Home Remedies for Insect Bites
Warm weather brings out the bugs, and most of us get at least a few insect bites each year that lead to itching and welts. Home remedies for insect bites not only take away the burning itch, but reduce the swelling as well. Most home remedies for insect bites can found in your pantry or bathroom.
Pastes for Insect Bites
The most effective way to treat in insect bite is to apply a paste that will soothe the pain, reduce swelling and even cool the skin as it dries out. Pastes are also convenient because they stay put without having to be covered. Home remedies for insect bites often use kitchen ingredients, so you should have the ingredients to make at least one of them on hand all the time.
Meat tenderizer mixed with a bit of water makes a wonderful paste that stops the sting in seconds and reduces swelling. Just be sure you choose a meat tenderizer that contains papain and isn’t too spicy.
A simple paste of salt and water or baking soda and water can also bring you relief from the itch of insect bites. If you have cornstarch, try mixing a teaspoon of it with enough lemon juice to make a thick paste and apply to the bite or sting. This will not only ease the itch, it will help draw out any remaining venom.
Water mixed with a ground up aspirin will also work, but don’t use this if you are allergic to aspirin, as it will only make your reaction worse.
Other Home Remedies for Insect Bites
A centuries old home remedy for insect bites combines one teaspoon of lavender essential oil with a pinch of rosemary in tablespoon of olive oil. Mix this well and smear the mixture on any bug bites. It’s particularly good at bringing down the swelling on spider bites. It’s best not to use this on younger children, however, as essential oils can be a bit harsh on delicate skin.
You can also make a nice cooling poultice by combining either lavender, tea tree or cedar essential oils with some witch hazel. Soak a clean, soft cloth in the mixture and gently apply to the irritated area, applying it three or four times daily. Again, this is a remedy best reserved for adults.
Rubbing a bar of soap over an insect bite will also ease the itching and reduce the swelling, as will applying a dab of toothpaste.
Chiggers are particularly bothersome because they are almost impossible to see and often remain in the skin. To quickly get rid of them, smear some VapoRub on the area that is irritated. This suffocates any remaining chiggers while the menthol cools and soothes the skin.
No matter what kind of insect bites you, applying an ice pack will soothe the itch and quickly reduce the inflammation. The cold causes the blood vessels to constrict and stops the release of antihistamines.
Home Remedies for Insect Bite Prevention
The Avon cosmetics company sells a wonderful skin softening lotion called Skin-So-Soft. Over the years, millions of people have discovered that applying this to your skin before going outside repels mosquitoes very well.
You should also avoid perfumes, colognes and scented body lotions, as these can be very attractive to bees. Wearing white or khaki clothing also tends to keep insects away, as these colors don’t attract them like bright, bold colors do.