Need Relief for Mosquito Bites

About a month or so ago someone posted a request for itch relief from bug bites. Quite a few people responded with PENNIES!! Apparently, if you place a penny on top of the bite, it neutralizes the venom and it goes away. I haven't tried it yet, but I'd be willing to try anything if the itching were bad enough!

The best thing we have found for mosquito bites is Preparation H cream. It takes the itch away and it helps to decrease the bite (the inflammation).
T.

I know you have had tons of replies, but I just had to let you know what artists use when they are painting outside to keep the mosquitos away. They keep a fabric softener sheet in a pocket or wherever. They don't seem to like it.
J.

I just saw your note today and I know you have gotten lots of suggestions and I haven't read them all. I just had to let you about this in case someone hasn't already mentioned it. It sounds so strange but a 90ish year old lady taught many of us 20-40 yr. old moms something one day that we'll never forget. A little boy in our VBS got bitten many times because he ran to hide in a bush during a game. We couldn't reach his mom and didn't know if we could use medicine on him or not. She calmly sat him on the kitchen counter and filled her palm with regular table salt and had another bowl with water to moisten her finger tips with. She took her damp fingers and dipped them in the salt and gently rubbed each spot with the salt in circles. The itching immediately stopped and didn't start again. The next morning, you could not tell he had ONE bite and he was covered on his legs. She said it was the natural iodine in the salt that does the trick and years ago when she was little this is what they did. To this day, I keep a packet of salt in my car because my little girl swells up badly from mosquito bites. Even she will tell you to rub salt on it that it is better than any cream we can try. If we don't have any water handy, you can just lick the tip of your finger and do the job (doesn't sound to sanitary I know, but we're moms and we do what we have to!) Just dust the spot off when you are done. I hope this helps ... it's cheap too!!

We use a Benadryl No Itch stick. I can't remember the exact name of it, but it kind of looks like a marker, and it's made by Benadryl. You just rub it on the bite and it takes the itch away within a minute. I think it helps the bite disappear quicker, because ours never stay more than a couple of days.

-

S.,

I saw a segment on home remedies on Good Morning America, and the woman on the show said you can mix a little water with baking soda to make a paste to put on mosquito bites. I tried this and it worked for me. (The paste eventually dries and flakes off, but it worked better than the Calamine lotion I've used in the past.) I also put some on my son recently, and the paste worked for him. It's a cheap and effective way to relieve the itch from mosquito bites.

I also learned that you can use honey for cuts and scrapes because of its natural healing properties. I haven't tried that, but it probably would be just as effective as Neosporin or other over-the-counter products.

Hope this info helps your daughter.

Mix baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) with water to make a paste OR try an Aspirin (baby or adult is fine) and a few drops of water to make a paste dab on each bite.

lemon slice or lime rubbed on bites. Inside of a banana peel rubbed on each bite.

These suggestions have been effective however you need to pick one at a time... often it works with initial application however 2 to 3 applications may be need during the day for complete relief of itching and swelling.

Therapeutic essential oils*: lavender oil, cedar oil, tea tree ... dab a single drop on your finger and dab each bite. Apply a dab of olive oil a minute later to seal the oil in.

*http://www.youngliving.com/signup/custType.faces Discount price list for therapeutic grade essential oils, they last for 2 years so build up a supply for each season. Eucalyptus for winter, colds, flu, congestion, Peppermint & lavender for burns, inflamation, etc...enter Sponsor #959328

Hi S.,

My grandmother always rubbed vinegar on our mosquito bites as kids. Good luck!

I'm not sure about the itching, but I got an e-mail to keep the mosquitos away, it sounds strange, but I tried it on the 4th and it seemed to work.

ok, put Listerine in a spray bottle and spray the area around you. They say to spray your doorways (not directly on wood, but around it) and windows, anywhere that they can come in. If you are sitting out, spray around your chair and so on.

We used it on the 4th, sprayed around our chairs and blanket in the evening for firworks, and it did seem to work. Nobody got bitten. Maybe it was just luck, but I'll use it again.

I bought the original, becuase it didn't say in the e-mail to try the other flavors. and put it in a .59cent bottle. The cheapest bug spray I ever bought. And if you get it on your skin you don't have to make sure you wash it off like the stuff with deet in it.

