Mosquito Bite Treatment
Mosquito bite treatment is usually straightforward, the main concern being the often very intense itching that accompanies the bites. But you don’t need to put up with the itch. There are a variety of mosquito bite treatments available, which simply and easily take the annoying itching away.
Liquid emulsion containing ammonia, which quickly neutralises bites. Provides fast relief from insect bites and stings, including mosquitoes, horse flies, wasps, bees, nettles and jellyfish.
Mosquito bites will usually go away by themselves in a few days and will cause most people only slight irritation. However, if the itching bothers you, whatever you do don’t scratch – scratching a mosquito bite will make the itching worse and may cause inflammation. It may also break the skin, exposing it to bacteria and possibly causing infection.
How to Treat a Mosquito Bite
If you have an itchy mosquito bite, wash the bite with soap and water to prevent infection and pat dry. Reduce any swelling by making a cold compress – dip a clean cloth in ice cold water and place it over the affected area.
Apply a cooling anaesthetic cream or spray, or calamine lotion to reduce itching. A cream with the active ingredient crotamiton, such as Eurax cream, will help relieve severe itching.
If you don't have any soothing creams or ointments to hand, take a look in your kitchen cupboards. A paste made with 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water helps soothe itchy mosquito bites.
Electric Mosquito Bite Treatment
Electric mosquito bite treatment, such as Care Plus Click-Away After Mosquito Bite, is a small clickable device that provides fast mosquito bite itch relief. Use the clicker to click five times on the mosquito bite and the itching will disappear.
With each click, the device emits a safe, small electric shock, which breaks down histamine in the body that causes the itching and swelling.
How to Treat Mosquito Bite Inflammation
If you are particularly sensitive to mosquito bites, you may find as well as the itching, that your bites become red, swollen, inflamed and filled with fluid. (An inflamed mosquito bite is known as a weal.)
If your mosquito bites are inflamed, you can take over-the-counter paracetamol or ibuprofen. You may also try a low dose over-the counter corticosteroid cream, such as hydrocortisone cream, to reduce inflammation.
If you have a strong reaction to mosquito bites, taking an antihistamine such as loratadine or cetirizine (the same tablets used to treat hay fever) may help control your body’s response and reduce itching and swelling.
If mosquito bite itching becomes intolerable, or swelling is severe and painful, see your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Sources:
Bupa: Insect Bites and Stings
Mayo Clinic: Mosquito Bites
NHS Choices: Treating Insect Bites
University of Maryland Medical Center: Insect Bites and Stings