Mosquito Bites , Very Itchy!

[SpiralingWaves]

Went for a walk this morning with DD, but it ended up being a jog instead because the path I decided to jog through was swarming with mosquitoes! I had a stroller mosquito net for DD, no problem there, but I have bites all over me, even on my scalp! And they are really itchy. I've tried using alcohol, which works for about 5 minutes tops, and I don't want to use this on my scalp if I can help it. If I don't find something to help, I know I will end up scratching until I draw blood, not good.

Anyone have some advice or product recommendations? TIA! :hi:

[LilyMunster]

A bit of benedryl. Also if you have the plant called Lambs Ears (sorry don't know the scientific name). Bring those leaves to a boil ina non metal cookpot. When warm enuf to handle lay the leaf right on the bite. Let it sit there for a good hour. It stops the itching. I've used it and it seems to draw out the itch. Along that line maybe a bentonite type clay?

LM

[TwirlyTresses]

Oh no! I'd go with some benedryl, too. And maybe tea tree oil on the bites themselves. Do you have any diaper rash cream (not sure how old your DD is)--that probably has something in it to help relieve itch.

Hope you're feeling better soon!

[hairymonster]

I found that aloe gel helps to relief the itches a lot and calm down the redness too. The effect doesn't last extremely long and you will have to apply it again after a while if it still itches.

Calamine lotion does a good job relieving itches too :grinhappy:

[eiyela]

Most importantly, don't scratch it! If you scratch, it gets even itchier and takes longer to go away. Cold baths and ACV rinses are good to relieve itchies too.

[SpiralingWaves]

Thank you everyone for your replies! Flowers for you all! Oh, no :flowers: here ... well, pretend I have beautiful bouquets for you all.:happy:

LilyMunster, I have Children's Benadryl, I suppose that would work. I know taking this internally would probably be most effective, but I don't want to be sleepy. However, I am pretty desperate, so that may be the way to go.

And I used to have Lamb's Ear in my garden. I had no idea if it had any uses. I just loved their coloring and how soft the foliage was. :flower:

TwirlyTresses, I hadn't thought of diaper rash cream, lol! DD is 17 months, so yes I have that. Good idea! And I have tea tree oil, but hadn't thought of using it for this! I will try that out. :flower:

hairymonster, Aloe w/a bit of tea tree might feel nice on my scalp. I may actually do that on my body later when I shower. And I completely forgot about Calamine lotion. That should've been obvious, lol.:gurn: :flower:

[SpiralingWaves]

Most importantly, don't scratch it! If you scratch, it gets even itchier and takes longer to go away. Cold baths and ACV rinses are good to relieve itchies too.

But can I just itch once? Scratch, scratch ... ah ....

Seriously though, you are right, it does get worse, but I have a low tolerance for itchies. You should see me with poison ivy, its so pathetic. I am such a baby.

Thanks so much Eiyela! :flower:

[LilyMunster]

Just found a promising recipe in Blended Beauty by Philip B.

Mosquito Bite Relief Pack
3T baking soda
half a teaspoon almond extract
6 T water

Combine all and stir until a paste forms. Apply pack to affected areas and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse w warm water. Pat dry. No refrigeration required. Discard after 3 days.

Says it is a common recipe in the South (of where, Idunno). And brings instant relief.

HTH
LM

[SpiralingWaves]

Thanks for the recipe LilyMunster, I may give this a go. I just took some benadryl, so hopefully it will kick in soon.

[Clare-Dragonfly]

I ice my mosquito bites, though that might not work for you since you have so many. If there are any that are particularly bad, though, you could try wrapping a piece of ice in a dishcloth or paper towel (so it doesn't just freeze you on contact) and holding it against the bite until it goes numb. That helps me for about an hour usually.