Also, I know that Skin so Soft from Avon works, you can spray that around you and on your skin. I was never crazy about the smell, and it is kind of oily. But it is known to work.

Good luck.....
M.

I use T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil. It works on almost anything! Here are some of the benefits:

Naturally antiseptic
Melaleuca Oil’s antibacterial properties help prevent topical infection at the first sign of trouble.
Gently soothes
Thanks to terpinene-4-ol, the "ahh" sensation of Melaleuca Oil stops the scratching, which helps skin heal faster.
Safely penetrates
Melaleuca Oil moves quickly to the source of the problem, even through unbroken skin. Cineole, another key ingredient, helps the oil penetrate your skin.
Beneficially non-caustic
Melaleuca offers two grades of oil, T36-C5 Melaleuca Oil, non-irritating for most all skin types, and T40-C3 Melaleuca Oil, for more sensitive skin. Skin doesn’t feel raw after using Melaleuca Oil.
Effectively solvent
Melaleuca Oil’s natural solvency helps dissolve dirt and stains.
Pleasantly aromatic

See it does a ton of things! :) My son got bit by something the other day and I didn't notice it until it was kind of blister like? I put this on and it cleared up within hours!

As an attempt to keep them off of her (if she can stand the smell--maybe put it around her ankle) get a bug off bracelet. They have a rather strong smell, but I've yet to get bitten wearing one!

With your help of course... use some alcohol. I have never used this before, but a friend suggested it, and it actually worked. I think this is the only thing that helps them go away faster also because it dries them out.

Also, Gold Bond's anti itch creme (not just the lotion) really helped too. It had a "cooling" relief after putting it on that was nice and took your mind off the itch.

Good luck!

Hi S.! My oldest gets big welts when she is bitten by mosquitos...it is awful and takes longer to go away. When she gets a bite we use either allergy relief spray (eckerd brand) or Itch relief gel spritz (by band-aid brand) both products work really well to relieve itch and reduce the healing time for my daughter. You might also want to treat your yard/home for misquito's, repair or replace the screening in your windows, and get a good, safe bug spray that you will/can use without qualms about it's saftey (like OFF products). I use/used bug away bracelets when my daughter was younger and I wasn't comfortable with bug killer stuff. They work really well for set peroids of time and she never minded wearing them. Good luck and Best wishes.

S.,

For itching from my last bug bite, I used Lavendar oil, I put it right on it and after seconds of a little more itching I forgot all about it and it never itched again. If we are allowed to put websites on here, this is a good source.
http://www.essentialoilsinpa.com
I wish you the best which ever route you take,
M.

Get a net to put over her bed at night... like this one

http://www.amazon.com/Lt-Blue-Large-Bed-Canopy/dp/B000V1U...

They come in lots of colors, and you can make it her "princess" bed...

Ice. I find that if I put ice on my mosquito bites until the itch stops that they do not itch after that. If they do, I repeat with the ice and it seems to take away the itch.

Good luck!

I know this may sound weird but if you rub deoderant on it, it will take the itching away and also the swelling will soon come down. My 5 yr old son had a massive bite on his back from when we went camping as soon as i got home i googled it and thats what it said and sure enough he quit itching.

Funny you should ask this question.
The other day my son was outside playing with his cousins and got bit on each leg about ten times each. They did'nt start to itch until 3:00A.M. The only thing I had was cortisone cream and it was expired, but I used it. It did help a little, but the next morning he was really complaining so I rubbed rubbing alcohol on them. This did calm down the itch for a while, but I had to continue this all day. Then finally my sister-in-law said to put clear nail polish on them, I tried it on 2 of them and my son found instant relief. Needless to say the rest of the bites got painted and the itching stopped. I hope this helps.

Hi S.... I know the frustration you must be dealing with.. My grand daughter has a bad reaction to fleas.. She looks awful after she is bit and they cant have animals at all...I have a dog and must get it treated monthly so my grand baby doesnt get bit... ANY WAY we have found "Aveeno skin relief bath treatment" works great in releving the itch and healing is faster.. It makes the bath water silky... You can find it at Wal-Mart.. Good Luck H.

S., I use Healing Scents Anti Itch Stick. I have a review of it on my blog www.lesstoxicbeauty.com.
This product scores a 0 in the EWG database, meaning it is non toxic. It doesn't contain steroids or chemicals either.
The Healing Scents website is: http://www.healing-scents.com/.
It's $7.95 for a Chap Stick sized stick which I am sure will last at least until next year, probably longer if it doesn't go bad and it works instantly.

