How to Treat Minor Insect Bites

Minor insect bites prompt you to action quickly, not because of seriousness or life-threatening worries, but just because they hurt. They occur quickly, often without warning or notice, and for moments afterward they may stop your world until treated. Minor insect bites include mosquitoes, flies, fleas, ticks, lice, scabies and non-poisonous spiders. If the insect bite does not produce a serious allergic reaction or toxic reaction, treat the insect bite topically.

Things You'll Need

• Calamine lotion

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Instructions

• 1

  See if the stinger is still on the skin if you are stung by a bee. If you can still see the stinger, remove it. Do not rub or try to squeeze the stinger. Make sure you remove the stinger.

• 2

  Clean the wound with soap and water (for minor insect bites.)

• 3

  Apply calamine lotion with a cotton ball or soft cloth.

• 4

  Put an ice pack to the bite wound for 15 minutes. If necessary, repeat the ice pack treatment, leaving the ice pack on the wound for 15 minutes up to 2 hours.

• 5

  Apply a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream for persistent swelling or redness.