosquito bite!) I tried all sorts of things from toothpaste to vinegar to tee tree but in the end I got out the russian vodka… oh the relief; the itch has died right down hopefully enough to get to sleep for work in the morning!! Thanks for the tips…
Blow HOT air, from your hair dryer on the mosquito bite for about a minute.
very good
Toothpaste worked amazingly well for me. I read this post and went to try some of them. Mosquitos are in abundance here because it is so hot and humid, so mosquito bites are a constant annoyance. The toothpaste not only blocked the itchiness, it gave the bites a cooling feeling. Now I don’t feel like constantly having to scratch them. Thanks a lot for this post~ <3
Gold Coast Australia. We’ve had a lot of rain and the mozzies are everywhere. Just trying the lemon on my little grandson but will definitely buy an aloe Vera plant tomorrow. Thanks
tips are usefull for livealittlelonger for ever
I just wish more people paid attention to such natural remedies instead of using more and more chemicals.
Don’t use lemon if you have already scratched, yeah learned the hard way. Although it has taken the itching away and replaced it with stinging hahaha