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How to Treat Mosquito Bites

Warm weather and slight breezes beckon people to take relaxing evening walks. Not many think of the consequences of taking a walk after dinner, but mosquitoes bite when you do. Suddenly, red splotches cover your arms, legs, feet and anywhere else that was not fortunate enough to be covered by clothing. Here are some great tips on mosquito bite treatment.

Things You'll Need

  • Water
  • Soap
  • Ice pack
  • Towel
  • Ice
  • Antihistamine medication
  • Calamine lotion
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Instructions

  1. Once Bitten: Mosquito Bite Treatment

    • 1

      Wash the mosquito bite with warm water and soap as soon as possible.

    • 2

      Wrap some ice in a towel and apply to the mosquito bite. You can also apply an ice pack to the area. The ice will help to minimize swelling. Ice is especially helpful if your mosquito bites have a tendency to swell up to the size of small oranges.

    • 3

      Take an over-the-counter antihistamine medication such as diphenhydramine. Those that are allergic to the preservatives in diphenhydramine can take other common antihistamines such a chlorpheniramine or hydroxyzine hydrochloride. These medications prevent the release of substances, called histamines that cause the itching and redness.

    • 4

      Apply calamine lotion to the mosquito bite to help with the itching. A very common home remedy involves mixing equal parts of baking soda and water. Stir until you create a paste and apply to the mosquito bite. This will help to soothe itchy skin and also works well on poison ivy, wasp stings, and other minor skin irritations. You could also try applying an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream to the bites. You may need to experiment with these methods to find one that works well for you.

    • 5

      Avoid scratching. Each time that you scratch, histamine is released, which causes the welt to itch even more. Frequent scratching can create small breaks in the skin that can allow bacteria to enter, thus causing an infection. This mosquito bite treatment is more effective after you've taken the OTC allergy medication.

    • 6

      Do not cover mosquito bites with clothing. Any slight covering of the bitten area will make it feel even itchier.

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