I just read this post, but I wanted to say that I live in the tropics in Mexico and we get mosquitos all the time. My daughter is 2 and a half and gets bit more than any of us and she has bad reactions to them. I put apple vinegar on the bite and within seconds you can start to see the swelling go down and then you will see just a dot where the mosquito actually bit. It seems to help with the itching too. I tried it on mine the other day and it worked well too. It didn't burn or anything. I hope that helps. I have used caladryl, but that just seems to work for a few seconds and then it itches again.

We use this product developed for poison ivy/oak. It is amazing . As some of us are allergic at our house our welts get huge! This salve , put on as soon as you can , will stop a bite in its tracks. If a bite is scratched it will take a little longer but will still work. It also works for spider bites, fire ant stings and any "itchy spots" you little one might have. The little tin lasts for ever!

http://altnature.com/order.htm

Hi S.,

We use a product called Simply Lavender After Bath Oil to keep the mosquitoes away. If by chance we forget to put it on and do get a bite, we put on Australian Tea Tree Oil. Both work well we have found. They are made by Daisy Blue Naturals. I'll send you samples to try if you would like.

Best Wishes,

J. Hobbs
www.3743.daisybluenaturals.com
____@____.com

You can try treating them with either white vinegar or witch hazel. Either one should take the itch out. It usually works on my little one who also gets eaten alive!

Use hydrocortisone. A little goes a long way. Our whole family uses it and it definitely takes away the swelling and relieves itching. You can find it anywhere. Recently we bought the costco brand and it works just the same. Hope this helps.

I've always used white vinegar! It takes the sting/itch out pretty quickly. As far as getting them to go away, if you find the answer to that, let me know! LOL

A product that helped for us growing up with all kind of bug bites is called "Afterbite". I believe you can get it at drugstores and some grocery stores.

Also, a hydrocortisone cream may help.

You might want to see if you can figure out how they are getting into the house as well. If it is through window screens, check to see if there is a natural deterrent or if spraying bug repellent on them helps. Perhaps you can eliminate the mosquitoes before they bite.

Hope this helps and good luck.

My friend just told me that Ivyrest works really well on mosquito bites. She buys it at Walmart. Good luck!
G.

deodorant or asprin with water in a paste

I know you've gotten many answers, but what worked really well for me after a day of swimming at a lake was Witch Hazel. You can get it at any drugstore; just ask if don't see. I had at least 30 bites on me and someone in the car on the way home was kind enough to rub it on for me...I too am very prone to mosquitos.. I swear they all shrunk to almost nothing right after that, and the itch immediately dissapeared....Definately try it out...Hope it works for your daughter. :)

my mom swears by gold bond .. i tried it and it worked like a charm.

When I get mosquito bites, I get welts about 3" big. The doctor told me I'm probably allergic to the insecticides that the mosquitos carry. The only thing that helps is the Benadryl Anti-itch stick. You can buy it at Wal-mart or HEB, probably any large grocery store carries it.

Definitely the T-36C5 Melaleuca oil,it is very multi purpose and will help immediately.They also have a product specifically for itching,Dermacort.

S.
www.SwitchStoresForHealthyLiving.com

Hi S.,
My son gets some doozies too! I usually just put a dab of rubbing alcohol on them.

I too also suffer tremendously from mosquito bites! As soon as evening comes around I have to put pants on if I'm going to be outside.

One thing I did find for the relief is called "After Bite". You can buy it at CVS or anywhere. It's just a roll on stick and of course doesn't last all day but does help with that quick relief for a while. Good luck, I share your daughter's agony!!

A. K.

I know it's been awhile since you've written this, but I'm just getting to sit and enjoy this site. ANyhow, Avon make several different kinds of bug sprays that are wonderful. Expidition is one of my favorite. THey really keep the bugs away. They come in a towel form that I can just keep in my purse. My 9 year old daughter loves for me to rub them on her as she can not stand bug bites! I also spray Skin So SOft by avon right around my doors to keep the bugs away. When for some reason she still gets bit I use hydrocortisone cream. Hope this helps. i'm a 46 year old mom of 1 precious little girl!

