What do you use on mosquito bites to take out the itch?

I've been getting some bad mosquito bite reactions. Major swelling and intense itching. I've been using aloe gel, which is a temporary fix. Sometimes the itching wakes me up at night. Taking an antihistamine helps because it knocks me out but I'd like some other ideas. I hope I don't get any more bites and I try to use an herbal insect repellant when I'm outside. But, I must be pretty tasty!

No suggestions, but I'm watching intently ... I'm covered in the little bugger bites myself.. They nibbled right through the repellant over the weekend.

I used to use After-Bite. It comes in a pen-type container and is a thin clear liquid. It works well, but stings pretty badly if the bite has already been scratched.

Now I use Benadryl Gel. It is available over the counter. Benadryl Gel is a rather sticky goop, but when it dries you can't even tell it's on there. I have found it works the best, and you don't have to apply it very often. One "smear" lasts quite a while.

Best of luck to you. I get bad reactions to mosquito bites too. I just hate it when I forget to wear mosquito repellent. Don't know why mosquitoes love some people and leave others alone.

I tried calamine lotion over the weekend for the itching and it worked better than the hydracortizone cream. I've been taking Benadryl for the swelling.
My dad is diabetic and for some reason bugs eat him up. He has started putting a dryer sheet (like Bounce) in his pocket when he is outdoors, as a repellant. So far so good.

Hand sanatizer works wonderfully and immediate!

These all sound good. It seems like the bites itch more at night or when I get hot in the sun. I tried the hydrocortisone cream but it didn't work any better than the aloe gel. We may have some calamine lotion around here someplace. Two weeks ago I had several humongus bites on my face and I looked quite lovely. I'm surprised I didn't have to attend a wedding! or similar event.

They told us at one of the botanical gardens we visited in Costa Rica to use the petal of the impatients for the itch.

If I am not mistaken someone sent me an e-mail about spraying yourself with Listerine and it will repeal mosquito's. Has anyone else heard of this? I have forgotten if you use it full strength or dilute it.

I have impatiens. I might try that. although i bet in CostaRica they have the fancy ones. Listerine? Hadn't heard of that but why not?

Listerine is an antiseptic...

If you're having an event on a wooden deck in a mosquito area you can spray down the deck with Listerine to repel them.
;)

Vinegar - straight from the bottle - works well for insect bites and sunburn.

benadryl gel

My bites are o.k. now but I am enjoying all the information. Vinegar is good for so many things. Next time I go to the drug store I think I'll get some of the benadryl gel and some Listerine, too. We're getting a lot of rain these days.

Listerine does NOT work as a repellent...at least not in Hawaii....and I have the bites to prove it (or rather, had the bites). There is an antihistimine without benedryl that won't make you sleepy.... I get covered with bites and use OFF. After they have bitten...well...whatever I grab first!!!

i'm sorry, I read this too fast. benadryl gel is to alleviate bite itching. I use OFF to prevent biting. There is also a product by Burt's Bees that is absolutely fab. can't remember the name. It is an oil, you apply like suntain lotion. I use that too, if handy. Seems like OFF is always handier.

I've recently been using a health food store brand spray of oils and essential oils. I think it is called "Bug Away". It works pretty well. If I need Serious protection I use Cutter's. But I was asking about itchy bites. The aloe gel didn't work too well. Another friend told me to use green tea. That didn't work either. I have also heard of using toothpaste on bites but haven't tried it.

In the tropics they use lemon juice... Maybe anything that stings makes you forget the itch?!! LOL. I just scratch!

I second vinegar. Works for me & you only smell like a salad for a short while :-)

I'll bet there are a lot of people watching this thread! I just found it--thanks, everyone, for all the ideas to try! If hand sanitizer works, maybe it's due to the alcohol. Anyone ever try straight alcohol?
I was stationed in Hawaii for four years and wished they'd have issued special weapons just to shoot the mosquitos, LOL. Bugs get really big and healthy in the tropics! How come nobody ever told us Haoles about lemon juice? ;)

I hear you! We have 4 different mozzies here...they come out at different times of the day and they are ALL vicious!

I did try straight rubbing alcohol and it helped somewhat, but was so drying.

I wonder if you dabbed them with a Q-tip dipped in pure bleach.
I know that works for bee stings.
;)

Vinegar, lol

Press your thumbnail into the bite hard enough for it to make an impression. Then repeat the same crosswise, so you have an "X" imprinted into the bite. Works a treat without any need for lotions or potions.

I like the Benadryl gel also since it works very fast. Benadryl has a liquid in a small spray bottle too. Witch Hazel works on itches for me and doesn't dry the skin too much. If I have nothing else I rub a basil leaf on the bite. It relieves the itch quickly and smells good.

Ok you all got yo new fangled remendies for insect bits. Good old baccer juice. Get you a plug of baccer and put a pinch in tween yo jaw and cheek get it good and wet, Then put it on the sting. The nickerteen will kill the pain. Fur crying out loud yall ain't never heard of such a thang? Best thang to do is stay way frum dem cridders to start wit.

For bites the best I have found is Watkins PetroCarbo salve, comes in a red tin. It is supposed to help spider bites, but haven't had one of those to try it on.

Tried it on chiggers & it doesn't help at all.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned witch hazel. I use it for sunburn, bug bites, rashes, anything that itches or stings. Keep it in the fridge especially for folks who show up burned from spending to much time in the sun. Instantly stops the burning and soothes the skin. And cheap too.

Whitewidower, that showa is th' best dog blamed cure ah've eever heerd of. Ah'm almost itchin' to git bit bar one of dem pesky cridders jus' so's Ah kin trah it. Ah jes loves chawin' baccer.

I thought I'd wandered in to "Song of the South"! l.o.l. Tho, I guess mosquitoes are a pretty big part of southern living. I've heard they are also partial to Minnesota, however.

LOL, Maragaret, you sure don't sound like any Aussie I've ever heard! Love the accent!

After-Bite is simply ammonia it works for me.plain Ammonia on a cotton ball,dab it.

This message was edited Aug 14, 2008 9:18 PM

I use Benadryl and Nupracanal (stops the itching) I forgot about the fabic softener sheet.
We use the unscented (whole house is unscented..except for dog accidents ..but we don't mention them
Going to try it, I have never reacted as badly as this year and with the flooding in June-we have an excess of the little wretches.

Let me tell you a true story about skitters. The other night I wus ahsleeping n sumthig waked me up an it wus to skitters atalking. One said lets eat him hear the udderun said nah man lets takum to the swamp then the first un said nonono if we takeum to the swamp the biguns will take him away frum us. hehehehe Ifn uall belve taht eye got some purtty swamp land in the seeharrior desert eyell lay on u rael cheep.

If th' swamp is real purdy an' yo ain't jus' a joshin' me, Ah'm shure we cud neegoshiate a trade fur a marty fine bridge Ah own in Sydney, Awstrayleeuh.

Yeah, but y'all ain't seen nuthin' lak mah swamp land in Loozeeanah...them skeeterz ah so big, dey make gumbo wit 'em.

Y'all call they'm big skitters! Huh! Our skitters is so big, they haf to use jet fiders to shoot 'em down usin'g blerd seekin' eequipment.

This message was edited Aug 16, 2008 7:05 AM

Y'all are too much!

ROFL Did we get a li'l outta hand?
OK, back to the itch--I got relief with Benedryl cream today.