11 Home Remedies for Mosquito Bites
The home remedies for mosquito bites that we’ll offer you in this article are designed, above all, to protect the little ones you have at home. Small children are the most affected by the bite of these annoying insects and can experience anything from hives to illnesses such as dengue.
Both the method to be applied and the preparation of the substances are simple and harmless. You can take any of them into account whenever your child gets one of the welts that result from a mosquito bite.
Something you should know about mosquito bites
The itching of mosquito bites is due to the saliva that the female insect injects into the body of her victim before sucking blood. This saliva causes an allergic reaction in the skin of human beings and anticoagulant effects, causing both itching and reddish inflammation to appear around the area.
A large part of the mosquito bites that are received throughout the day is just that: A slight circular swelling of the skin and some itching. But when the area where the blood was drawn is repeatedly scratched, an infection can appear, which is why it’s so important that you protect your child from mosquito bites and treat any bite as soon as possible.
Symptoms of mosquito bites
The main symptom of insect bites is itching or burning in the affected area, however, the clinical manifestations may vary depending on each person and the sensitivity of their skin. Therefore, bites can manifest in the following ways:
- A soft white and reddish lump on the skin after a few minutes
- A hard brown lump that appears within a few days, usually from scratching injuries
- Blisters instead of hard lumps
- Black spots that look like bruises
- Urticaria, low-grade fever, swelling, and redness in case of sensitive skin
11 natural remedies against mosquito bites
The remedies that we’ll mention below are made with 100% natural products, so they’re harmless in most cases. However, you should be careful with children with very sensitive skin. Remember, it never hurts to consult a pediatrician before applying them.
1. Baking soda
Baking soda is an excellent product for cleaning the home, as it’s capable of eliminating multiple bacteria from different surfaces. At the same time, according to popular wisdom, baking soda can also prevent infection from mosquito bites due to its antibacterial properties, which have been proven in multiple studies.
How to use it?
- Wash the bite with plenty of soap and water.
- Take some baking soda and add water to it to form a very consistent paste.
- Refrigerate the preparation and then apply it to the bite.
- There’s no danger if your young child touches the welt smeared with the mixture and then puts their hands in their mouth.
2. Aloe vera
Aloe vera is a plant with multiple beneficial properties for the skin. According to a study in the journal Molecules, this plant has traditionally been used in the treatment of insect bites thanks to its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and healing properties.
How to use it?
- Take a small piece of the aloe vera plant and remove the skin.
- Rub it on the bite several times a day and always let the pulp dry on the skin.
3. Apple cider vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is another one of those almost miraculous products that have multiple health benefits. According to popular belief, this may be one of the most effective home remedies for mosquito bites. It’s believed that it not only cools the skin but also prevents the proliferation of bacteria in the affected area.
How to use it?
- Put some apple cider vinegar inside the fridge
- When it’s cool, soak a cotton ball with the liquid and clean the bite several times a day
4. Salt
Common salt or table salt is a product with very well-documented antimicrobial properties for many years. With this in mind, its application to the wound can help prevent infections. However, it can cause pain and burning in most children, so its use isn’t recommended.
How to use it?
- Take a portion of salt and add a little water until you get a thick paste.
- Spread it on the bite several times a day.
5. Chamomile tea
Chamomile is one of the most well-known medicinal plants worldwide. The infusion not only helps reduce anxiety and stress but can also be effective as one of the home remedies for mosquito bites.
Furthermore, a publication in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences demonstrated the topical anti-inflammatory properties of chamomile. This study was based on the use of essential oil, although the infusion is believed to have the same effect.
How to use it?
- Make an infusion of chamomile and put it in the fridge.
- When it’s frozen, take out a small cube and rub the mosquito bite that your child has for a few seconds.
- Let the liquid dry on their skin and after a while, do the same thing again.
- Repeat the process several times a day.
