Arghhhh! Mosquito Bites! What Do You Do For Them?

[AutumnMist]

I know this is a way off topic and that is has nothing to do with current politic discussion. BUT I am a mosquito magnet. I have bites all over and the itching is driving me nuts. Calamine doesn't work and I am sick of scratching. Does anyone have a holistic/natural insect repellent and something that I could use on not only myself but my family for the itching? Sorry to rant....but we are making smores tonight (by the fire) and even with the bug spray the critters attack. :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. here's a few tips

Use banana peel to take the itch out of mosquito bites. Just rub the pulpy inside surface of the peel on the bite.

Rub the bite with soap.

Apply an ice pack to the bite.

Mix baking soda with enough water to make a paste and apply to the bite.

Apply lavender and tea tree oils with a swab.

Rub a piece of freshly-cut onion on the bite.

A dab of toothpaste is soothing, too.

[CottonBear]

2. After Bite: it is ammonia in a natural oil base. Comes in a pen stick.

Apply immediately and often (every 5 minutes or so until the itching stops and then as required.) It will neutralize the reaction. I too am a magnet for those awful creatures.

You can also use plain household ammonia (no color, fragrance or suds.) Just daub on repeatedly. You may need to daub it on hourly after the intitial every five minutes routine. It works.

This is the only thing that works to kill the reaction. I can kill the reaction and end up only with a tiny spot where the evil insect sucked my blood. No welts or bumps, Ahhh! AfterBite: I sweear by it and keep a penstick tube with me at all times. It even has a clip to attach to your shirt or pants.

PS: Wear long sleeves and pants and socks. That's what I have to do. Even then they bit my face and neck. I even have mosquito net hats from the army-navy surplus store that I wear at the farm where I keep my horse. It keeps the gnats away. My filly wears a fly mask that covers her face and ears.

I feel your pain. Put on a long sleeved shirt and pants and socks and a hat and take ammonia with you in a little bottle if you can't get to a store to buy After bite.

[Gormy Cuss]

42. Afterbite is a wonder remedy.

Handier than a bottle of ammonia. I used to pack it when camping in the North Woods.

[IndyOp]

3. Meat tenderizer.

I am NOT kidding. I have been eaten ALIVE by mosquitos year after year after year and I've used EVERYTHING on the market to prevent bites and calm bites and nothing works like Meat Tenderizer. Wet hand, shake a tenderizer on wet hand and rub on the bite. New bite or aged bite - the tenderizer works like a charm (give it a few minutes). It makes a HUGE difference in the amount of swelling for me - my bites puff up and look like I've been bitten by a snake or tarantula -- but not if I put on the meat tenderizer.

I swear by the stuff! And - one bottle of meat tenderizer - used just for bites - lasts for a couple of years. (I am a vegetarian so my bottle of tenderizer is exclusively for bites).

Again - I am NOT kidding.

Meat tenderizer <- :applause:

[Mist]

4. Good to know--I'm a mosquito magnet too. I've found tenderizer works

well on bee and hornet stings, but didn't know it could be good for mosquito bites. FWIW, I've always found that washing the mosquito bites with fairly warm water and a good lye soap, such as Ivory, seems to calm the itching.

[Jazzgirl]

27. What kind of meat tenderizer??

Mosquitoes like me too and I swell up like a pig. Is it a tenderizer with MSG in it?

[grasswire]

5. does aloe vera work on insect bites?

I keep a bottle of the gel in the fridge for burns; maybe it would work for bites. Toothpaste works in a pinch.

I'm worried about the possibility that you will attract a West Nile bearing skeeter. Is there any way to keep from getting bitten? Do you have any standing water outside where they might be breeding? Perhaps you can find some ways of prevention as well as cure.

[KC21304]

6. Grab a bar of soap, wet one end, and smear over bite. nt

[Cleita]

7. Prevention is worth a pound of cures, although alcohol and

cotton balls provide immediate relief. For prevention I swear by Skintastic. If you really are in mosquito hell the only thing that works is Deet. After that Benedryl itch stuff keeps the itch away, pretty much.

Good luck and my sympathies.

[Swamp Rat]

19. yep n/t

[SpiralHawk]

8. Try smearing a thick coat of bear grease from head to toe

If you slather the bear fat on thick enough, those pesky little mosquito beaks can't get through to the tender treasure below.

[hobbit709]

14. It'll keep the mosquitos off all right

but no telling what the grease attracts and it'll probably take bigger bites than the mosquitos.

[proud patriot]

17. LMAO

:rofl:

[IndyOp]

20. Right. How do the bears feel about this mosquite bite prevention method?

YOU WANT BEAR GREASE? COME ON OVER HERE!!