My 12 year old son has the same problem, he was scratching them to the point that poeople thought he had chicken pox. Have her take an over the counter product called:
L-Lysine, it is not harmful and it doesn't stay in your system. Have her take two a day after a couple of days she will stop scratching, it was AMAZING after awhile how much better his legs looked. Now that he figured out how well they work, when he starts to scratch he ask for an "L" pill.

I am also a 43 YO stay at home Mom and my youngest is 3.5. She also gets bitten really bad and I spray Dermaplast on them. It really seems to help her!

First, i admit i do not have the answer. I must say, though, that your daughter must be v-e-r-y sweet. :-)
Seriously, though, i have a couple questions.
Do you use any scented products on her before bedtime (or at all?)
They could be attracting them (though, some people are just delicious all by themselves).
Also, if she has them all over - could she be experiencing a food reaction?
Or some type of allergy?
I just remember when Curt had a few bites on his legs, the pediatrician said if there were more he would suspect an allergy - in his case , maybe wheat.

The quickest way to get the itch to stop completely without having to apply anything is to prick it with a pin and squeeze the mosquitos venom out. It works the best and you won't need to apply anything except for some peroxide to clean it. They don't bleed afterwards and seem to heal much faster. If you get most of the clear venom out, NO MORE ITCHING!! It's a beautiful thing.

Hi S.,

I have 3 girls of my own, 2,4,9.
We use Aveeno Maximum strength hydrocortisone creme.
The off white tube with the maroon/red cap. Great for all
skin itch challenges.

N. Peters

I see you've had alot of responses and I've read them all. There is one that I use that had not been mentioned and you may already have it in your home. The original Listerine (orangish color). Just put some full strength on a cotton ball and then on the bite. Almost instantly, the itch goes away! We have alot of mosquitoes in our complex and usually let a few in when we open the door. I keep a small juice glass with some Listerine in it on the end table near the couch and recliner. I've seen them fly by the tv screen, but we don't get bit. The smell is a little strong at first, but soon goes away. Let me know if you try it and if it works for you and your daughter. GOOD LUCK!!

A dab of toothpaste, especially toothpaste with baking soda in it stops the itch immediately.

You need to figure a way to keep the mosquitos out of the house. They carry disease and it's not healthy to be getting bit by them while your daughter sleeps. If you don't have screens in your windows and doors, it is better to keep them shut, esp. in the evening when they mosquitos start coming in.
If you keep your daughters windows shut or screened, and her bedroom door shut, there is no way they can get in.
Have her come in doors before it starts getting dark, when they come out in full force.

We used to live next to the Everglades and now camp much in Colorado. Applying Afterbite as soon as you can after the bite will work! Even my husband who had some strange response to bugs in Maine responds well to this. My brother is a physician and explained to me that the ammonia breaks down the protein in the venom. Afterbite is just a little tube of ammonia with an appropriate size applicator. We don't leave home without it. If you can catch it right away, you can prevent that histamine response that gets going and causes so much itching. I had very large welts from bites in Florida, to the point where a dermatologist told me I had better go to urgent care if I start having trouble breathing. Afterbite has eliminated that. At night, have you considered a mosquito net above her bed? They use them in other parts of the world if you want to sleep with the windows open. As a child I remember sleeping in one on a visit to Cuba and I thought it was my personal tent and great fun.

I am a WAH in the wellness industry and my son is also 2 1/2 . The company I am with has a cream and gel that work well on bites etc. If you are interested in hearing more about it or about the business opportunity you can email me at ____@____.com.
Regards,
J.

If you go to www.MarketAmericaUS.com and search for Mosquito Magic, there are several products that are all natural that would be safe to use on and around your child.

I've heard of almost all the remedies below at one time or another, and the ones I have tried have usually worked. However, the best thing to do is avoid the bites in the first place and I have to agree with the lady who suggested the fabric softener sheets....yes, they DO work. My grandson was inundated by the little critters till he placed the dryer sheets around his bed, and voila! No more bites! He now carries them in his pockets when he is out in the evening. They never really bothered me a lot, but their buzzing around my head while I tried to sleep drove me nuts. I put them on the headboard of my bed and can attest to their effectiveness as well. Good luck with all the remedies and the prevention as well!

S., I am so sorry I'm responding this so late. BUT! I have to tell you about this ONE thing that works! I found it last year. I am a complete Mosquito magnet! It's awful, unfortunately we have a family of five and we're all like that.

