How to Stop Mosquito Bites from Itching

Co-authored by Sophia Latorre | Medically reviewed by Jennifer Boidy, RN

Mosquito bites can be annoying and distracting, but there are several ways to treat them. Deal with the bites when they first occur for best results. Clean the area with rubbing alcohol, an antiseptic wipe, or plain water as soon as you can. Although the itch won’t go away completely until the bite is healed, you can use a variety of products, from lemon juice to aloe, to relieve itching.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Using Things You Can Find in Your Kitchen

1
Apply some honey to the bite area. Honey will soothe the affected area and give you some much needed relief from the itching.^{[1]
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2
Put apple cider vinegar on the bite. Soak a cotton ball in apple cider vinegar and place it over the mosquito bites. Leave it there for several minutes. This should help alleviate the pain.
- Alternatively, you can make a paste out of apple cider vinegar and flour. This will help dry out the bite in addition to soothing the itch with the vinegar. Apply the paste to the affected area and allow it to dry. Wash it off with warm water.^{[2]
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3
Use a lemon or lime. Cut it into pieces and rub gently on the affected area, or just squirt a bit of juice on it. Citric acid has some itch-relieving properties.^{[3]
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4
Use your breakfast oatmeal. Oatmeal is renowned for its anti-itching properties, so make a small paste using ground oatmeal and a little water. Apply it to the bite area, allow the paste to dry, then wash it off.^{[4]
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5
Add a little meat tenderizer to the bite area. Mix it in water first before applying. Then let it dry and rinse it off afterwards.^{[5]
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6
Use baking soda. Mix 1 tablespoon (14.8 ml) (13.8 g) of baking soda with 1 tablespoon of warm water. Gently apply the paste to the affected area. Leave it on for a few minutes and then wash it off with warm water. A strong alkaline solution like this will often ease itching from insect bites.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Using Commercial Products

1
Look for over-the-counter medications to alleviate itching. Products such as Stingose and After Bite may help to alleviate pain.^{[6]
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Research source}^{[7]
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Research source} Hydrocortisone cream and calamine lotion may also help reduce itching and swelling.^{[8]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} Follow the instructions accompanying the product. If you can't find one, talk to your pharmacist.
2
Make a paste out of aspirin. The aspirin will help relieve the pain and reduce the symptoms of swelling and itching. Naturally, do not use this method if the person is allergic to aspirin.
- Alternatively, make a paste out of Tums tablets. This will also help with the itching.
3
Rub alcohol on the affected area. The alcohol can have a cooling effect, which can temporarily relieve itchiness. It is also drying, which can cause the bites to shrink and reduce swelling.^{[9]
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4
Dab some toothpaste over the bite area.^{[10]
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Research source} This can work like a charm to relieve itching. Regular flavored toothpaste is the best option for this method. Rub it on and let it dry overnight. Then, wash it off in the morning with cold water and mild soap. The toothpaste will dry the bite out, and may remove irritation.
- Use any non-gel toothpaste. Gel toothpaste is not suitable for this method.
5
Use soap. Wash the area using soap and water. Soap may be enough to relieve the itching. Use a mild soap, so as to not dry out the skin and increase irritation.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Using Herbs and Essential Oils

1
Use aloe. Rub aloe vera gel or a broken leaf from an aloe vera plant on the bite area to relieve itching. Aloe is well known for its ability to soothe and heal problematic skin areas.^{[12]
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2
Try basil. Fresh basil leaves that are crushed and directly applied to the area also naturally relieve itching symptoms because basil contains thymol and camphor, both of which are natural itch relievers. Basil can also be useful in repelling insects so you don't get any more bites.^{[13]
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3
Use plantain herbs. Either roll the plantain leaves between your fingers to extract the juice or rub the juicy leaf over the mosquito bite. The itch should go away in less than a minute.^{[14]
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4
Apply lavender oil. Dabbing small amounts of lavender oil directly on the affected area can relieve the itching quickly.^{[15]
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- Alternatively, try dabbing some witch hazel on the bite.
5
Use melaleuca or tea tree (ti-tree) oil. This oil is known as a cure-all for many problems and it can also alleviate the itching from mosquito bites.
- Add a drop of tea tree oil to an ice cold compress of witch hazel. It helps stop the burning feeling and the itch.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Using Water, Heat, and Pressure

1
Press or slap the area of the bite with your hand. Not too hard, but firm enough that it distracts the itching for a while.^{[16]
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2
Take a nice, relaxing warm bath. The addition of strong chickweed tea, 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of apple cider vinegar, or 2 cups (280 g) ground oatmeal to the bath can help to alleviate itching.^{[17]
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- You can even add a few essential oils to that to make the bath not only smell better but to clean the spot and also to soothe the skin.
- Make sure the water isn't too hot, and don't stay in the water longer than 20 minutes, as this can have a drying effect.
3
Apply an ice pack or ice cubes to the bites.^{[18]
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Trustworthy Source
Mayo Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source} You should leave this on the affected area for about 20 minutes to alleviate the itch.
4
Press a warm spoon to the bite. Let a metal spoon sit in steaming hot water for a minute. Remove the spoon from the water, let it cool for 5 to 10 seconds, and press it onto your mosquito bite. Hold it there for 10 to 30 seconds. Repeat a couple of times while the water is still hot, and do this several times daily until your bite is healed.

Expert Q&A
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Question

Do I have to leave toothpaste on overnight?

Jennifer Boidy, RN
Registered Nurse
Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.

Jennifer Boidy, RN

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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It works best if left on the bite for the equivalent of and overnight sleep, so if you prefer, you could apply it and leave it on for about eight hours during the day.
Question

What if I don't have any of the creams or other things listed in the article?

Jennifer Boidy, RN
Registered Nurse
Jennifer Boidy is a Registered Nurse in Maryland. She received her Associate of Science in Nursing from Carroll Community College in 2012.

Jennifer Boidy, RN

Registered Nurse

Expert Answer

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Try using a cool compress with a wet washcloth. Alternatively, you can try a warm compress.

Warnings

If you think you are allergic to mosquito bites (your bites start swelling immediately), discuss oral antihistamine options with your doctor.

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Whatever you do, don't scratch or rub your bites. This will make the itching worse.

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If your itching doesn't stop and the sores aren't healing, see your doctor. Skin that appears inflamed or infected requires medical treatment.

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Mosquitoes carry certain serious diseases that can be passed to humans, such as West Nile Virus, Zika virus, malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. It is important to take protective measures so you avoid getting bitten.

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See a doctor promptly if you develop a fever, headache, body aches, or other signs of infection.^{[20]
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