[Samantha]

9. Same here -- get Avon Skin So Soft

Rub it on your arms and legs like one would normally use this product and cover up with the long sleeves and pants. I have done these two things for years and remain now almost mosquito-bite free. This stuff simply wards off mosquitos better than anything else I have ever tried.

[TriSec]

15. Nope, sorry.

My scout troop field-tested that one year at summer camp. It did make us smell pretty, but did nothing for the mosquitoes. We were back to Old Woodsman by Tuesday.

[benddem]

10. usually

it seems to me that after a few days your antibodies will stop reacting to the venom and you won't be as affected then. Guess that doesn't help tonight...mmmm somores....but should be better by next week.

[kineneb]

11. wierd suggestion

I have read that scented dryer sheets can repel mosquitos. I have actually seen people carrying them around and using them, so I suppose they help. Just rubbing on your skin is supposed to work. As to bites, the ancient standard remedy is baking soda, applied damp as poltice.

on edit:
-fishermen swear by Avon Skin-so-soft
-adding B vitamins to your diet can also be helpfull as a repelent

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. A warm wet teabag.

Also excellent for cold sores or burns. Tannic acid in tea does the trick.

[TriSec]

13. I second the after-bite.

I've sworn by that stuff for years now.

And also, go with long pants & sleeves...you'll need a mosquito hat, with the net around it, too.

I almost hate to say it, but I've found that US Army surplus BDUs are almost impervious to the wee creatures. I wear that, all buttoned down, even in the summer, when away at camp.

But I gave up repellants years ago...and I haven't really noticed much of a difference in my bite rate. Mrs. TriSec, however, is like manna from heaven for the little nasties. So I make sure she's nearby when they're biting, and I'm usually safe.

[Boo Boo]

16. Histamine blockers. The itchy swelling of a mosquito bite is an allergic

reaction of sorts and the itching can be stopped by using an antihistamine cream, or you can take an oral antihistamine like you would for hay fever type allergies or Hives.

Benadryl.

[Scout1071]

38. Agree above and below. Hydrocortosone and Benadryl.

They will both do the trick. The cream will only be temporary relief. The benadryl will provide maximum relief. Be warned that it can make you drowsy. I have to sleep after I take it.

[demosincebirth]

18. Hydrocortisone cream should help. A little dab'll do ya.

[sweetheart]

21. Don't be there

really.

What does it mean.

yes... exactly.

[janx]

22. Protect yourself before you are bitten.

Saturate yourself with insect repellent, especially around the elastic areas of waistbands, socks, etc. Also put some in your hands and carefully apply it to your face, avoiding your eyes.

Just out of curiosity, how far NORTH are you? ;-)

Everywhere--arms, legs, ankles, feet, face, you-name-it. Once you're bitten, you have to scratch. Do not become too idealistic/uninformed when it comes to insect repellents. Most of them are fine if you use them as directed.

[AutumnMist]

25. I Am in Ohio

and we live across the street from a creek that has plenty of standing water in many, many spots. The mosquitos swarm at night. It's LOVELY. :)

[MissB]

23. I use StingStop

It is homeopathic. One of the main ingredients is stinging nettles.

Works wonderfully for me - and mosquitoes love me. Bites can last a week if I itch them.

It isn't cheap, but worth it. I use it on my kids as well. I find it at my local natural food store.

http://www.smartbomb.com/308078253978.html

[janx]

24. One of the main ingredients is WHAT?

And please tell me what that means. ;-)

Look out...I'm a prof...

[MissB]

26. Stinging nettles (Urtica Dioica)

I have no idea what it means. :shrug: It is listed as one of the three main active ingredients. I have no idea what contribution stinging nettles provides to the mixture - but it works for me.

[AutumnMist]

28. Thank You Everyone! I am writing this stuff down!

Mosquito's barrel through almost all insect sprays that I have tried. So this thread is a godsend. We live across the street from a creek that has constant standing water in the bank pools. The mosquito's swarm in black clouds at dusk. So much fun! My father in law fogs the heck out of the backyard during the summer and they still come back in droves. Its kinda like camping, but you are still in your own backyard. LOL


:yourock:

[W_HAMILTON]

29. I've been using OFF!

I've been doing a lot of yard work lately, and have been applying Off! Bug Spray to my arms and legs when I go out, and it's seem to work pretty well. I use the kind in the green bottle ("Deep Woods" version). Someone will probably reply that I'm destroying nature and going to give myself cancer in a decade for using it, though. :)

I've only had issues with bug bites one time so far since I've been using it; I was told to apply a little rubbing alcohol to each bite, and that seemed to help with them.

