Most bug bites are harmless, but they can be pretty painful and annoying, especially when these pests invade your household. Fortunately, it’s easy to relieve the symptoms of a bug bite, and there is certainly at least one effective bug bites treatment you can try with items you already have at home.
If you have been bitten by mosquitoes or by some unknown bugs and you now have a few red, itchy bumps on your skin, you should first wash the affected area with soap and water. You should then try at least one of the following bug bites treatments:
1. Apply a cold compress to the affected area
If you need immediate relief, you can use a cold compress or an ice pack to numb your skin. If you are using an ice pack or crushed ice, start by wrapping it inside a washcloth so the cold will be more gentle on your skin.
2. Check what you have in your medicine cabinet
If your bug bites are very itchy and painful, you can take some over-the-counter painkillers for the bug bites treatment. If you have some anti-itch cream or ointment in your medicine cabinet, use it. If you don’t have any, you can ask your pharmacist for a recommendation, or you can try a homemade treatment.
3. Use aloe vera gel
Aloe vera gel has anti-inflammatory properties, and it can help relieve the pain caused by bug bites. Simply apply some gel over the bites as often as necessary. If you have an aloe vera plant at home, you can cut a small section of the plant to use the gel that can be found inside it.
4. Cover the bug bites with some honey
Honey also has anti-inflammatory properties, as well as antibacterial properties. If you cover your bug bites with small drops of honey, it will help reduce the inflammation, and it should also help you resist the urge to scratch those itchy, sticky and sweet red bumps.
5. Make some paste with oatmeal and water
Oatmeal can have many uses in your kitchen, but it can also be used to create some paste that will help relieve the itching and the swelling caused by bug bites. Mix a small amount of oatmeal with some water until you get some thick paste. Wrap the paste in a washcloth, and apply this bug bites treatment to the affected area for 10 minutes.
6. Make some paste with baking soda and water
If you love eating oatmeal so much that you don’t want to waste it on your bug bites, you can use some baking soda instead. Make some paste from baking soda and water, and apply it directly to your insect bites. Leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off.
7. Make some chamomile tea
Chamomile tea is delicious, but when you apply chamomile flowers to your skin, it can help reduce inflammation. Steep a chamomile tea bag, and place it in your refrigerator to cool it down while you drink the hot tea. You can then apply the cool tea bag to the affected area for 10 minutes.
8. Cut a slice of onion
If you are afraid that your bug bites might get infected, cut a small slice of onion, and apply it to the infected area for a few minutes before rinsing your skin. Onions have antifungal properties that can fight and heal infections, and their juice can also reduce irritation.
9. Use a few drops of apple cider vinegar
If you have been unable to not scratch your itchy bug bites, apple cider vinegar can surely help you. With a cotton ball, simply dap a few drops of apple cider vinegar on your painful bug bites. The vinegar is a natural disinfectant that can also soothe the itch caused by bug bites.
10. Use lemon balm
If you have some lemon balm growing in your garden, pick up a few leaves, chop them into fine pieces, and apply them directly to your bug bites to soothe the inflammation. If you don’t have access to lemon balm leaves, you could use lemon balm essential oil instead.
11. Get some basil or thyme leaves
If you have basil or thyme growing in your garden, you can chop a few leaves of these herbs, and rub them on your itchy skin. You can also get dried leaves directly from your kitchen, and boil them in some water. After the mixture has cooled down, dip a cotton ball or a washcloth in it, and apply it to the affected area.
12. Contact a doctor if your symptoms get worse
If none of these bug bite treatments are working, you might need to see a doctor. If your symptoms get worse instead of improving over time, or if your bug bites become infected, contact your doctor to get the help you need.