6. Lemon juice and honey
Lemon juice contains multiple bactericidal properties. At the same time, honey has moisturizing and antimicrobial properties on the skin, according to several studies. Therefore, the combined use of these ingredients will favor the healing of the lesion.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that applying lemon to an open wound can be very painful for children. Therefore, you need to make sure that there are no scratches on the mosquito bite before applying this remedy.
How to use it?
- Clean mosquito bites with lemon juice.
- Let the skin dry, then dab some honey on the welts.
7. Garlic and Aloe Vera
We’ve already described the properties of aloe vera in the previous paragraphs. But we can also mention that garlic has multiple antibacterial properties, according to research in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. So, the combination of these ingredients helps prevent infections and promotes healing.
How to use it?
- Crush a clove of garlic and dab the inflammation with the juice released by the spice.
- Let this natural food act for a few seconds and then remove it with a cotton ball smeared with aloe vera water.
- Obtain aloe vera water by adding a few portions of the aloe vera plant that’s been previously washed, peeled, and diced, to a glass of water.
- It’s important that when you apply the garlic to your child’s skin, you watch them during that time to prevent the child from touching the bite and touching their eyes, and this could result in irritation.
8. Ice
Ice is one of the best home remedies to reduce the inflammation of mosquito bites. You just have to avoid placing it directly on your child’s skin so as not to worsen the injuries. It’s best to wrap it in a stocking or a towel.
How to use it?
- Clean mosquito bites with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol.
- Then, place an ice cube for a few seconds on the welt.
9. Papaya
According to multiple investigations, papaya has been used in traditional medicine for many years for its ability to promote wound healing.
How to use it?
- Crush a portion of papaya and spread this paste on the bite several times a day, always on clean skin.
10. Sunflower oil
Sunflower oil is an excellent natural remedy for multiple conditions that children experience, including atopic skin. Therefore, it’s believed that it can work very well to calm the symptoms of insect bites and prevent infections.
How to use it?
- Wash mosquito bites with plenty of soap and water.
- Then, cover them with sunflower oil.
- Perform this procedure several times a day.
11. Basil
Basil is a plant that’s widely used in the Mediterranean diet to prepare multiple dishes and that also has multiple health benefits. The infusion and essential oils of this plant can be two of the most effective home remedies against mosquito bites.
A publication in the journal Experimental and Applied Acarology showed that the plant has repellent properties against certain species of mosquitoes. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties will help prevent the annoying symptoms of bites.
How to use it?
- Boil water.
- Add a handful of dried basil leaves.
- Let the water boil with the leaves for 5 minutes and remove from heat.
- Let the mixture cool and apply it to the bite.
- You can also use the leaves as poultices.
How to prevent mosquito bites?
First of all, it’s important to note that there’s no 100% effective way to prevent the bite of these annoying insects. However, there are certain measures that can be applied to reduce the probability of being bit. Among the main preventive measures, the following stand out:
- Use of insect repellents
- Wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants when going out into areas with abundant vegetation
- Spray clothing with permethrin
- Install mosquito nets on doors, windows, and around babies’ cribs
When to visit a doctor?
Fortunately, mosquito bites don’t usually cause major complications and disappear on their own after a few days. However, bites from some insects, including mosquitoes, can cause allergic reactions and lead to anaphylactic shock. In this sense, it’s important to consult a specialist if any of the following symptoms appear:
- Difficulty breathing
- Sickness
- Hives or swelling
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
As we discussed earlier, mosquitoes can also transmit diseases such as dengue, malaria, chikungunya, and Zika. All these diseases have their own symptoms, such as fever. With this in mind, immediate medical assistance should be sought if abnormal manifestations occur a few days after a sting.
Home remedies for mosquito bites
There are repellents on the market that help to keep these insects away, but the most effective way to end the proliferation of this pernicious agent is to eliminate any type of clear water source where it can reproduce.
Then, you simply need to apply any of the home treatments that we’ve offered you in this text to reduce the swelling and itching as soon as possible.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
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