How to Heal Mosquito Bites

Last Updated: October 1, 2022 References Approved

Mosquito bites itch because you have a slight allergic reaction to the saliva the mosquito injected into your body before she bit you. The female mosquito's main source of food is the blood of her victims; therefore, most mosquitoes feed off of several different donors throughout the day. Male mosquitoes do not bite. Though mosquitoes can transmit serious viruses, most bites cause nothing more than minor irritation.^{[1]
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Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Medically Recommended Advice

1
Wash the affected area with soap and water after. This will remove any irritating saliva that still remains on your skin and help the bite to heal without infection.^{[2]
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National Health Service (UK)
Public healthcare system of the UK
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2
Ice the mosquito bite as soon as you are aware that you have been bitten. Most mosquito bites do not hurt, so you may not detect them for several hours. Icing the area helps control pain and swelling.^{[3]
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3
Take 10 mg of cetirizine to help with itching and swelling. You can buy cetirizine over-the-counter from your local pharmacy. Take a 10 mg pill by mouth to help relieve the symptoms of your mosquito bite.^{[4]
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PubMed Central
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- If you’re treating children, use 0.3 mg/kg of loratadine instead.
- Taking the medication proactively could help prevent your symptoms.
4
Use Benadryl to relieve itching at night. If you’re an adult, you can safely take between 25–50 mg of Benadryl. For children that are between 6–12, only give 12.5 mg instead. Take the Benadryl around when you’re going to bed since it can make you drowsy.
- Avoid driving or operating any heavy machinery after you take Benadryl.^{[5]
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  US Food and Drug Administration
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5
Soothe the area by applying a calamine lotion or an over-the-counter medication designed for use on insect bites. Follow the package directions when you apply the medication to ensure you’re using it properly.^{[6]
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6
Soak in a tub with colloidal oatmeal, baking soda, or Epsom salt to a bath. Fill up your tub and follow the package directions to mix it into the water. Soak in the tub for at least 10–15 minutes to help relieve your itching.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Home Remedies

1
Try a home remedy for relief from the pain and itching.
- Add just enough water to some baking soda to form a paste. Apply the paste topically to the bite.
- Use a meat tenderizer, such as Spice Cargo, that contains the enzyme papain, and mix it with a few drops of water to make a paste. Applied topically, this mix may help control itching and swelling.
- Crush an aspirin and add a little water to create a paste. Aspirin applied topically may help with the pain.
- You can add menthol or phenol to a cream or petroleum jelly before applying it to a mosquito bite to help with the itching.^{[7]
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2
Take over-the-counter pain medication, like aspirin or acetaminophen, for pain. Follow the dosing instructions on the package if your mosquito bite is causing you pain.^{[8]
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Warnings

Avoid scratching or picking at the mosquito bite, which will cause further irritation and could lead to scabbing or scarring.

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It is possible for a mosquito to transmit serious diseases from one donor to the next, such as malaria and West Nile Virus. Early symptoms of West Nile Virus include fever, headache, body aches and pains, and swollen glands. If you have symptoms of the virus, see a doctor immediately for treatment.

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