The buzz of bugs or little insects, especially in the summer season, is really annoying. But, their bites are as dreadful as their buzz. Regardless of our best efforts, we sometimes get bug bites. Some bugs, like mosquitoes, are very harmful, and their bites lead to fatal diseases, such as malaria and dengue. Instead of rushing to a doctor for curing bug bites, you can use home remedies to treat the problem. So, what do we know about healing bug bites at home? Home treatments for bug bites are not only cheap, but also effective.
Let’s have a look at some of the natural remedies that you can use at your home for treating bug bites.
1. Banana
Banana is very useful when it comes to itching. Take a banana and peel it. Now, place the white skin of the peel, directly on the bite. Leave it for 90 minutes. Then, wash it off and apply hand sanitizer.
2. Baking Soda
Mix baking soda with water and make a paste. Apply it on the bitten area. You can also add it in your lukewarm bath water.
Note: Avoid this home remedy if you have an open wound or cut.
3. Ice Pack
Take some ice out from the freezer and put it on the bite. This will calm down the itching.
4. Toothpaste
Toothpaste is a very easy and effective remedy for bug bites. All you have to do is to take some amount of toothpaste on your fingertips and apply it directly on the bitten area. You will feel instant relief.
5. Oils
Natural oils, like tree tea oil and lavender oil can do wonder if applied on bug bites. Tea tree oil disinfects the infection. Lavender oil contains natural anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the swelling and redness.
6. Mouthwash
Surprising! Isn’t it? It is right, though. Mouthwash works as antiseptic and prevents the area from infection. Take a cotton pad and dab it in the mouthwash. Keep it on the bitten area.
7. Preparation H
Apply some Preparation H on the nasty bug bite. It will help to keep the itching away and help to remove the scar.
8. Mud
Mix mud with water and apply it directly to the bite. Let it dry naturally. Wash it off afterward. Mud will kill the itching.
9. Aspirin
Take an aspirin. Crush it and mix it with water. Make a fine and thick paste. Apply it on the infected area, and cover it with a band-aid. Your itching will go away in the next morning.
10. Onion
Take an onion. Cut it in half. Rub it on the sting and you will feel relieved.
11. Peppermint Oil
Take a few drops of peppermint oil and rub it on the bite. This will help to cool down the burning sensation, caused due to sting.
12. Garlic
Garlic contains antibiotic agents. Therefore, eat garlic. It will surely help you to get relief.
13. Sugar
Take a piece of cloth, damp it and mash a sugar cube in it. Apply it on the bitten area. This will ease the pain and remove the swelling.
14. Potato
Take a raw potato. Cut it into half and put the juicy part on the bite. This will remove the pain and itchiness. Also, it will reduce the swelling.
15. ACV (Apple Cedar Vinegar)
Take a cotton pad and dab it in ACV. Place it directly on the bite. If you do not want to hold the cotton pad, stick it with a band-aid. Within a few minutes, you will feel relief.
16. Vinegar Paste
Take some amount of corn flour and make a thick paste by adding apple cider vinegar to it. Apply the paste gently on the affected area. Let it dry and then, rinse with lukewarm water.
17. Water
Sometimes water does help in itching and pain. Open the tab and put the infected area in the running water. You can make use of both- cold or lukewarm water.
Else, damp a piece of cloth in water, squeeze the excess water and put it on the affected area. This will soothe the nerves and vanish away the pain, itching, and redness.
Note- The water should not be too hot to burn your skin.
18. Soap
Wash the bitten or infected area with soap. This will disinfect the bitten area and clean it also.
19. Aloe Vera Gel
Take an aloe vera leaf and cut it into half. You will find the sticky part inside it. That is the gel. Apply it on the bitten area. It will provide you relief.
Note- You will feel tickling for a few moments after applying aloe vera gel, so don’t panic with it.
20. Tea Bag
Take a tea bag and dip it in warm water. Now, apply the tea bag directly on the bitten area. It will do a wonderful job.
21. Deodorant
If applied to the affected area, deodorant can remove the swelling and pain.
22. Tums Tablets
Take some Tums tablets, crush them and mix them with water. Make a fine paste, and apply it on the mosquito bite. This will provide instant relief.
23. Basil
Pluck some fresh basil leaves from your yard and prepare a paste. Apply it on the bitten area, and the bite will heal in a day.
