10 Natural Remedies for Itchy Bug Bites

mosquito

Summertime here in Florida means only one thing; evenings filled with mosquitoes and days of itch. We love our weather (just kidding), but the everyday afternoon downpour and the subsequent inability for anything to dry out before the following day’s rain arrives makes everything from your front porch to the hood of your car a breeding ground for these pesky and disease-ridden pests. If your family is anything like mine, it doesn’t matter how much insect repellant, how many decorative containers of strategically placed lemongrass and how many citronella candles and tiki torches you apply or have – your family is being eaten alive (or just you and your two oldest children, since your husband and babies clearly do not taste that good to bugs) by bugs. The itch is often unbearable in its annoyingness, and it makes you want to climb in a hot shower and let the stream of scalding water burn your body into oblivion just for relief (is that just me?). Bug bites itch, and no one enjoys it. Waking up this morning to see my girls scratching their little legs makes my heart ache since there is so little I can do for them. Fortunately, a lifetime of hot Florida summers and thousands of mosquito bites has taught me that sometimes the best itch relief comes not from a tube or jar from the pharmacy, but from your own house.

Milk and Water

Try mixing equal amounts of milk and water together and soaking a wash cloth in the mixture. Apply it to the places on your body that itch the most and wait for the magic to happen. I don’t know if this really works, but it’s been said that it does and it’s a simple process, so why not take it for a spin and see what happens?

Baking Soda

For my fellow “silver lining” lookers, this is a great excuse for a long soak in a warm bath, which is something we all need from time to time. Grab a glass of your favorite vino and a good book, because you’re spending 30 minutes in the bathtub. Just make sure that you dissolve some baking soda in the water before you get it. Soaking for 30 minutes allows the sodium bicarbonate in the baking soda to reduce inflammation and itching. Happy relaxing!

Witch Hazel

By itself, it’s not that impressive when it comes to bug bites (but it can be used to treat acne!). Mixed with baking soda to form a paste, however, you can relieve yourself of the awful itch associated with bug bites in just a few moments. When used together, this magical concoction allows you to remove the disgusting fluid from within the bite to introduce a feeling of relief, and it’s going to make you feel much better.

Honey

We should just eat a container of honey every single day since it’s so good for us. It’s known around the world as an anti-inflammatory, so why not use it to relieve yourself of the constant itch associated with evil bug bites? Apply a bit to your bites and wait just a few seconds for the itch to stop. The only problem with this one is that you’re going to be a bit sticky for a while. But the relief is absolutely worth it.

Aloe Vera

Typically used to treat sunburn, this amazing plant can also treat bug bites to help you reduce the itchiness those awful bugs have caused you. Say goodbye to the swelling and itching within minutes of applying the gel from this plant onto your skin.

Ice

When in doubt, apply ice to the spots that itch the most and you will literally numb the nerves that are itching. When your nerves cannot feel the pain of itching, neither do you. Problem solved. Of course, this does not help if you have bites all over your body unless you take a bath in a tub filled with ice – and that does not sound like much fun.

Vinegar

Here’s the deal; vinegar is some sort of magic potion that can be used to do anything – I am absolutely convinced this is the truth. So what you need to do is apply a bit of vinegar to a Q-Tip and apply it to all places that itch. If you have numerous bites and itch all over, just put a cup or two of vinegar into a warm bath and soak your entire body for a few minutes. The acid in the vinegar will relieve the itching caused by bites.

Lemon

Rub a half a lemon on your bites and wait for relief. It’s really that simple, I promise. If you don’t have a lemon lying around, use a lime. They’re both excellent choices since they both have the ability to kill bacteria and relieve itching. Please note, however, that the acidity of these two citrus products do come with adverse reactions to sunlight, so it’s best to use this product only if you are willing to stay indoors all day long – or at night. Otherwise, you might experience burning and blistering.

Tea Bags

Not only can these magic little bags of deliciousness reduce the puff and swelling from beneath your eyes after a sleepless night following one too many glasses of wine up with a sick child, they can also help relieve bug bite itch. Just wet your tea bags and apply them directly to your itchy spots and wait a few minutes for the relief to settle in. The process works since the tea bag is a type of astringent that reduces inflammation and helps to remove the fluid from within the bite that’s causing it to itch.

Oils

One essential oil in particular is going to work wonderfully to relieve itching associated with bug bites. Basil essential oil works to dry up bug bites and remove the fluid causing itchiness so that you feel better in no time at all. It’s a great way for you to feel some relief. If you don’t have this type of oil at home, go ahead and crush and grind some actual basil and apply it to your bites. It has the same effect and will work wonders to relieve the itch.

Photo by Tom Ervin/Getty Images

Comments

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Loading…

0