Mosquito Bite season is here - Check out these remedies

It’s mosquito season and I have buffalo sized ones zipping around the backyard as I type this.

Thanks to their first feast on my ankles tonight and an earlier comment from Kim, I was inspired to dig through every tip I had regarding mosquito bites and relief from the itching. Scritch Scratch.

I haven’t tried most of the suggestions below, but I’ll note which ones have worked for me.

Here are more than 40 mosquito bite itch relief tips organized in one neat file, each bullet tip is a single method:

Household Items:

Rub a bar of soap over the itch. I just tried this (Ivory soap) and the relief was near instant. I used a dry bar of soap directly on the skin, but I also have notes that you can spritz bite with water and then run bar of soap over area–or use a wet bar of soap.
Place a piece of scotch tape on the bite; or dab rubbing alcohol or ammonia on the bite first then stick on a piece of tape.
Hot water: Take a hot shower, or a hot bath, or apply a hot compress. As hot as you can stand it without burning you.
Ice cube, ice pack or very cold water
Dabbers: The quicker you can apply one of the remedies below, the faster the relief. These are topical suggestions, apply directly to the bite area.

Nail Polish
Strong tea mixed with rubbing alcohol
Toothpaste (works for me)
Mouthwash
Vinegar (apply directly to bite or take a hot bath with 2 cups of vinegar in the water)
Honey
Underarm deodorant (solid or roll-on) - apply directly to bite area
Rubbing Alcohol
Ammonia
Bleach
Tea: Use a hot tea bag or a cotton ball soaked in hot tea to dab on bite area
Pastes: Mix these fresh then apply to bite as soon as possible. The consistency should be nice and thick so it won’t run, yet will still stay in place on the affected area. You could also spritz bite with water then apply grains/powders directly (generously) and rub them in.

Baking Soda & Water (works for me)
Meat Tenderizer & Water
Salt & Water (works for me)
Epsom Salt & Water (could also do this as a foot soak if it’s the ankle/foot area affected)
Tums Tablets: crush and add a few drops of water
Aspirin: crush then add a few drops of water
Aspirin - crush then apply a few drops of rubbing alcohol
Commercial Product Lotions, Creams & Applications: Apply directly to bite area.

Calamine Lotion
Benadryl Cream
Orajel
Anbesol
Caladryl
Vicks VapoRub (works for me)
Preparation H (works for me)
Lucas Papaw Ointment
Tiger Balm
Bag Balm
Gold Bond Medicated Cream (or the Gold Bond Medicated Powder)
Mylanta (heartburn relief product)
After Bite
Essential Oils: Apply full strength directly to bite area. Edit: There are concerns about using essential oils on children and pre-teens, especially repeated use.

Tea Tree Oil
Lavender Oil
Witch Hazel (astringent)
Cedar Oil
Leaf Applications: Crush the fresh leaves roughly then apply to bite area

Basil
Plantains (Plantago)
Fruity Applications: Use fresh fruit & apply directly to bite

Lemon Juice
Lemon Slice
Lime Juice
Lime Slice
Banana Peel (rub inside of peel on bite)
Whew! Big List! If I’ve missed your favorite remedy for mosquito bites, please add them below.

If a remedy doesn’t provide fast relief, don’t despair. Give it another try, sometimes it will take 2 or 3 applications before it kicks in.

The itch from mosquito bites comes from the saliva of the mosquito that it injects into you as it feasts on your blood. There are several dozen different species of mosquitoes and you may react to some species bites more than others.

If large swelling occurs (like welts), contact a doctor or pharmacist for suggestions (especially if it’s a child with a strong reaction). It could be an allergy to the bite. It’s important to watch the throat for swelling and get treatment asap.