How to relieve itching from mosquito bites? The best remedies for mosquito bites.

Many of us do not want to go outdoors because of various insects. The most unpleasant of them are mosquitoes. They live in places with high humidity. Mosquito bites can not only cause a lot of unpleasant symptoms, but also transmit diseases.

When a mosquito bites its victim, it feels almost nothing. Unpleasant sensations come later when the bite sites become swollen and itchy

Why does a mosquito bite itch? How to eliminate itching and irritation? In this article we will try to find answers to all questions.

Why do mosquito bites itch?

First, it’s worth remembering that only female mosquitoes bite. They do this in order to lay eggs in the future. The males feed on the nectar of flowers.

Few people know why a mosquito bite causes itching. First, female mosquitoes find a suitable “victim” based on movements, warmth and smell. They sit on the skin and then dig into it with their proboscis. Before this, the mosquito secretes saliva. It contains anticoagulants that prevent blood clotting. After saturation, the insect releases histamine into the human blood. It is this substance that causes irritation, itching and slight swelling.

Each person's body reacts differently to a mosquito bite. For one, the affected area may swell, turn red, and begin to itch, while for another, only a spot on the skin will appear.

Normal and pathological reaction

Based on the individual characteristics of a person, a mosquito bite can manifest itself in different ways. A normal reaction to insect saliva is a wound on the body, accompanied by a round, slight redness. Sometimes a small hole may appear in the center of the lesion - a mark from a sting. Often a blister appears at the site of redness, which resembles a nettle burn. As a rule, a mosquito bite becomes very itchy a few minutes after the saliva hits the skin.

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A pathological (allergic) reaction to mosquito bites is called culicidosis. The protein contained in insect saliva leads to sensitization (increased sensitivity to irritants) of the body. The human condition is characterized by various manifestations: from severe skin rashes to swelling of the upper respiratory tract. In addition, a pathological reaction may be accompanied by:

the appearance of sneezing, rhinitis (inflammation of the nasal mucosa), lacrimation;
increased temperature;
the appearance of a rash, soreness and itching;
cough, feeling of lack of air;
the appearance of conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye);
swelling of the limbs;
the appearance of hives, spots all over the body;

Simultaneous multiple bites are considered the most toxic. They can cause large infiltrations (compactions), which can last up to 30 days, painfully affecting a person’s well-being. Severe culicidosis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

suffocation;
drowsiness;
stomach ache;
nausea turning into vomiting;
increased heart rate;
weakness;
shortness of breath with symptoms of bronchial asthma;
headache;
decreased blood pressure (blood pressure);
dizziness;
generalization of edema (severe redness and rapid increase in size of the affected area, more than 3 centimeters);
high fever;
Quincke's edema;
anaphylactic shock;
fainting states.

What is the danger of a bite?

Mosquitoes bite a huge number of people every day. Therefore, they can cause infectious diseases in humans. The most dangerous disease is malaria. Most cases of infection occur in African countries. People with malaria experience fever, headache, rash and weakness.

An equally dangerous disease transmitted through mosquito bites is the Zika virus. The symptoms of this infection are similar to malaria. Malaise usually appears a few days after an insect bite. Treatment for infection is to drink plenty of fluids and rest. It is also worth taking medications to relieve fever.

Why shouldn't you scratch mosquito bites?

If you notice a swollen bite site, do not scratch it. Damage to the epidermis leads to the formation of open wounds through which bacteria penetrate. Such microorganisms, entering the human body, cause inflammatory processes.

Also, mechanical damage to the skin will only intensify the itching sensation and make it more difficult to eliminate.

If vigorous scratching of the bite leads to infection, you should immediately consult a doctor. Self-treatment in this case will only worsen the situation.

Traditional recipes for eliminating itching

Why does the skin itch and turn red after a mosquito bite? How to eliminate these unpleasant symptoms? You can relieve itching with home remedies.

Recipes:

“Scabies” from mosquito bites: how to get rid of the itching

Probably, each of us knows from childhood that under no circumstances should you comb the affected area. The thing is that with constant scratching you only increase redness and swelling, and also risk introducing an infection into the wound from dirty hands. But it’s one thing to understand this, and quite another to endure and not scratch the affected area. What to do in this case and how to get rid of itching after a mosquito bite? A number of “folk” compositions will help.

Toothpaste

It is better to choose a mint option with a cooling effect that will soothe the itching. It must be applied to the affected areas after initial treatment with disinfectants.

Pat

Tapping is a great way to trick your brain into redirecting your attention. Pat the bite area. You can do this vigorously so that the itching is replaced by slight pain.

Solutions that contain alcohol

Rubbing the skin with alcohol-based preparations is a simple and effective method against bites. For example, you can treat your skin with the following alcohol-containing products:

vodka,
cologne,
alcoholic infusions of various herbs,
"Valocordin" and "Corvalol".

Basil juice

To use this method, take a couple of leaves of the plant and rub them together so that the same healing juice comes to the surface. Apply the leaves to the bites one at a time so that the juice gets directly to the affected area. It will not only eliminate “scabies”, but also have an anti-inflammatory effect and relieve swelling.

Warm

Surprisingly, not only cold, but also heat helps against insect bites. If you have a lot of bites, a warm shower will help relieve the itching. Do not scrub the affected areas with a washcloth or a hard-lined towel. A slightly hot towel or cloth can be applied to single bites.

Apple vinegar

It is diluted with water in equal proportions, and then problem areas are spot-treated using a cotton pad.

Lemon juice

A small amount of juice is squeezed into a container and applied pointwise to the affected areas using a cotton swab.

Green tea

A cotton pad is moistened with concentrated tea leaves, after which it is used to wipe the entire affected area.

