Dermatology-Online

Home remedies for mosquito bites

introduction

Mosquitoes can quickly become a nuisance, especially in the mild summer months.
The number one preventive measure to keep the insects out of the interior is to use insect screens in front of windows and doors. But there are numerous other non-chemical home remedies that can help repel mosquitoes. If you use them, you can often prevent annoying mosquito bites.

These home remedies can help preventively

Herbs and aromatic plants
- basil
- mint
- thyme
- rosemary
- eucalyptus
- Lemon balm
- Catnip
Essential oils
- Tea tree oil
- Lavender oil
- lemon oil
- Clove oil
- Eucalyptus oil
- Mint oil
Incense sticks
garlic

Which home remedies drive away mosquitoes?

Just like wasps, mosquitoes don't like certain smells. These can be used to keep mosquitoes away from the area.
The smells that mosquitoes avoid include those of aromatic plants such as basil, mint, thyme, rosemary or lavender. Setting up a basil herb pot inside or planting herbs outside can reduce the number of mosquitoes. Tomato plants also keep mosquitos away.

Another source of odor that mosquitoes don't like are essential oils. These include, for example Tea tree oil, lavender oil, or clove oil. To keep mosquitos away, a few drops of the oil can be applied to the skin.Alternatively, a few drops of an essential oil can be placed in a bowl of water. If this is heated, it gives off an intense smell that keeps mosquitoes away.

There are also scented candles that contain essential oils and, when lit, give off an odor that is effective against mosquitoes. Incense sticks are also said to be an effective way to keep mosquitos away. Furthermore, freshly cut garlic cloves can keep mosquitoes away.

Further information on the topic can be found here: Mosquito repellent

These home remedies will help when you have a mosquito bite

cooling
Local heat application
honey
basil
Camomile tea
vinegar
baking powder
onion
Lemon juice
toothpaste
Quark
Lavender oil

Lavender against mosquito bites

Lavender, in the form of lavender oil, can be a helpful home remedy for treating mosquito bites. Lavender oil has a slight antimicrobial effect. This means that it has a growth-inhibiting effect on certain germs. It also has a soothing effect on itching and swelling that occur after a mosquito bite.

Tea tree oil, for example, is more effective against pathogens than lavender oil, so a mixture of lavender and tea tree oil can also be used to treat mosquito bites. It is enough to apply a few drops to the relevant skin area - either by hand or with a cotton ball. This procedure can be repeated regularly until the skin irritation from the mosquito bite has subsided.

Candles against mosquito bites

Candles are of limited relevance in the preventive treatment of mosquito bites.
For example, there are various scented candles that contain essential oils and give off an intense smell. Mosquitoes tend to avoid this smell.

Vinegar against mosquito bites

Vinegar is an effective home remedy for relieving the symptoms of fresh insect bites.
It works against itching and has a slightly disinfecting effect. The type of application can be varied. For example, a few drops of vinegar can be placed on a cotton ball. This can then be rubbed into the affected skin area. Alternatively, a little vinegar can be put in a bowl of water. The mixture can then be used for vinegar compresses be used.

Essential oils against mosquito bites

The essential oils include, for example, lavender oil, clove oil, mint oil and tea tree oil.
Of the above, tea tree oil has the strongest antibacterial and fungicidal (effective against fungi) effectiveness. Essential oils can also have a calming effect on irritated skin areas. They are therefore suitable as home remedies for the treatment of wasp or mosquito bites. A few drops of the oil can be placed on a cotton ball. This is then carefully rubbed into the affected skin area.
Alternatively, the oil can be sparingly dripped directly onto the skin and rubbed in. The procedure can be repeated regularly until the skin symptoms have subsided.

Tea tree oil against mosquito bites

Tea tree oil is probably the best known of the essential oils. It is said to have a relatively strong antibacterial and fungicidal (effective against fungi) effect.
It is therefore used relatively frequently in the alternative medical treatment of various skin diseases such as acne or psoriasis (Psoriasis vulgaris). For the acute treatment of insect bites, a few drops can be applied directly to the skin or with a cotton ball on the skin. This will reduce the itchiness and symptoms of skin irritation.

Anti mosquito plants

There is no such thing as the "anti-mosquito plant", but there are plants that give off a smell that mosquitoes - and, by the way, wasps - tend to avoid. These plants include aromatic plants or herbs such as Lavender, basil, lemon balm, thyme and rosemary. Also catnip and tomato plants keep mosquitos away.

Planted on the balcony or in the garden in the dining area, these plants offer a kind of natural mosquito repellent. This does not mean that mosquitoes no longer appear in the area, but it should be fewer than without the plant protection. Some plants or plant extracts are also suitable for treating mosquito bites. For example, lavender oil can have a soothing effect on areas of the skin affected by mosquito bites.

