Beauty Nuskhe: 10 Home Remedies For Mosquito Bites That Are Quite Effective

A speck of black floats past your face or a wispy buzz sounds in your ear. Sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can detect the presence of mosquitoes before they’ve had a chance to bite. But in most cases, you don’t notice them until mosquitos have already caused a few mosquito bites on your body.

When it comes to enjoying the outdoors, mosquitoes are unavoidable, especially during the monsoon. This is a time when mosquitoes come out in full force. Kids and adults both are susceptible to pesky mosquito bites, especially in warm weather so read further to learn how to treat mosquito bites on babies, your family as well as yourself. They bite you to feed on your blood and in the process, inject certain substances that prevent your blood from clotting, which triggers a mild allergic reaction and leaves swollen, red bumps on your skin. It becomes necessary for you to learn effective remedies for mosquito bites.

10 Simple Home Remedies For Itchy Mosquito Bites

1. Aloe Vera

The humble household plant, Aloe Vera, is very good for the skin as it relieves itching and irritation. Applying pure aloe vera to your mosquito bite could help it heal since it has anti-inflammatory properties. It has proven to be effective to treat mosquito bites on babies and is not harmful to their delicate skin.

Method:

1. Cut a small section and apply the gel part of the plant to the bites for immediate relief. 
2. Wash off the area after some time.

2. Oatmeal

One remedy for an uncomfortable mosquito bite may also be one of your favourite breakfasts. Oatmeal can relieve itching and swelling because it contains special compounds that have anti-irritant qualities.

Method:

1. Make an oatmeal paste by mixing equal amounts of oatmeal and water in a bowl until you have a spackle-like substance. 
2. Spoon some paste onto a washcloth and hold it, paste-side down, on the irritated skin for about 10 minutes. 
3. Then wipe the area clean.
4. If you have many bites, try an oatmeal bath instead. 
5. Sprinkle 1 cup of oatmeal or ground oats into a bathtub full of warm water. 
6. Soak in the oatmeal bath for 20 minutes, occasionally rubbing some of the clumped oatmeal onto irritated areas of your skin.

3. Crushed Ice

Cold temperatures and ice can reduce inflammation. The cold also numbs the skin, which can give you immediate relief from itchy mosquito bites. 

Method:

1. Use a cold pack or a bag filled with crushed ice to relieve the itching caused by a mosquito bite.
2. Don’t leave the ice directly on your bite for more than five minutes as it can damage the skin. 
3. You can also put a barrier, such as a washcloth, between your skin and the ice so you can leave the ice on the bite longer.

4. Honey

This sugary sweet substance is a common pick among home-remedy enthusiasts because it has many antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for hundreds of years as a treatment for ailments like sore throats to bumps and bruises.

Method:

1. Put a small drop on an itchy bite and it will reduce the inflammation. It should reduce your temptation to itch, as itching skin covered in honey can create a sticky mess.

5. Baking Soda

Found in virtually every kitchen, baking soda has a multitude of uses — from baking bread to clearing drains. Otherwise known as sodium bicarbonate, baking soda may also provide relief from a mosquito bite.

Method:

1. Mix 1 tablespoon of baking soda with just enough water to create a paste. 
2. Apply it to the bug bite, and let it sit for 10 minutes before washing it away.

Note: If skin irritation occurs, stop this treatment.

6. Salt

Salt is an easy remedy to treat mosquito bites. It is helpful because of its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Mosquitoes are not the only problem in monsoon, read about simple do’s and don’ts for the rainy season here to remain healthy.

Method:

1. Mix some salt in water and apply the liquid to the affected area.
2. Another option is to make a paste using garlic salt, seasoning salt and water in equal amounts. 
3. Apply this paste onto the affected area.

7. Apple Cider Vinegar 

For centuries, apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural remedy to treat many medical conditions, from infections to blood glucose problems. Vinegar can help reduce stinging and burning sensations. It can also act as a natural disinfectant if you’ve been scratching too much.

Method:

1. If you have an itchy bite, dab a drop of vinegar on it. 
2. If you need more relief, try soaking a washcloth in cold water and vinegar, and then applying it to the bite. 
3. If you have many bites, dilute 2 cups of vinegar in a tepid (lukewarm) bath and soak for 20 minutes.

8. Onion

Not only can onions bring tears to your eyes, but they can also bring relief to your mosquito bites. The onion’s juices, which leak out from the freshly cut bulb, can reduce the bite’s sting and irritation. Onions also have a natural antifungal property that can reduce your risk for an infection.

Method:

1. Cut a slice from an onion and apply it directly to the bite for several minutes. 
2. Rinse and wash the area well after you remove the onion.

9. Garlic

Garlic is a well-known natural remedy for conditions from heart disease to high blood pressure. While more conventional treatments may be preferred for those serious conditions, a bit of garlic applied to an irritating bug bite is an easy home remedy for a mosquito bite.

Method:

1. Finely mince up fresh garlic and stir it in with an unscented lotion or room temperature coconut oil (these ointments and creams will help reduce the garlic’s potency but still allow you to get relief from the garlic’s natural anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effects).
2. Let the mixture sit for 10 minutes, then wipe it off your skin. 
3. Wipe the area down with a cool washcloth. 
4. Apply more later if the itching persists.

Note: But before you slice into a bulb and apply it to your bite, know that applying cut garlic straight to a skin wound or bite may cause burning and stinging.

10. Chamomile Tea

Chamomile, which is a member of the daisy family, is a common natural remedy for many ailments. When applied to the skin, the tea can reduce inflammation, ease skin irritation, and speed up healing. Find here 5 immunity-boosting kadha recipes for monsoon.

Method:

1. Steep a teabag filled with the dried, crushed flowers in water in a refrigerator for 30 minutes.
2. Then squeeze any excess water from the teabag, and apply it directly to your bite.
3. Let it sit for 10 minutes. 
4. Wipe the area clean with a wet rag. 
5. You can chill the teabag in the refrigerator for additional applications later.

8 Important Tips About How To Prevent Mosquito Bites

Prevention is always better than cure. Therefore, learn how to avoid mosquito bites. 

• Use a mosquito net to avoid getting mosquito bites
• Avoid water stagnating around your homes to keep the mosquito populations under check
• In a closed room, light up some camphor and leave the room for thirty minutes. Once you are back, no mosquitoes will be present. Camphor balls and neem oil are other good options
• If you are wondering how to prevent mosquito bites while sleeping then apply mosquito repellent lotion all over your body before going to sleep. It will protect you from mosquitoes while sleeping and will also give you a pleasant sleep 
• Use a mosquito coil to repel mosquitoes at night, one coil can last about 8 hours and can give you sound sleep for a night
• Keep your room clean and close the doors, windows and change your bed sheet regularly
• A simple method about how to protect baby from mosquito is to make your child wear full sleeves clothes and spray a mosquito skin spray or use repellent gels
• Read more about 8 things parents need to know about malaria to protect their children here

Of course, the best way to get rid of mosquito bite irritation is to avoid a bite altogether. There is no denying that mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, and chikungunya do a lot of harm. Therefore you must prevent their proliferation and treat mosquito bites. Keep in mind that these insects are more active in the evening and at night. If you want to enjoy a monsoon evening outdoors but fear the petite blood-sucking bugs, cover your skin and stay away from standing water to reduce your exposure. If you are bit, quickly stop the swelling and itching with safe, cost-efficient home remedies for mosquito bites.