10 Easy Ways To Stop Mosquito Bites From Itching

As the summer weather settles in, the heat is bad enough; add mosquito bites into the mix, and it can sometimes feel like you made a mistake stepping outside. Mosquito bites can be very annoying and itchy, but fortunately, there are some things you can do to stop mosquito bites from itching. 

In this blog, the experienced mosquito exterminators at Lookout Pest Control discuss mosquitos and ten easy ways to stop pesky mosquito bites to stop itching.

Which Mosquito Repellent is Most Effective?

The most important factor in the effectiveness of a mosquito repellent is the active ingredient. The most powerful mosquito repellents tend to cause the most irritation to your skin, and may not be recommended for certain people.

• DEET-based repellents have been used for decades and continue to be one of the most popular and effective choices for mosquito repellent. DEET is safe for most people, but it can be irritating to the skin of some. Children may be especially susceptible to irritation.
• Picaridin is a newer synthetic compound designed to be similar to DEET in effectiveness and duration, but less irritating to the skin. It is often recommended for children and people with sensitive skin.
• IR3535 is another synthetic compound that is similar to DEET and picaridin in terms of effectiveness and duration. It is less irritating to the skin than DEET and picaridin and is often recommended for children and people with sensitive skin.
• Citronella oil is a natural mosquito repellent that is safe for most people. It can offer protection for a short time – but its effectiveness quickly wears off.
• Organic and all-natural mosquito repellents are made with natural ingredients, such as essential oils. They are safe for most people.

10 Tips To Stop Mosquito Bites From Itching

• Honey – Honey is a fantastic natural home remedy for many different ailments. For more than 100 years, honey has been a sought-after natural home remedy, from helping relieve sore throats to acne to bruises. Honey contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
• How to use: Simply apply honey to the area to stop mosquito bites from itching.

• Banana Peel – This may be a surprise, but banana peels are a great home remedy for itchy skin. Banana peels help relieve itchy skin from bug bites to poison ivy.
• How to use: Simply rub the banana peel on the affected area until the inside of the banana peel turns brown. Leave on for up to 30 minutes, and wash off.

• Apple Cider Vinegar – For years, apple cider vinegar has been used as a natural home remedy for hundreds of medical conditions. It can help reduce both the burning and itching sensation. *Make sure you get the apple cider vinegar with the mother.
• How to use: Simply dab a bit of apple cider vinegar on the mosquito bite. If you need more relief or have multiple bug bites, you can dilute some apple cider vinegar with water and take a bath.

• Toothpaste – Toothpaste is a great way to stop mosquito bites from itching. It contains menthol and baking soda, which are perfect agents to keep the itching away.
• How to use: Make sure you use a minty flavor, and apply the menthol flavored toothpaste to the mosquito bite.

• Oatmeal – Oatmeal may be one of your favorite breakfast go-tos, but it also has incredible anti-irritant benefits. This can help relieve the itching sensation and swelling.
• How to use: Mix equal amounts of oatmeal and water, and rub it on the affected area. Leave on the irritated portion of the skin for 10 minutes and wipe away!

• Vapor Rub – Did you know vapor rub isn’t just for when you are sick? Vapor rub is fantastic for mosquito bites. it not only cools the skin (since menthol is a top active ingredient), but it also alleviates the itching immensely.
• How to use: Simply dab some vapor rub on the mosquito bite.

• Baking Soda – Baking soda is an amazing agent with a wide range of uses. Do a quick Google search for “uses for baking soda”, and hundreds of articles will appear. Baking soda helps relieve itching and burning sensations and also is incredibly effective in killing bacteria.
• How to use: Mix a spoonful of baking soda with some water. Apply this paste to the bug bite, let sit for 10 minutes, and simply wipe away!

• Aloe Vera – Aloe vera is a natural antiseptic agent, which makes it ideal to stop swelling and itching.
• How to use: You can use natural aloe vera or aloe vera gel. We recommend refrigerating the aloe vera gel for 10 minutes to make sure it is at a cold temperature. Then, simply apply the chilled aloe to the affected area.

• X Marks the Spot – Though this is a temporary solution, it will do the trick in stopping the mosquito bite from itching.
• How to do this: Simply make an “X” shape on the bite with your fingernail. Don’t apply too much pressure! You just want to lightly mark an X, without actually penetrating the skin. This will temporarily stop the itching until the X fades away.
  
• Ice – Ice can reduce inflammation and numb the skin.
• How to use: Use a cold ice pack or fill a bag with crushed ice to stop mosquito bites from itching.

Why Do Mosquito Bites Itch?

When mosquitoes penetrate the skin and feed on blood, they release saliva. The saliva acts as an anticoagulant — it prevents blood from clotting so the mosquito can drink its fill.

Our bodies have a natural response to the anticoagulant that creates histamines to send to the bitten area. When our bodies release the histamines, it causes the bite to itch. It’s actually our bodies that create the itching feeling and not the actual bite.

The more you itch the area, the more histamines your body sends to the affected area. So try as hard as you possibly can to not scratch!

Need Mosquitoes Gone? Call Us!

If you are having problems with mosquitoes on your property, get in touch with Lookout Pest Control! Call us for mosquito yard treatment, or to learn more about our treatment plans!