24. Vicks VapoRub
Try using Vicks, as it will provide instant relief in the burning pain.
25. Nail Paint
Okay, this may sound funny, but applying nail paint actually works. Applying nail paint can stop itching, and it works like a seal.
26. Lemon
Cut a lemon slice and gently rub on the bug bite. This will tingle a bit, but works great.
Note- Do not use it in open cuts and wounds as this will make the situation worse.
27. Egg
Take the egg shell and take the skin from inside the shell after removing the egg white and yolk. Just apply it and let it dry for a couple of minutes. This remedy will draw the toxins away.
28. Oatmeal
Try applying oatmeal as it has anti-itching agents in it. Take some baby oatmeal and make a fine paste by adding water to it. Apply it on the bite. This will provide relief.
29. Honey
Apply honey to the affected area. It is a natural cure for bug bites.
30. Spoon
Take hot water in a cup or glass, and dip a spoon in it. Now, take the hot spoon and place it on the bitten area. Be careful, the spoon should not be too hot as it will burn your skin. Repeat it 2-3 times or more. The heat will numb the nerves for a couple of minutes and will provide relief.
31. Marshmallow Roots
Marshmallow roots can make the nasty itching and redness go away. It’s a herbal remedy to cure bug bites.
32. Alcohol
Dab a piece of cotton in alcohol and place it on the itchy and affected area. Put a band-aid if you do not want to hold it. This will decrease the itching and prevent from infection.
33. Salt
Apply salt mixture. Take some salt and mix it with water. Make a paste and apply it on the sting.
34. Cucumber
Cut a slice of a cucumber and rub it gently on the swelled area, infected by the bite. This will help in reducing swelling.
35. Cinnamon
Cinnamon contains anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties. Try applying cinnamon to the infected area.
36. Drink Herbal Tea
Herbal teas are natural remedies for red bug bites. Drink chamomile tea or green tea in order to treat red bug bites.
37. Witch Hazel
Take some witch hazel leaves and pound them to prepare a poultice. Apply this poultice on the affected area. It is a good herbal treatment for bug bites.
Let’s see how to treat red bug bites.
1. Apis mellifica: When bug bites are followed by pain and swelling, Apis mellifica provides instant relief.
2. Ledum palustre: If a bug bite left the swelling, which extends from the infected area to some distance, this remedy can help you out. This medicine also cures swelling, itching, and pain.
3. Cantharis: If the bitten area has developed blisters and redness along with pain, this remedy can be consumed for instant relief.
4. Hypericum: Hypericum provides a soothing sensation in cases of inflammation and itching, caused due to bug bites or insects stings.
Other remedies can also be consumed for bug bites to treat infections, like Carbolicum acidum, Urtica urens, Aconitum napellus, Ledum, Staphysagria, Formica rufa, Lachesis, Belladonna, and Carbolic acid.
There will be some instances where you will need to seek medical attention for a bug bite. While bug bites will typically be able to heal on their own, there are somethings that you will want to keep an eye for.
For starters, if your bug bite develops into a rash that is either leaking, bleeding, or developing puss, then that is an indication that you should probably visit your doctor’s office. This could be a sign of a bacterial infection. If this is the case, you will need antibiotics in order help get rid of the infection.
Additionally, if you start to develop a fever shortly after getting a bug bite or even the day after, then this may be related to the bug bite. If your fever is over 103 degrees, then it is time to visit the doctor. This is especially important if a fever develops in babies and young children. In older children and adults, using medication to reduce the fever is the first step in order to get the fever under control. However, you will still want to visit the doctor.
Lastly, if you find that your bug bite is accompanied by excessive swelling especially around the face on your eyes and around your mouth, then you will especially want to visit the doctor. This could be a sign of an allergic reaction. If you do not deal with it promptly and properly, the consequences can be severe.
If you are someone who suffers from allergies, especially allergies that are related to bug bites, then itis especially important that you make sure that you carry around an Epi-pen with you. If you have younger children, then you will want to make sure that everyone who takes care of your child, whether they be teachers or babysitters know how to use the Epi-pen.
The good news is that for the most part, but bites are something that are no more than a temporary nuisance that go away within a couple of days of getting them. In most cases, bug bites will only really bother you the first couple of days you get them, but then they quickly start to heal.
The next time you get a bug bite, be sure to try out some of these helpful remedies. We are sure that you will find relief in no time.
