Alcohol, cold and some home-made lotions help to reduce itchiness and swelling of mosquito bites.

High temperatures and the highly-awaited summer heat also brings mosquitoes with them. The buzzing and the bites of these insects, as well as the illnesses they can transmit (some as serious as malaria or dengue), are concerning to most of us.

Luckily, some tips and home-made remedies are very effective for keeping these bothersome insects at a distance and soothing their bites, if we’ve already suffered them.

Tips for keeping mosquitoes away

Prevention is the best remedy to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Wearing light-coloured clothes, mosquito repellent, using air conditioning and domestic insecticides and strategically placing citronella plants in the home and garden are effective ways of keeping them away.

However, if we have already been bitten, these remedies will help reduce the irritation and swelling.

Alcohol. Clean the area affected by the bite with soapy water and apply a few drops of alcohol, as this has a calming and refreshing effect that neutralises the mosquito saliva.

Vinegar. This traditional remedy helps to reduce the feeling of itching and burning and acts as a natural disinfectant if we have scratched a lot.

Cold compress. Placing a cold compress or ice wrapped in a compress is very effective for reducing inflammation.

Topical solutions. Calamine, hydrocortisone, arnica and aloe vera help to reduce redness and irritation from bites.

Home-made lotion. Create a paste using sodium bicarbonate and water, apply it on the bite for 10 minutes and rinse. You can also create a lotion using honey or place a slice of onion on the bite for a few minutes.

As you can see, the bothersome and common mosquito bites can be prevented and treated in a simple and effective way by following these guidelines. If there is a strong reaction, you can use oral antihistamines. In case of fever or intense pain, visit your doctor.

Fuentes:

¿Te acribillan los mosquitos en verano? 7 trucos para evitar sus picaduras. A. López. El Confidencial. Mayo 2019.

Mosquitos: repelentes naturales y remedios caseros para ahuyentar y calmar la picadura de estos insectos. A. Mas. El Mundo. Julio 2023.

This post is also available in: Portuguese (Portugal)