[SpiralingWaves]

Hi Clare-Dragonfly! Thank you for the advice. :flower:

So far, the benadryl is taking care of the itchies. Though I am a bit drowsy, I'm not raking my nails over my arms and legs. Relief at last!:whoohoo:

[SunriseSunsetApril]

The mosquitos here in Japan are just awful...in drugstores, they sell purse-size ammonia daubers. My sister and I carry them everywhere, plus we keep one in our medicine cabinet. I suppose they don't sell the handy-dandy daubers in the States, but I'm sure it would work as well to put some ammonia on a cotton ball and daub it on with that. Of course, one might be nervous about putting ammonia on oneself, but it's such a little amount and works so well, that I don't mind.

Just don't put it on your face...I had a bite on my forehead once and put some on there...my eyes and throat started burning from the fumes. Eep.

Just an idea if you ever get attacked again...

Cheers,

April

[Dulci]

My husband uses an ammonia dauber, he got it at WalMart, it is about the size and shape of an inkpen.

If I've got a really bad itchy bite, I'll put some liquid bentonite clay on it, or Queen Helenes Mint Julep Masque.

[SpiralingWaves]

Thanks for the suggestion SunriseSunsetApril. I am so sensitive to mosquito bites, they turn into huge welts. :whyme:

Thanks Dulci. :happy: Where in Walmart can I find this?

[Alley Cat]

I have heard of Lavendor Oil for the itches too. I haven't had mossie bites in ages , since we moved to a cold climate from a hot humid one. :whoohoo:

[Dulci]

Thanks for the suggestion SunriseSunsetApril. I am so sensitive to mosquito bites, they turn into huge welts. :whyme:

Thanks Dulci. :happy: Where in Walmart can I find this?

I'll ask him which aisle when he calls at lunchtime.

I found it at drustore.com, here is what it looks like: After Bite the Itch Eraser (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=13120&catid=44607&trx=PLST-0-SEARCH&trxp1=44607&trxp2=13120&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-SEARCH).

[peripheralvisionary]

Similar to Lily Munster's recipe above, I've always had pretty good results by making a paste out of baking soda and water and dabbing it on the bites. I've also heard rubbing the bite with some soap will help, but that didn't seem to work quite as well for me.

Maybe you could try opening the Benadry capsules or crushing them if they're tablets and making a paste out of that? I've used Benadryl cream which also works really well.

[Hairstorm]

The best thing I've ever used for mosquito bites is called Sting Eze (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=75474&catid=10&brand=25544&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=75474&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND), found at camping supply stores and Target in the camping area (they carry it seasonally).

[Stephanie]

Our apothecary carries a really good bug bite gel. Unfortunately, my bites this summer are really bad and I'm still dealing with the bites from two weeks ago.

I'm going to have to try the bentonite, Dulci. Lord knows, I have tons of the stuff around here. LOL

[saracuda]

Lily Munster's baking soda stuff is my stock cure for bee stings, so it makes sense that it would fix mosquito bites. You could also sprinkle baking soda in a cool bath and soak in it if you have a lot of bites. My grandma did that for me when I got into some fire ants in Florida. Worked good! For the future, I heard that drying your clothes with regular scent Bounce dryer sheets gives off something that repels mosquitos. I've never tried that, though, so I don't know if it really works.

[SpiralingWaves]

Wow, these are great ideas! :whoohoo:

saracuda, soaking in baking soda is excellent! I will remember this one. I lived in florida when I was a little girl and I remember stepping on a huge fire ant hill at the beach! :boggle: All I remember is the swelling & throbbing, having to prop my foot up and not being to go play in the sand and ocean. Ah, good times ... :D


The best thing I've ever used for mosquito bites is called Sting Eze (http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=75474&catid=10&brand=25544&trx=PLST-0-BRAND&trxp1=10&trxp2=75474&trxp3=1&trxp4=0&btrx=BUY-PLST-0-BRAND), found at camping supply stores and Target in the camping area (they carry it seasonally).

I haven't gotten to Walmart, but I have a Target just 5 minutes down the road from my house. I'll be heading over there tomorrow. Thanks Hairstorm!:happy:

[Hairstorm]

I hope you'll like it! :)