Onions against mosquito bites

Onions are a common home remedy for treating insect bites.
Onions are said to have an anti-inflammatory effect. They also have a disinfectant effect. If half of a freshly sliced onion is applied to the skin area irritated by the mosquito bite, this leads to a relief of the itching and a calming of the skin. Lightly rubbing the onion on the affected skin area for a few minutes is also helpful.

Cold against mosquito bites

Cold is probably the best-known and most effective means of treating insect bites. If you start cooling immediately after the bite, this will prevent excessive swelling. In addition, symptoms such as itching and skin irritation are contained from the outset. For cooling, it is best to wrap a cold pack in a cloth and then place it on the area with the mosquito bite. The cold pack can be left for some time.

It is important, however, that there is no direct contact between the cold pack and the skin, as the batteries in the freezer are often very cold and in the worst case could cause frostbite on the skin. Applying cold to insect bites is especially helpful right after the bite.

Vitamin B against mosquito bites - a myth

In pseudoscientific circles the wisdom is circulating that the intake of vitamin B is supposed to be an effective remedy against mosquitoes.
The theory behind this is that taking vitamin B changes the smell of the skin. Mosquitoes would be less attracted by the changed smell. Vitamin B can be supplied in tablet form or as an injection under the skin. Evidence-based scientific findings that show the actual effect of vitamin B against mosquitoes do not yet exist.

Lemon oil against mosquito bites

Lemon oil is one of the essential oils. It is obtained from the peel of lemons.
Like many other essential oils, lemon oil is said to have a slight antibacterial effect. For use against mosquito bites, a few drops of the oil can be placed on a cotton ball with which the affected skin area is rubbed. More often than lemon oil, however, tea tree oil and lavender oil are recommended for treating insect bites.

Clove oil against mosquito bites

Clove oil also belongs to the group of essential oils and can be used to treat the skin symptoms of mosquito bites. A few drops are sufficient.

Honey against mosquito bites

Honey is said to have a slight antibacterial effect. It also has a calming effect on the skin and relieves itching.
Therefore, honey is considered a home remedy for use in mosquito or wasp stings. The honey can be applied to the area of the sting and left for a few minutes.

Chamomile tea against mosquito bites

Chamomile tea is rarely mentioned as a home remedy for mosquito bites. However, it is said to have an anti-inflammatory effect.
In addition, it has a calming effect on the skin and provides slight relief from itching. To treat a mosquito bite with chamomile tea, a tea bag can be brewed and then cooled. Then it is placed on the affected skin area for a few minutes.

Baking powder against mosquito bites

Baking soda is considered a little miracle cure for soothing irritated skin and relieving itching. For use with mosquito bites, a little baking soda should be mixed with water to form a spreadable paste be mixed. This can then be applied directly to the mosquito bite and left there for up to half an hour.

Home remedies for the swelling

The most important home remedy for swelling after mosquito bites, already mentioned here, is the use of cold. If you put a cold battery on the area of the puncture site as soon as possible after the mosquito bite, you can significantly reduce the extent of the swelling. Another remedy - not yet mentioned here - against swelling after a mosquito bite, so-called sting healers can be used. These are small battery operated devices that generate local heat up to 50 ° C. If you hold this stitch healer on the affected area of skin shortly after the sting, the proteins transferred with the sting and activated by the sting will decompose. According to the manufacturer, this should significantly reduce the inflammatory reaction. Swelling and itching should be significantly less severe when using a sting healer. The other home remedies already mentioned here only have a limited effect on the swelling; they are more used to soothe the skin. If necessary, they can achieve a slight decrease in swelling.

General information can be found at: Swelling after a mosquito bite

Home remedies for the itching

Most of the home remedies mentioned have a calming effect on irritated skin. This usually also provides a slight relief of the itching. The immediate application of heat (for example in the form of a sting healer) seems to be a good remedy for itching, as it prevents this before it can even develop. The short-term local application of heat can of course also take place without a stitch healer. For example, with a teaspoon warmed in a water bath, which is then held on the affected skin area for a few seconds. But be careful, the temperature of the spoon should be checked beforehand, otherwise there is a risk of burns.

Applying cold shortly after the bite is also an effective way to reduce the itching. A cold pack wrapped in a cloth is the method of choice here. Rubbing the puncture site with a freshly sliced onion also relieves the acute itching. The same thing does applying honey or a few drops of an essential oil such as tea tree oil or lavender oil. All of the home remedies mentioned - except for the heat - can be used repeatedly until the itching has completely subsided.

More on this: Itchy mosquito bites - what to do?