10 Ways to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites Fast

From transferring dangerous diseases and spreading infection to causing a hyper reaction and intense itchiness- mosquito bites have become our daily nightmare today. Visit futureservicesinc.com if your home has unwittingly become a hub for mosquitos to thrive. How many times have we been forced to close the balcony doors during cool evening hours to keep the mosquitoes away?
While several products in the market are designed to kill mosquitoes at home, many of them use harsh chemicals that are quite harmful to us. There are companies such as the Mosquito Authority of Raleigh who can help people out with fighting the seasons of the mosquitos. With our increased risk to daily mosquito attacks, here are 10 ways to get rid of mosquito bites fast:

1. Anti-Histamines

For some, mosquito bites may not be quite bothersome, but many people often have an adverse reaction to them. When a mosquito bites you, it releases an anticoagulant through its saliva that prevents the bite in your skin to heal quickly. This way, it can keep sucking and draining your blood. However, this bite irritates the skin and the body’s immune system starts to kick in to help the spot to heal. A burst of histamine is projected towards the dried red blood cells in the affected area, thereby causing a chain reaction which leads to swelling and excessive itching.

This is one of the rare instances when the body’s auto immune system causes more discomfort than comfort, and doctors therefore suggest the use of anti-histamine medicines to deal with mosquito bites. Anti-histamines gels and creams are available over the counter. When buying anti-histamine pills and creams, make sure that they contain ‘Diphenhydramine’- an element that can provide quick mosquito bite relief. These drugs are pretty inexpensive, so they are not hard to use to reduce itchiness.

2. Anti-Itch Cream

Anti-Itch creams like Hydrocortisone and calamine salves are full of zinc oxides and ferric oxides which help in reducing skin irritation. These anti-pruritic creams also contain some traces of steroids which are responsible for reducing lumps and inflammation that are caused from the bites.

3. Rubbing Alcohol

If you have been scratching the bitten area, make sure that you immediately wash the skin area with ice cold water. If possible use rubbing alcohol, especially if you draw blood from excessive scratching. This will stop any possible infection from occurring and will also prevent further bleeding. Rubbing alcohol- also known as Isopropyl alcohol- is quite popular in the medical field because of its antiseptic properties. Not only will it disinfect the mosquito bites quickly, but it will also tighten the pores of your skin and blood capillaries to stop the bleeding.

4. Ice Cold Or Hot Water

The main trick in dealing with mosquito bite itch is to make sure that the affected area does not swell up a lot, and either ice cold water or hot water will do the job effectively. If you have been recently bitten, make sure that you apply ice cubes or hot water on the affected spot. This will relax the tissue a lot, thereby allowing the histamines to spread more and dissipate. This will keep the lump from forming and you will not have to deal with excessive discomfort and itchiness.

5. Oatmeal

Oatmeal contains anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds which not only help the tissue to soften and rest, but also prevents irritation altogether. To get rid of your mosquito bites, just mix same amounts of oatmeal and warm water and apply the thick paste to the affected area. After a few minutes, wash it off. If you have mosquito bites all over your body, make sure to make a large amount that you can apply to different areas while taking a bath. This will ensure that the mosquito bites will heal without leaving any scars.

6. Aloe Vera

This plant has almost magical properties that researchers have only begun to understand! From helping with burns to reducing acne, this plant works wonders for our skin. The gel obtained from aloe vera has anti-inflammatory properties and can heal most bug bites. If you have been bitten by mosquitoes, apply the Aloe Vera gel on the sore areas and wash it off after a while. Not only will the gel help in cooling down the skin, but it will also reduce the swelling.

7. Basil

This tree is also quite well know for its medicinal properties. Several studies (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/184017800) prove that basil works as a penetration enhancer which allows other helpful chemical compounds like Eugenol to soak deeper into the skin and relieve itching. You can follow this simple home recipe to create an ointment that will help you to get rid of mosquito bites quickly:

• Boil two cups of water.
  Add half an ounce of dried basil leaves.
  Chop some fresh basil leaves and set them aside.

Allow this mixture to cool, until the oils from basil leaves mix thoroughly with the water. Then use a tiny washcloth and dip it into the mixture. Apply it on the affected areas. Finally, rub the chopped leaves on the bite marks. This will prevent mosquito bite scars.

8. Baking Soda

When you mix baking soda with warm water, it will create a strong alkaline solution that will help in reducing inflammation. Keep this mixture on the bite marks for about 5 minutes until the pain starts to recede.

9. Toothpaste

Who knew that a regular toothpaste could have so many skin benefits? From quickly treating minor burns to getting rid of mosquito bites- toothpaste does it all! Toothpaste is well known for its cooling properties. By applying regular toothpaste on the bite, you can help to cool the tissue, and also block oxygen from reaching the surface of the skin. Oxygen could cause aggravation when there is a skin inflammation.

10. Antiperspirant And Witch Hazel

Witch hazel and antiperspirants are popular astringents which help in tightening skin pores and to reduce swelling. This naturally stops any bleeding that might occur if you itch the bite excessively, and prevent any infection from happening. This is quite effective to use before you are going out for work, because it will kill bacteria and will also help you to get rid of the bite quickly.

What other tips can you follow to get rid of mosquito bites?

While there are plenty that you can do to relieve yourself from discomfort that is caused by mosquito bites, remember that prevention is always better than cure. There are many body lotions that you can find in the market which contain organic chemical compounds and oils which act as natural repellants for mosquitoes. Also, use anti-bacterial soap regularly to wash yourself, as bacteria often acts as the real culprit since it attracts the mosquitoes in the first place!

Do not scratch a mosquito bite, since it will not only increase the risk of infection, but it will also allow the histamine to spread more in the deeper layers of the skin. This will cause more inflammation.

These mosquito bite remedies are inexpensive, and quick. They are guaranteed to provide you a lot of comfort when you are suffering from mosquito bite itches. Just use them immediately, and you will be able to get rid of mosquito bites fast.