Sea and table salt

Our great-grandmothers knew this method. Lubricate the bite area with sea or table salt. In a minute you will feel relief, and then the itching will completely disappear. If there are a lot of bites, it is better to take a bath with sea salt.

Potassium permangantsovka

Every home medicine cabinet definitely contains potassium permanganate. The problem area should be lubricated with potassium permanganate diluted in water and the itching will go away. Also for these purposes they use brilliant green and iodine, which are also always available in the house.

Water

The itching will become less pronounced if the affected area is immersed in cold water or rubbed with an ice cube. This is an effective first aid for bites, and not only from mosquitoes.

You can use lotions of solutions (hold for 10-15 minutes):

soda: a tablespoon per 200 ml of warm water;
vinegar: tablespoon per 10 ml of water. Natural apple cider vinegar is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10;
saline: prepare a paste and apply to affected areas for 10-15 minutes.

To relieve discomfort from mosquito bites, lotions made from strong green or black tea help. You can apply squeezed out fresh tea leaves and cover the top with polyethylene.

Essential oils

Essential oils effectively relieve inflammation and irritation, relieving discomfort on the skin.

How to relieve itching after mosquito bites:

tea tree;
carnation;
mint;
Melissa;
thyme;
eucalyptus;
lavender.

You can wipe the affected area with pure oil or prepare an ointment: stir 5-10 drops with two tablespoons of low-fat cream.

Such drugs can only be used in the absence of asthma or allergies, otherwise the discomfort will be aggravated by skin manifestations or shortness of breath.

Milk and honey

To prevent the bites from itching, it is recommended to immediately lubricate the skin with honey. This will help neutralize the anticoagulant venom injected by the mosquito. After about 15 minutes, the itching will subside. Milk has a similar effect.

If you have sour cream, fermented baked milk or kefir in the house, they can also be used as an antipruritic compress. You need to soak a piece of gauze and apply it to the bitten areas for 15-20 minutes.

Basil oil

Basil oil is a universal remedy against mosquito bites. It not only washes away swelling and itching, but also repels bloodsuckers well.

Make oatmeal compresses or take an oatmeal bath

Oatmeal has active ingredients that help soothe itching and reduce allergic reactions. Unprocessed (colloidal) oatmeal from regular Hercules flakes is best suited for this.

Brew a small portion of oatmeal;
Let it cool;
Apply oatmeal paste to the affected area;
Rinse off with warm water after 15 minutes.

Honey can be added as an additional ingredient to double the therapeutic effect. After this, moisturize your skin with cream.

Take antihistamines

If the itching is simply unbearable and cannot be relieved by any folk remedies, it is likely that you have developed an allergic reaction. In this case, antihistamines, which are sold in pharmacies without a prescription, will come in handy. They can be taken orally (such as Benadryl or Claritin) or topically (calamine lotion) on the affected area.

Herbs and plants

If you need to prevent a mosquito bite from itching, you can use an extract of meadow, forest, indoor and garden plants and herbs. For example, plant leaves are applied to the problem area, and the juice is moistened into the wound or a decoction or tincture is prepared from it. The following plants cope especially well with mosquito bites:

calendula,
aloe,
mint and lemon balm,
onion,
lemon,
parsley,
garlic,
dandelion,
plantain and celandine.

Soda

Mix two teaspoons of baking soda in a glass (150 – 200 ml) of warm water. Soak a cotton swab in the solution and apply lotions to the affected areas. Baking soda is great for treating itching, swelling and redness.

Use lidocaine or benzocaine ointments

Some ointments or gels contain painkillers such as lidocaine or benzocaine. To enhance the effect, look for products with menthol and mint in the composition.

Honey

When a mosquito bites, honey can act as an antiseptic and also an anti-inflammatory agent. It relieves itching and pain, relieves swelling. Just apply a small drop of honey to the wound until it dries. You can use honey as many times as necessary. The main thing is that you are not allergic to this product.

Effective medications

The most effective remedy is antihistamines. They can be taken either internally (in tablet form) or externally (sprays, creams and ointments). Most often, the following drugs are used to eliminate itching: Fenistil, Levomekol, Radevit and Bepanten. They do not cause side effects. Before using the medications, be sure to read the instructions; there are contraindications. The ointment is applied to clean, dry skin 2 to 4 times a day. You can eliminate unpleasant symptoms in just one day.

What should you not do after being bitten by midges?

The more noticeable the body’s reaction in the form of severe itching and redness, the less likely there are serious consequences. But these unpleasant symptoms cause discomfort, and a person cannot resist scratching the fly’s bite. In this case, pathogenic bacteria can enter the wound, provoking a purulent process in the subcutaneous layers.

Before you figure out how to relieve itching and swelling from a midge bite, read about what not to do

The same consequences are possible with ill-conceived self-medication for itching after a midge bite.

The following actions cannot be performed:

apply hormonal ointments, gels and creams to the open wound;
use aggressive household chemicals to disinfect the bite site;
take anti-inflammatory and antihistamine drugs without medical supervision;
warm up the bite site;
to take a bath.

How to prevent mosquito attacks?

Already knowing why mosquitoes make your skin itch, you can protect yourself. The first thing you need to do is install mosquito nets in your house. Then you can calmly ventilate rooms in hot weather without fear of being bitten. We also recommend adhering to the following preventive measures:

When going outdoors, wear clothes that will cover areas of your body.
Use special aerosols and gels that repel mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes cannot stand the smell of tomatoes. You can plant them on your balcony to repel insects.
A fumigator is a network-powered device. A special plate is inserted into it, which spreads a smell throughout the room that repels mosquitoes. Such a device does not harm humans.

In most cases, the above prevention methods help avoid mosquito bites. If they do appear, then you should not damage them. It is better to treat the affected area with an antiseptic or iodine.