8 home remedies for bug bites.
Image by Elias Schäfer from Pixabay
You might be sitting in your garden, basking in the sun when you suddenly feel the urge to scratch. Bug bites appear seemingly out of the blue and can be tough to get rid of. Especially if you are allergic to these bites, they can take even more time to fully heal, leaving you feeling itchy and miserable. In particular, mosquitos, fleas, and ticks are known to leave nasty bites, so if your home is infested, you should get rid of these bugs as soon as possible. However, you also need to treat the bites you have while you are at it. While it is easy to use OTC ointments, there are natural home remedies that should do the trick. Try out one of the next few remedies:
Cold compress
Once you get bitten and notice inflammation, the first thing you can try is putting a cold compress on the area to reduce irritation and swelling. Yet, never use ice directly on your skin because it can exacerbate the problem. Instead, wrap a towel or cloth around the ice cubes, and hold the compress against your skin for no more than 10 minutes.
Apple cider vinegar
If you notice small, clustered red spots on your skin, then you were most probably bitten by fleas. Flea bites last up to a week, then recede. You can read more from this blog post if you want to learn about flea bites. Generally, flea bites can be difficult to get rid of, especially if the area gets infected. So, raw apple cider vinegar can be a great natural solution. To prevent inflammation and itching, mix the vinegar with water, and apply it on the bite every day until it is fully healed. However, do not use it if there are any open cuts.
Milk
Milk is not only good for your teeth and bones, but it can also act as a home remedy for bug bites. The science behind this is that milk is full of protein, which aids in reducing irritation and swelling. Therefore, put some milk on a cotton ball. Then, you just need to dab it onto the bite. Do this a few times a day until you notice improvement.
Oatmeal
Although oatmeal is not the most appetizing breakfast due to its bland taste, it is widely used to treat all sources of inflammation, including bug bites. Make an oatmeal paste by mixing some of it with water, and put it on the inflamed area. Moreover, you can take an oatmeal bath by putting some in a tub filled with water and soaking your body in it until you do not feel itchy anymore.
Tea tree oil
There is a reason why many people use tea tree oil to treat skin conditions like dandruff. Its antibacterial properties can stop the bite from getting infected and help with inflammation and redness. Just dab some diluted tea tree oil onto the bite, and repeat this process when needed.
Lavender and baking soda
This is a very effective remedy for all types of insect bites. Baking soda can stop irritation in its tracks while lavender offers some relief from swelling and redness. Also, lavender soothes kids who might become scared and agitated when seeing bug bites on their skin. To make this paste, use two tablespoons of baking soda, and mix them with around 20 drops of lavender oil. Spread the paste on the problem area, and then remove it with a wet cloth after 30 minutes for the best results.
Echinacea
Echinacea is known for its ability to enhance the immune system, but did you know you could also use it to reduce swelling? Echinacea tincture, in particular, can be used to effectively treat insect bites in no time. Put the tincture on the bite, using half a teaspoon. Do this every 2-3 hours for a quick remedy. You can stop using this treatment once the area is not swollen anymore.
Toothpaste
This is an old treatment for acne thanks to its drying effect. Whenever you notice a bug bite, you can apply some toothpaste for quick relief. It can make the bite shrink quickly, and it also reduces swelling and inflammation. Nonetheless, if it stings, then you should immediately stop using it because you may have an open cut.
Nothing is more annoying than noticing red, itchy insect bites on your skin. However, with some simple home remedies, you can treat these bites in no time. Apple cider vinegar, milk, oatmeal, toothpaste, echinacea, and so on are great solutions you should try. Yet, if you do not notice any improvement or become feverish, contact your doctor immediately to sort the problem out.