[DELUSIONAL]

40. Spraying "Off" on the bites also helps

But "Off" is great.

Hand/body lotion works for some people. Slather the lotion on really thick. This works for the no-see-um bugs.

I keep cans of "Off" all over the house -- just in case I need relief.

[tabatha]

30. Eucalyptus oil

A few drops in bath water seem to repel bugs for me.

[lastknowngood]

31. Hit your left thumb with a hammer. You will forget about the bites.

n/t

[AutumnMist]

33. Broken Thumb Bones

always make the scratching go away. I get your point. ;)

[leftchick]

32. don't scratch them

after ten minutes or so they disappear. Like magic. :)

[AutumnMist]

39. True

but the bites en masse make for a rather itchy time anyway. :)

[HawkerHurricane]

34. Stand in the swamp around sunset.

Oh, you mean AFTER you've been bitten.

[CatholicEdHead]

35. If there is a army surplus store nearby

I hear the repellent made for the military works really good.

[LeftHander]

36. baking soda rubbed with drop or two of water....nt

[C_U_L8R]

37. B-Complex Works

I'm also a mosquito magnet.... and somewhere i read that
taking b-complex will help ward them off.
Well it really did work for me... it may be worth trying.
I think the vites change you body scent
so it's not so appetizing to the little buggers.

[Probing]

41. I simply ignore them

I've developed an extremely high tolerance to whatever it is that causes the swelling and itching. I hardly notice it anymore, the bite itself is the most uncomfortable part for me and that's only when I notice the insect biting me.

I used to have real trouble with the things when I was younger. One spring, after a particularly mild winter, I was bit up so bad that the school tried to send me home thinking I had measles. I counted literally 100 welts on just my lower legs themselves. Ever since that spring, mosquitoes don't bother me in the slightest.

Even the newcomers to my area, black and white striped ones that fly during the day, don't bother me. The welts they leave are much larger, and oddly shaped. Still, the welt is gone in 15 minutes usually and I notice very little itching. Other people claim they produce a welt far more irritating and itchier. /shrug

Maybe the lack of irritation has more to do with the fact that I don't scratch it and irritate the skin further. I just know that mosquito bites do not itch for me.

[1monster]

43. diphenhydromine hcl ... it comes in a bite stick, a cream, a spay,

for topical use, and in tablets and a liquid for oral use if you are allegic or have multiple bites that are driving you crazy.

diphenhydromine hcl most well-know brand name is Benadryl.

[tinfoilinfor2005]

44. In the situation where you have none of the above with you, this works:

With your thumbnail (as clean as possible) press an X in the center of the bite. Apply your own spit. Believe it or not, it works very well. This is my dad's cure, and he has been a boy scout leader for sixty years.

[eppur_se_muova]

45. I seem to recall oatmeal in water is supposed to provide relief.

Of course, I saw it on "Northern Exposure", so not from a real doctor ... just a guy who played one on TV.

If oatmeal soap works for anyone, please post your results.

[CC]

46. Household ammonia in warm water

works wonders on skeeter bites(or a sting stick with ammonia). Also works well on bee stings, ant bites, sea nettle, jelly fish and Portuguese Man a War stings. Know this thanks to the emergency room in Cocoa Beach FL after the SO got tangled up in a man a war. Ice make it worse. We have been using the ammonia/water since. Windex works well if nothing else is around. Wet the bite thoroughly then give it a few minutes and it won't itch. I don't even get a mark if I use it quickly after being bit.

[LibertyLover]

50. I second the ammonia -

whenever I get bitten by mosquitos I get large blotchy spots. Using either a sting stick or some diluted ammonia works wonders.

[shanine]

47. make an aspirin paste n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

48. Benadryl spray...or even the liquid medicine in a pinch and garlic

pills everyday. They don't make you smell anymore and no one in my household has been mauled in quite some time. A bite here and there but nothing crazy.

[Robeson]

49. Solarcaine works great on bites. Especially if you get to them....

...quickly.

[Beausoir]

51. Son is allergic to mosquitos. His eyes swell shut. Get Benadryl Gel.

He gets bit and swells up. His elbow will swell to the size of a softball. His eyes will swell shut.
They can diagnose a mosquitoe allergy but they can't treat it. At least that's what they told us at Mayo Clinic.

We use Deep Woods Off, protective clothing, we come in BEFORE dusk and I keep Benadryl Gel on hand.

Get some Benadryl Gel. It works miracles.