It's called :"After Bite" *kids* There is an After Bite for adults, but the one for kids is safe and it works for me too!
I got it at the drug store.
Here's the website that is off the tube itself. www.tendercorp.com
I'm serious when I say I will only use this. Especially right after a bug bite, but anytime it immediately takes the itch or sting away!
Good luck!

Hi S.,

The best remedy is to not be bit in the first place. Feed Violet any food which has vitamin B in it. You can search the net for these (For adults, take Vitamin B tablets.) Be sure to use only vitamin B from natural products, the synthetic vitamins usually do not work or create other problems. The mosquitoes stay away from Vitamin B. Since it is a natural remedy, it doesn't hurt your wonderful girl!
Best of luck and let us know if you try the vitamin B!
C.

This suggestions sounds weird but it definitely works for us. Make a paste out of Adolph's Meat Tenderizer and rub on the bite...it works best if applied as soon as possible after the bite. A PhD chemist told me the tenderizer contains an enzyme that destroys a protein in the venom. Good luck.

I use a product that takes the itching away immediately and has anti-bacterial properties so infection doesn't occur should the skin get broken. If you'd like to know how you can purchase this product, you may reach me at ____@____.com

S.

Hi, I know you have had a million responses, many different. I react really, bad to bites, I'm 34. I use windex when I first feel the itch, the ammonia in it works! Anyway, just another household fix. AND, I appreciate the question because it's given me more ideas!
Have a great day!
-R.

I realize I'm late responding, but what my mother always did (and therefore, so do I) is to take your fingernail and press an X with it onto the bite. Then, make a little paste of water and baking soda and dab some of that over the bite/X. Don't know why it works, but it's also good for ant bites as well.

L.

The BEST product that I have found and use on my 1 yr old & 3yr old, is made by Mary Kay-Calming Solution, it costs a bit more butit last for EVER!! It works in no time and the itching and raised bump goes down very quickly.

I hope this helps :o)

I have a one year old granddaughter and I use Aveno oatmeal bath and cream on her. I also take a small pouch and fill it with bran ,tie a knott or sew top and let it float in the bath water. J.

I don't know whether anyone has posted this suggestion or not but it works for my kids: I dab white vinegar on a cotton ball and rub the vinegar on my kids' necks, arms, legs, etc. -- they smell like salad but it has been a safe, DEET free way to keep the mosquitos away!

Prame Gel! My mother-in-law told me about this product. You don't need a prescription, but you do need to ask the pharmacist for it. They may have to order it, but it works! A 4 oz bottle will last forever as you only use a tiny amount on the bites. Good Luck.

For adults take Vitamin B and it will help tremendously. Also if you avoid eating bananas it helps too.
Find a natural remedy to prevent the bites and that will be much safer for a child, but you need to do something for sure. Mosquitoes carry disease as you know.

I haven't tried this yet, but I've heard from alot of people that mixing listerine w/ water and spraying it on yourself really works!

My son has been on steroids twice because his mosquito bites swell so big. Fortunately the swelling has gotten better as he has gotten older. I give him Benadryl as soon as possible and put hydrocortisone cream on the bites.

I've always used tea tree oil, the smell is strong so I tend to buy tree tree with lavender...

I just read your request and have not read all of the responses so this may or may not have been mentioned.

Being a mosquito and flea magnet, I've used plain old baking soda, made into a paste to draw out the itch and decrease inflammation. And yes, B-1 is the vitamin that repels mosquitoes. It is water soluble so one should not overdose on it. I've also been told garlic pills, but have not tried it.

I agree prevention is the key. I would think a mosquito net would be useful.

Oh, one more thing, Avon Skin So Soft bath oil is purchased by the gallons by forest rangers to prevent bug bites. They now make it in a spray.

Please let us know what you find works best.

Try aloe vera gel--either the plant or purchased. I like Fruit of the Earth--Walmart, inexpensive, no coloring, no discomfort. I read that catnip spray repels better than deet. I tried one from the pet store. Worked but has to be reapplied often. Botanic Choice has one that I am going to order. Nature's Sunshine has a silver spray and gel that is healing with no discomfort and can be used in the eyes even.

hi sherry,
i use acne fighting astringent that has 2% salicylic acid. it takes away the itch and dries it all at the same time. my bug bites are usually gone by the next day. hope this helps. K.