Why do mosquito bites itch? 7 ways to treat mosquito bites and stop the itching
Most of us living in tropical climates have wondered -- why do mosquito bites itch? Here we give you the answer along with how to treat mosquito bites and stop them from itching.
Mosquito bites can be very annoying to those people living in more tropic climates which face the nuisance of the blood-sucking pests. What is even more annoying is the itch caused by mosquito bites. But why do mosquito bites and then swell up? This itching makes the discomfort last much longer.
Most people who suffer from mosquito bites often wonder how to prevent mosquito bites while sleeping, how to treat mosquito bites or how to stop mosquito bites from itching. We will discuss all of this in the article.
Why do mosquito bites itch?
Different people react to mosquito bites differently. When mosquitoes bite people, they draw out blood and also inject a little bit of their saliva into the body they are biding.
This mosquito saliva has anticoagulant properties which prevent the blood from clotting and allows the mosquito to freely draw it in.
The saliva also has proteins which are foreign to the body. So, the human immune system tries to fight it off by secreting histamine, which allows white blood cells to get to the area of the mosquito bite.
This histamine is what makes mosquito bites itch.
Some people who are bitten by mosquitoes for the first time don’t have any itching or swelling because the body still hasn’t decided how to fight the foreign materials in the mosquito saliva.
Others may become tolerant to mosquito bites over time.
Also, if you are wondering whether mosquito bites itch more after you scratch at them, you are right! Scratching inflames your skin, and an inflamed skin will scratch even more. So, stop scratching and soothe that mosquito bite!
Since mosquitoes can cause dengue and malaria, it is important to know how to prevent mosquito bites and how to treat mosquito bites to make them stop itching so you can go back to sleep.
7 ways to treat mosquito bites
1. Apply honey
Applying honey on the mosquito bite will reduce the swelling and the itch will go away. Honey is antiseptic and antibacterial and can heal other wounds too.
Honey is a great way to treat mosquito bites. However, do not use honey on your mosquito bite if you are outdoors as honey can attract mosquitoes because of its sugar content.
2. Apply aloe vera
If you have any aloe vera gel at home or even an aloe vera plant, use the gel on your mosquito bite to stop it from itching.
The cool feeling of aloe vera is a great way to treat mosquito bites as aloe vera has calming properties and is useful for toning down wound inflammations.
3. Rub tulsi or basil leaves
Basil leaves have a chemical that can bring relief to itchy skin. Tulsi plants or holy basil plants are available in many homes now you can chop fresh leaves and rub them on the mosquito bite.
To use this method to get rid of mosquito bite itching, you can turn the tulsi leaves or dried basil leaves from grocery stores into a lotion.
Boil two cups of water and around 15 grams of dried basil leaves. Dip a piece of cloth in the cool mixture and apply it on the mosquito bites for relief.
4. Press a cold tea bag
Green tea and black tea both have anti-swelling properties. If you use tea bags at home, take one after use and keep it in the fridge for a while.
Pressing the cold tea bag on your affected area can be a great way to treat mosquito bites at home.
5. Use diluted minced garlic
Yet another way to treat mosquito bites at home is to used minced garlic. Garlic has antiviral and wound-healing properties. But remember than raw garlic will only make the mosquito bite itch worse as it causes skin irritation!
If you want to use garlic to get rid of mosquito bite itching, mince a pod of garlic, and mix it with a few drops of coconut oil, and then apply it to the affected area.
6. Apply oatmeal
You can use this method to treat mosquito bites if you have oatmeal at home. Oatmeal can help sooth insect bites and allergic reactions, dry skin, and chicken pox.
You can grind a little bit of oatmeal into powder, add a few drops of water to make it into a paste, and even add some honey to it before putting it on the mosquito bite.
After 15 minutes, wash it off with warm water and moisturise the area with some cream.
7. Apply neem paste
Neem oil can keep mosquitoes at bay and if you are wondering how to get rid of mosquito bite itching neem can help with that as well.
Take a few neem leaves and grind them into a paste, and put that paste on the affected area. It will sooth your skin. Wash it off after a while.
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These above ways will help you understand how to get rid of mosquito bite itching and how to treat mosquito bites successfully and naturally at home.
Some of the top mosquito attractors include sweat and body odour, heat, light, lactic acid and carbon dioxide. Understanding this may help you prevent mosquito bites.
Do remember not to use baking soda, lemon juice, toothpaste or vinegar to treat mosquito bites as they can cause other problems for your skin.
And do see a doctor if you show serious symptoms from mosquito bites such as breathing difficulties, breaking out in hives, high fever, swelling in joints, blisters or lesions etc. These are markers of anaphylactic shock and need urgent treatment immediately.
Read: How to get rid of mosquito bites while sleeping
Read: 5 tips to protect yourself and your family from mosquito bites
Read: How to use mosquito repellents safely: Follow steps